Why choose a Board certified dermatologist?
Dermatology is the field of medicine that focuses on skin, hair, and nails. You might see your family doctor for a common problem in one of these areas, but he or she will likely refer you to a dermatologist. A dermatologist has additional training in the diagnosis of skin disorders, and medical and cosmetic treatment options.
Twenty-four separate specialty boards in the United States certify physicians in many medical areas and subspecialties. The American Board of Dermatology is one of them. A dermatologist typically has over a decade of formal education, including four years as an undergraduate, four years of medical school, one year of internship and three years of residency. Dermatologists who pursue a sub-specialty must take additional post-residency training.
If a dermatologist chooses to apply for Board certification, she must be prepared to undergo evaluation of reports from her training director, and a stringent examination within three years of residency. This test assesses clinical judgment and medical knowledge with real-life situations. The pass rate is currently less than 90 percent. That means that at least ten out of every hundred dermatologists who apply for Board certification will not qualify.
Maintenance of certification in dermatology requires evidence of professional standing (continuation of the doctor’s license), commitment to lifelong learning, periodic self-assessment, appraisal of performance in practice, and the Board’s re-evaluation of expertise through another exam, every ten years. Consumers may visit the American Board of Medical Specialties at www.abms.org to determine if a physician is Board certified, by which Board, and in what areas of specialty.
Is there a Board certified dermatologist near Essex Fells? Yes! Dr. Jeanine Downie at image Dermatology ® P.C. in Montclair has dedicated her career to exceeding patient expectations.
Her credentials, as a Board certified dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, ensure:
- Professionalism. Board certification isn’t driven by a concern for public scrutiny. It exhibits a genuine commitment to the welfare of patients.
- Experience. There is no substitution for having witnessed, performed, and taught hundreds of procedures.
- Up-to-date knowledge. Dermatology is constantly changing. Adeptness requires current information on conditions, treatment techniques, and equipment.
- Compliance with national guidelines, and accepted, standardized methods.
- Concern for patient opinion. Those “self-assessments” mentioned above include patient surveys and practice improvement plans.
- Networking and participation in a variety of professional associations results in shared ideas and maintenance of ethical values with peers.
Your skin is important to your self-image and overall wellness. Trust it to a dermatologist in Essex Fells, motivated by a desire to help others. Call image Dermatology ® P.C. for a consultation.