More Than Skin-Deep: A New Generation of Dermatologists are Expanding Their Scope of Practice.....

 Evansville, IN - No longer satisfied with limiting their focus to the skin, hair, and nails, a growing number of dermatologists are expanding their scope of practice to include a variety of organs found deep within the human body.

Svetlaka Peterman, shown here counseling a woman recently diagnosed with splenic ennui, was one of the first dermatologists to complete the grueling ADOH Diplomate Program

"Patients are coming to us with their skin problems but they are also asking about other organs all the time," dermatologist and Academy of Dermatology and Organ Health (ADOH) spokesperson Stock Johnson, MD, DADOH explained. "Ultimately this is about helping our patients and all of their organs, not just the ones on the outside that you can see."

Dermatologists interested in non-skin organ health have historically had to learn on their own and without any guidance or support from a dedicated professional organization. Today, according to Johnson, the ADOH offers a Diplomate Program that provides the educational and clinical experience to confidently and proficiently care for all organs found in or on the human body except for teeth. "Our goal is to empower dermatologists to expand the dermatology lifestyle within their community, the country, and the world. But there really is a hard stop when it comes to teeth. We don't go there."

Some in the medical community are pushing back against this expansion of the role of dermatology. Dr. Mort Fishman, MD, an organ doctor practicing near Harvard, has serious concerns about the educational value of the ADOH Diplomate Program. "You can't learn organs over a few weekends, and it takes more than a multiple choice exam to demonstrate competency. Sure, it may add up to 400 hours of work, but what is the quality of that training? Besides, they get the skin and we get everything else. That's the natural order!"