Q&A Interview with Dr. Ramin Fathi

Posted on: August 3rd, 2020 by Dr. Ramin Fathi

Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group specializes in medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and surgical dermatology in Phoenix, AZ. Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group was founded and is led by board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologist Dr. Ramin Fathi. In this Question and Answer Interview, we learn more about Dr. Fathi and his passion for dermatology. What inspired him to become a dermatologist? What are his personal skincare tips? Read the interview below to learn more about Dr. Fathi and Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group.

Q: What inspired you to become a dermatologist?

I am so fortunate to be able to practice dermatology. What’s incredible about this field is that I can see patient’s of all ages with a wide variety of skin concerns. There is no typical day for me. I can see a child with a rash, improve someone’s cosmetic appearance with state of the art tools and technology, diagnose and treat skin cancers, and perform facial reconstructive surgery all in the same day. There are more than 3,000 diseases of the skin and to be able to diagnose and treat them is a privilege that I don’t take for granted.

Q: Why did you decide to practice dermatology in Phoenix?

I am lucky to have married into Phoenix. My wife is from here and is a practicing dermatologist as well. When deciding where to settle down, it was either going back home to Chicago where I’m from or moving to Phoenix. Having experienced harsh Chicago winters, I was extremely excited to move to Phoenix. The quality of life this city affords is tremendous.

Q: Do you specialize in a specific area of dermatology? (e.g. Mohs, Cosmetic, etc.)

I am a fellowship-trained Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, in addition to a Board-certified dermatology. Upon completion of a dermatology residency, a physician can apply to participate in a Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology (Mohs) fellowship training program. Qualified applicants undergo an extremely competitive review and selection process to obtain a 1- to 2-year fellowship position with a program accredited by the American College of Mohs Surgery.  Fellowship training programs are designed to impart experience and judgment into each graduate and are comprehensive and rigorous because skin cancer itself occurs in a diversity of forms, degrees, and areas of the body. To complete an ACMS-approved fellowship, a physician must:

• Participate in a minimum of 500 Mohs surgery cases
• Learn to accurately interpret slides of tissue samples that have been removed during Mohs surgery
  Perform a wide breadth of reconstructions, ranging from simple closures to complicated multi-step repairs

Because fellows-in-training undergo training over months, they gain a breadth of exposure – under the guidance of a qualified Mohs surgeon – that includes rare tumor pathology, difficult tumor locations, and complex wound reconstruction.

Q: What makes Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group one of the leading dermatology practice in Phoenix?

At Phoenix Surgical Dermatology Group, we are only as good as our core values. These are:

1. Provide the highest level of dermatology and dermatologic surgery care
2. Maintain the highest level of customer service to our patients
3. Create a team-oriented workplace atmosphere with an unrelenting positive attitude
4. Practice medicine with attention to consistency and detail
5. Continuously improve and advance the field of dermatology and dermatologic surgery
6. Be a model of efficiency and efficacy for other dermatology practices

Every person who works at PSDG is expected to exemplify these traits. We are confident our group is meeting this high standard we set for ourselves.

Q: What is your skin care recommendation for patients in Arizona?

There is not a one-size-fits-all skin care recommendation. Each person is unique and requires a regimen and recommendation that is geared towards them and their skin type. With that said, here in Arizona, we are blessed with amazing weather and outdoor activities. That comes at a price, however. The UV index is an international standard measurement of the strength of sunburn-producing ultraviolet radiation at a particular place and time. The UV index in Arizona is often rated as ‘Extreme.’ For that reason, we recommend most people wear SPF 30+ sunscreen daily, cover the body with a long-sleeve shirt and trousers, wear a wide-brimmed hat, and avoid the sun from 9 am – 3 pm.

Q: What is your approach to providing patient care?

Every patient is unique. One treatment plan may be right for one person and not right for another. Our approach is to listen, understand, and then treat. We discuss the options, the evidence behind each option, and give a recommendation based on how we would treat ourselves or a family member if they were in the exact same situation.