ermatology has become an
increasingly popular speciality
among female doctors, who are
lured by better hours, the
chance to transform debilitating skin
conditions and a growing client base.
As a cosmetic chemist and someone who
works closely with dermatologists to create
advanced skincare, I’ve seen how their role
has changed in recent times. Australian
women are more aware of going to a
dermatologist not just for a problem, but to
maintain great skin during their lifetime.
Dermatology is shifting away from an
illness model to wellness-based care.
Today’s young dermatologists are holistic:
they look at their patients’ lifestyles and sun
exposure. Here’s what some of the best in
the business say about their chosen career.DR ALICE RUDD runs a private
practice at Melbourne’s Caulfield Skin
Cancer & Dermatology Clinic and
works at the Skin & Cancer Foundation.
“Ever since I was 14 I knew I wanted to beD
a doctor. I was a pure type-A personality
and pressured myself to do well at school
to the point where I became quite sick with
glandular fever and chronic fatigue. In
hospital, a phenomenal paediatrician treated
me and inspired me to get into medicine.
“I did all my electives at the Royal
Children’s Hospital, including oncology.
There are other parts of paediatrics that are
brilliant, but it was too traumatising for
me. I saw dermatology as the perfect fit
because it incorporated all the aspects of
medicine I love: surgery, procedural,
preventative, holistic and the cosmetic
side. I had also suffered very badly with
acne and felt so debilitated and thought it
was the worst thing in the world. Getting
treatment was life-changing.
“As a student you are fully supported and
told what to do next. After 13 years you
suddenly change to being your own boss.
Medical school doesn’t focus on how to
manage clients, run a business or do a tax
statement. Dealing with really sick patients
in public hospitals is your training, thenyou go out into personal practice and
people aren’t as sick and they are paying, so
there’s more expectation. You’re managing
way more than just the medical stuff.
“My biggest lesson has been to listen to
patients. Dermatology is external. As a
doctor, as soon as you walk into the room,
you can look at someone’s skin and know
exactly what the problem is. But that might
not be what bothers that individual, so in
practice, I have learnt to focus on the
person, not just the skin.”DR KATE NEWLAND is a visiting
medical specialist at Royal Adelaide
Hospital and Adelaide’s Flinders
Medical Centre.
“At medical school I was drawn to the
study of cancer and considered oncology
training, but the variety of dermatology,
from kids to adults, was so appealing.
I love the fact there are many different
specialities and sub-specialities in the field.
“I first became interested in skin while
working up in Darwin for a year as▲As more female doctors
become dermatologists,
Richard Parker,
founder of Rationale
Skincare, asks rising
SKIN STARS about
devoting their lives to
complexion perfection.
AS TOLD TO CLEO GLYDE
PHOTOGRAPH: JUSTIN RIDLERFrom left: Dr Alice
Rudd, Dr Michelle
Rodrigues and
Dr Kate Newland.Sk in
deep
126 – MAY 2015STYLIST: MONIQUE SANTOS HAIR: SYLVIA URA MAKE-UP: VICTORIA MARTINDR ALICE RUDD WEARS A MAXMARA DRESS AND BOTTEGA VENETA BELTDR MICHELLE RODRIGUES WEARS A CAMILLA AND MARC TOP, MATICEVSKI SKIRT AND SALVATORE FERRAGAMO BELT DR KATE NEWLAND WEARS A COUNTRY ROAD DRESS AND SALVATORE FERRAGAMO BELT DETAILS LAST PAGESvogue HEALTH