In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many of our profession’s innovators and great teachers still among us. This column was created so that we may gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them. Some are bright stars in our special universe — others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life.

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Dr. Michael H. Gold is the founder of Gold Skin Care Center, Advanced Aesthetics Medical Spa, The Laser and Rejuvenation Center and Tennessee Clinical Research Center located in Nashville, TN. Dr. Gold is also Clinical Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and School of Nursing, also in Nashville. He is the author of more than 200 published scientific articles, 10 textbook chapters and the editor of a new textbook on photodynamic therapy.

Dr. Gold is the Vice President of the International Society of Dermatologic Surgery, as well as the Treasurer of the American Society of Photodynamic Therapy and President of Tennessee Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

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Q. Why did you choose dermatology?

A. I chose dermatology for a variety of reasons. First, I had a fairly severe case of acne vulgaris and was fortunate to have met and come under the care of Dr. Albert Kligman, who was experimenting with topical tretinoin at the time. My acne disappeared very quickly (with a lot of peeling) and I have not had a problem since. Second, and just as important, dermatology combines the love of medicine with the love of surgery. And adding the cosmetic element allows me to not only make patients feel good but look good as well.

Q. What do you think is the greatest political danger to the field of dermatology?

A. The greatest political danger to the field of dermatology is losing our identity to other groups of doctors who think that all we do is pop zits and use steroids to treat rashes. They do not understand our specialty and all the intertwining subtleties that make a dermatologist unique. In the cosmetic arena, we have taught others our craft and we have to be careful that we remain the leaders and specialists in the procedures we have helped develop and perform on a regular basis.

Q. What medical figure from history would you most like to have a drink with? Why?

A. The medical figure I would most like to have a drink with is Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin from mold in 1922. This discovery revolutionized our treatments of infectious diseases and paved the way for other researchers to make newer antibiotics that have helped us in today’s world. Cefazolin, brought to the United States by my father via Japan, was due to Fleming’s original works.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received, and from whom?

A. I have received two very important pieces of advice over the years that have always been with me. The first came from my father, also a physician and former pharmaceutical company executive, who taught me the values necessary to serve my fellow man. He always taught my brother and me to be the very best we could be and to excel in every endeavor we undertook. The other came from my father-in-law, who was in real estate, who always taught me not to be satisfied with my accomplishments but to strive toward the next goal, the next task and the next problem to face.

Q. What part of your work gives you most pleasure?

A. The part of my work that gives me the most pleasure is to be able to perform research and then to introduce a new technology to the dermatologic community. It has been very rewarding to work with a variety of companies studying new ideas and seeing the reality in clinical practice.

Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.

He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.

Disclosures: Dr. Barankin has no conflict of interest with any material presented in this month’s column.