Spotlight: Ronda Farah, MD, is expanding our dermatology care
Skin cancer. Acne treatment. Cosmetic dermatology services.
It’s all in a day’s work for University of Minnesota Health Dermatologist Ronda Farah, MD, who sees patients at University of Minnesota Medical Center and Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center. Farah, who came to University of Minnesota Health last year, is helping expand our care services into the realm of cosmetic dermatology.
We asked Farah to tell us more about her skills, passions and the new services many of our clinics are offering.
Tell us about your role within University of Minnesota Health, and your work developing an expanded medical dermatology program for our patients.
University of Minnesota Health Dermatology recently hired four new dermatologists, myself included, to bolster our patients’ access to dermatology care at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. Our new staffing additions allow patients and referring providers the ability to schedule dermatology appointments with little, if any, wait time.
Our University of Minnesota Health cosmetic dermatology care offerings are rapidly expanding. What unique features distinguish our cosmetic dermatology services from others in the Twin Cities region?
Our cosmetic dermatology providers offer cosmetic evaluations, botulinum toxin, facial volumizing, chemical peels and many other treatments for photoaging. Because we are University affiliated, we work closely with other cutting edge physicians within University of Minnesota Health system. This means interdisciplinary care among cosmetic specialties—such as plastic surgery—is always available, which allows us the ability to provide the most up-to-date treatment recommendations.
The launch of our new Acne Specialty Clinic is allows us to better serve our patients. Tell us about the treatments and services this clinic brings.
The Acne Specialty Clinic will be primarily at Fairview Maple Grove Medical Center. This will provide access to patients with all types of acne, including those with mild to severe acne or acne rosacea. This innovative clinic is supported by outstanding staff, including our award winning nurse, Alea Stanger.
We are offering initial acne assessments and treatments ranging from topical to oral medications, including the use of isotretinoin, which can help treat severe acne. Additionally, we will also focus on treatment options for acne scarring including chemical peels. When the new University of Minnesota Health Clinics and Surgery Center opens, we will be providing laser resurfacing at that facility.
Why are you passionate about your position?
Dermatology is a diverse specialty that allows me to meet and care for amazing patients with many medical skin issues, including skin cancer, rashes, acne, hair loss and many other diseases. Meeting and working with patients is definitely the best part of being a dermatologist.
In addition, dermatology also allows me to provide cosmetic, surgical and laser-related skin care. Furthermore, we are fortunate at the University of Minnesota to have the opportunity to work with three board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric dermatologists who are able to provide the most current and evidence based treatment options to our pediatric patients.
What do you love about the University of Minnesota Health community?
I love the endless opportunities for collaboration this outstanding institution has to offer. For example, the department of dermatology partners with a wide variety of specialty areas, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, otolaryngology and epidemiology—all to serve patients who may have received a skin cancer diagnosis. At the University of Minnesota Medical Center melanoma and skin cancer program, we treat a diverse group of skin cancers and diseases. The program brings state-of-the-art technology to patient care. Patients also have the opportunity to participate in cutting edge clinical trials.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
When I am not working, I enjoy time with my family. Spending time with our beagle outdoors is always exciting. With time off we also like to explore the many unique cuisines that Minneapolis has to offer.
