Any dermatologist bloggers?

[dermx]

DermMatch's guide is tremendously informative and gives me a better idea about matching into derm. I'm curious if there is any other sources to learn the process. I've been reading an orthopedic surgeon's blog that documents his journey since he was a medical student (DoctaJay). It's interesting to see an individual's experience starting from figuring out the specialty to successfully matching and beyond. Do any dermatologists here or out there blog?

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[qvc804]

Hi,

You can get more information about dermatology and skincare treatment from [EDITED].

Thank you Dr. Balshi!

Your website had a lot of useful information. I'm curious though, are you a board certified dermatologist who has completed an ACGME-accredited Dermatology residency? I ask since you list yourself as having completed your dermatology residency at Gulf South Medical Surgical Institute in New Orleans and then pursued continued research and studies at The Gold Coast Liposculpture Center in Delray Beach.

I mean you're board certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties and board certified in Dermatology by the American Board of Physician Specialties (a certification organization I've never even heard of), but in the logos you include on the website, you fail to make that distinction as to which certification board certified you for which specialty. One might erroneously conclude, in reading your website, that you were board certified in Dermatology thru the ABMS backed by the American Board of Dermatology, but I'm guessing this was just something you didn't get around to noting on your website, rather than the unlikely chance you were trying to pass yourself off as an actual ABD board-certified dermatologist.

 

[lodestar]

Ha, good one, qvc804! 🙂

I too had been rather amused by Dr Balshi's purported credentials. We lived in N'awlins and were well familiar with "Too-lane" Medical School (how da' locals say it, Cher), LSU SOM, and the also well-regarded Ochsner Health System, but have never even heard of "Gulf South Medical Surgical Institute," allegedly in Kenner, La. (but a search shows nothing tangible there).

Something simply seems amiss here! 😵

 

[qvc804]

Ha, good one, qvc804! 🙂

I too had been rather amused by Dr Balshi's purported credentials. We lived in N'awlins and were well familiar with "Too-lane" Medical School (how da' locals say it, Cher), LSU SOM, and the also well-regarded Ochsner Health System, but have never even heard of "Gulf South Medical Surgical Institute," allegedly in Kenner, La. (but a search shows nothing tangible there).

Something simply seems amiss here! 😵

This might clear things up a little: www.hhs.gov/dab/decisions/dabdecisions/dab2400.pdf. Very difficult, I imagine, to run a "dermatology residency" when you've had your Medicare billing privileges revoked. Probably the reason why they are now inactive as a business: www.louisianacorporates.com/corp/141660.html

You would think that an alternative board certification organization, if they want to be taken seriously by third party payers, would check that one attended an actual accredited residency in the field one is certifying in. At least if he wanted actual good training in cosmetics, he should have stopped by and done an ASDS preceptorship in N'awlins with Dr. Mary Lupo. Duh.

 

[DermatoFIGHT]

Dayum, laying the smack down in this thread!

 

[lodestar]

I hate to pile on the guy, BUT seriously, he chose to come here, apparently attempting to gain some recognition/attention. Here is his web page where he touts his virtues/credentials:

http://southflderm.com/meet-dr-balshi/

excerpts (which quite simply exude hyberbole, artfulness and pretentiousness):

Dr. Balshi’s undergraduate clinical studies and subsequent residency in internal medicine took place at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was honored to serve as Chief Resident of the Department of Medicine, including teaching responsibilities and coordination of clinical rotations for 45 residents.

http://www.stagnes.org/residency/overview/
http://www.stagnes.org/about-us/overview/

Such exceptional skill and knowledge in the field are some of the many reasons why he is the dermatologist West Palm Beach patients trust.

As a dermatology West Palm Beach expert, Dr. Balshi’s other expert proficiencies include...

He earned his undergraduate (?) medical degree from the American University (of the Caribbean) School of Medicine, where in addition to his academic pursuits he served as a PADI underwater medical rescue scuba diver.

(Maybe the scuba thing would come in handy if you were having a melanoma removed while submerged underwater? 🙂

Dr. Balshi’s undergraduate clinical studies and subsequent residency in internal medicine took place at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was honored to serve as Chief Resident of the Department of Medicine, including teaching responsibilities and coordination of clinical rotations for 45 residents.

Because of his expertise in internal medicine, Dr. Balshi approaches all cosmetic surgery from the standpoint of whole body wellness.

Dr. Balshi is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Physician Specialties for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery.

 

[Balderdash]

So this is interesting. Poor guy. I mean, we are all kind of information craved in this field so that "minor" detail regarding his board certification status wasn't going to pass.

As far as the big picture, truth in advertising debate that we face (e.g. Doctors in nursing being called "doctor"), does anyone know the legal grounds that someone may call themself a "board certified dermatologist?" I guess anyone can look at skin and say they are a dermatologist but to advertise as much, does one have to have completed an accredited residency?

 

[username456789]

Boy, so a guy goes to a crappy Caribbean medical school, then completes a crappy internal medicine residency, and is now advertising himself as a dermatologist. Talk about the American dream.

 

[qvc804]

Because of his expertise in internal medicine, Dr. Balshi approaches all cosmetic surgery from the standpoint of whole body wellness.

And yet he does no medical dermatology at all if you see his website.

So this is interesting. Poor guy. I mean, we are all kind of information craved in this field so that "minor" detail regarding his board certification status wasn't going to pass.

Don't forget he also has not completed a dermatology residency. The only physician residency in Kenner, LA is Family Medicine with fellowships in Geriatrics and Sports Medicine. His institution where he did "training" has never been a residency training program and closed down due to fraud.

But yeah, he can say he is board certified because he ran to another board which obviously does no credentialing: www.abpsus.org/dermatology-board-certification-exams. He even lists his time at "Gold Coast Institute for Dermatologic Training" on his medical license verification in Florida as his residency, and puts himself as certified in Derm on his Doximity page.

 

[reno911]

I hate to pile on the guy, BUT seriously, he chose to come here, apparently attempting to gain some recognition/attention. Here is his web page where he touts his virtues/credentials:

I think it's more likely that someone created a fake account for this guy and then made that post so that they could amuse themselves. This Balshi fellow is still deserving of contempt though, but probably not because he posted it himself

 

[username456789]

I think it's more likely that someone created a fake account for this guy and then made that post so that they could amuse themselves. This Balshi fellow is still deserving of contempt though, but probably not because he posted it himself

That actually seems less likely to me.

 

[dermie1985]

I..

He earned his undergraduate (?) medical degree from the American University (of the Caribbean) School of Medicine, where in addition to his academic pursuits he served as a PADI underwater medical rescue scuba diver.

Anyone can do Botox now. LOL.

Just an FYI though. Technically, it is an undergraduate medical degree. "Undergraduate" medical training refers to medical school and "graduate" medical training to internship/residency in North America. These are official terms.

 

[lodestar]

Anyone can do Botox now. LOL.

Just an FYI though. Technically, it is an undergraduate medical degree. "Undergraduate" medical training refers to medical school and "graduate" medical training to internship/residency in North America. These are official terms.

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Oh, OK, thanks...have simply not seen it expressed that way very often. The doctor above (whose original advertising post was deleted) who engendered much skepticism here is otherwise gratuitously loose with his wording and self-aggrandizement

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undergraduate_degree

First professional degrees sometimes contain the word Doctor, but are still considered undergraduate degrees in most countries, including Canada. For example, the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program in Canada is considered an "undergraduate degree."

However, in the United States, most first professional degrees are considered graduate programs by the U.S. Department of Education and require students to already possess an "undergraduate degree" before admission. These degrees are not research doctorates and are therefore not equivalent to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)