Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Kaveri Karhade. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Kaveri, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

A 15-year-old girl sat in the exam chair, glumly answering my questions about her acne. Her mom prompted from the back. Yes, she washes her face daily. No she has never tried any prescription medications. 4 months and several office visits later, the same girl bounced into my exam room, full of smiles and energy. Her now clear skin was a reflection of the confidence she felt inside. What had been a small effort on my part had had a huge impact on her.

An older patient saw me for a skin check. She was frustrated with the healthcare system at how hard it had been to get an appointment. The bump on her leg she was concerned about was benign. But I found a spot on her back that concerned me. A few days later when I called to tell her it was a melanoma, I told her to come in right away for me to surgically remove it- not because it was as urgent as that but because I could hear in her voice how every night would be a sleepless one until it was gone. She thanked me profusely, but she didn’t need to because I could tell how she felt. It made the years of medical school and residency training all worth it.

I have a million similar stories- in fact every patient, every day is meaningful to me because I can have an impact, one person at a time. It doesn’t have to be a life-threatening illness- something that may be small or ‘superficial’ to someone else, like acne scars, can be significant to the person who has them. Being able to do what I can for them is what drives me.

It’s why I’m opening a bespoke practice to focus on exactly what my patients need when they need it, and not be bogged down by the hurdles of insurance companies, and healthcare organizations.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco. I specialize in treating medical and cosmetic skin concerns, especially those that are complex or nuanced. I trained at the University of Michigan for medical school, and Brown University for my dermatology residency. After working in both NYC and SF/Palo Alto, I have gained significant experience in highly specialized cosmetic procedures.

What I am most proud of, though, is that I care most about quality of patient care. My patients are family to me. They email me, text me, and I follow up with them all the time to ensure they feel taken care of.

I care about honesty. The world of cosmetic procedures is unfortunately a profit-driven one, in which medical spas, aesthetic device and product companies, and injectors without medical degrees are all motivated to do as many procedures as possible. I detest that. I believe the fewer procedures, the better. The fewer skincare products, the better!

The best result you can get with the smallest investment of time, money, and effort is what I always recommend. It’s why I have to work for myself; no profit-driven business owner I’ve worked for agrees with my philosophy.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Just working with one patient at a time. When I was a younger doctor newly out of residency, I experienced a lot of ‘imposter syndrome'”- I wondered whether I was knowledgable enough, skilled enough to be a dermatologist. But over the years, patient after patient seems to appreciate my philosophy, my honesty, my willingness to connect with them when they need it. There are many doctors who are far smarter and more experienced than me. But I care deeply for my patients and will go to many extremes to get them whatever is best. I am thankful for my patients who see that about me and are willing to trust me with their skin, and even trust me to care for their parents, siblings, and friends.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Marketing oneself is necessary in the field of aesthetic dermatology. It’s not something that comes naturally to most physicians, and because of that I’ve seen many great doctors go unnoticed in today’s world of social media and marketing. Conversely, I’ve seen too many examples of people who are hugely popular but who have no appropriate credentials or training gaining the trust of their clientele and performing procedures unsafely.

My hope is that more physicians who are good at their jobs start showing that to the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.karhademd.com
• Instagram: @dr_kavi_derm
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaveri-karhade/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kaveri-karhade-md-redwood-city-4
• Other: Tik Tok @dr_kavi_derm

Image Credits
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