We were lucky to catch up with Anay Castro recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anay, thanks for joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?
I got this job at the end of 2019 and started officially in February of 2020. I worked in Emergency Medicine for 13 years before transitioning to Dermatology. I was interested in Dermatology because it is a fascinating specialty. I saw a lot of rashes and skin conditions in the ER and I wanted to learn more about medical dermatology. The recruiting process was a bit difficult, but I was persistent. Turns out that most Physician Assistants that go into Dermatology do not leave their specialty, so the job market is tight. I sent my resume to any job opening in Dermatology and began taking a lot of CME in the field so I would be better prepared if the opportunity presented itself. Finally after 2 years of applying, Dr. Scales, the owner of The North Carolina Center for Dermatology, gave me a call and gave me my lucky break. I have to say that it is so far, the best job I have had. I have learned a lot and now we are developing the cosmetic side of the practice which will greatly complement the medical side.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a Physician Assistant, I worked in the ER for 13 years and for the last 3 I have worked in Dermatology. In our clinic we treat a lot of patients with skin of color and offer services for both, medical and cosmetic dermatology. I was born and raised in Cuba and I am proud to serve a large hispanic community and offer our services in Spanish. I am also very proud to treat a very diverse population and offer solutions to the skin problems of brown and black patients. It makes a huge difference to the patient when you understand their skin, their hair, their culture. I feel honored and incredibly happy every time I meet a patient that was referred by another patient.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Training and knowledge are a most in any medical field. However, to succeed as a medical provider you must build a good rapport with your patient. The art of listening, understanding. Listening, and gaining the trust of your patient allows for more accurate diagnosis, better treatment compliance, and better outcomes. Your bedside manner has to be good, the patient experience has to a positive one; otherwise, your patient will not care how much of an expert you are in your field and how many accolades you’ve had. An unhappy patient will not return.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Good, honest care and offering solutions that really work and matter to my patient. Also making those solutions or treatments accessible to the patient. How good is a medication if the patient cannot afford it? In our office we have a great team and we treat those without insurance. We offer affordable services and work with different pharmacies to offer cost-effective treatments.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.nccdermatology.com/
- Instagram: @anaydermpa, @ncderm
- Facebook: Cubandermpa