We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angelia Stepien a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Angelia, thanks for joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

“Spitzoid features,” I read aloud puzzled, narrowing my eyes as if to better understand. Only two weeks into my new job as a medical assistant and the terms were incomprehensible. Seborrheic keratosis, telangiectasias, onychomycosis, it all sounded like a foreign language. I was in my junior year of college looking to gain clinical experience for my medical school application. I never would have thought I’d work in dermatology, but I saw a bulletin posted on the pre-health job board and figured “why not?” What started out as just another experience to add to my resume quickly turned into my biggest passion. My work as a medical assistant piqued my curiosity early and 4 years later when it came time to choose a medical specialty, I knew I would be happiest in the field of dermatology.

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

I am a board-certified dermatologist originally from Buffalo, New York. I met my husband, Karl, during residency training and now call Jacksonville, Florida, my home. I started as a medical assistant in a dermatology practice during undergrad and fell in love with the field. Throughout medical school I was constantly drawn to and fascinated by skin disease and today am fortunate to be able to treat dermatologic conditions every day. I work at Jacksonville Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery which allows me to see patients of all ages. In any given day, you can find me removing skin cancer, treating acne, addressing hair loss, and performing cosmetic procedures such as filler and BOTOX. But I don’t do this on my own. I work with an amazing team of like-minded individuals all with a common goal: To provide the highest-quality patient care. Success is very rarely achieved alone and surrounding yourself with good people is key.

All in all, my goal is to get my patients looking and feeling their best. Skin disease does not discriminate, and I enjoy the diversity in dermatology, both in the conditions I treat and the patients I see. As a physician, my patients look to me for the answer and that is not something I take lightly. I make it a priority to read and attend meetings and conferences to stay current on the newest treatments and best practices for my patients. This is what sets apart a good physician from a great one – the desire to constantly learn and grow.

When taking a step back, I am most proud of my ability to have balance in my life. At the end of the day, I am happy to come home to a supportive husband and our two puppies and having a life outside of the office. I am fortunate to be surrounded by loving family and friends, learn through new experiences, and grow as an individual every day. This balance is imperative and transfers to my work. Being fulfilled outside of medicine allows me to be the best doctor in the clinic for my patients. I pride myself on prioritizing the people that are most important to me, and this includes my patients. I look at my patients as family and treat them as I would want my mother, father, brothers, and sister treated.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

In medicine, we are asked this question often and I never hesitate when responding that I would with 100% certainty choose dermatology time and time again. As a dermatologist, I wake up every morning eager to help people in need. Being a part of someone’s health journey is rewarding and the relationships I have built with patients are invaluable.

There are many factors that contribute to skin disease all of which have a profound impact on an individual’s physical and emotional well-being. My staff cares deeply about their work and every patient that walks through our door. Patients can guarantee that when being seen at our office that their health is our top priority.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Don’t get me wrong, training and a solid foundational knowledge are essential to practicing medicine, but those are only the first steps to success. Giving back to the community, staying grounded, and connecting with patients outside of the clinic are the things that I believe really contribute to personal and professional growth. For me, these serve as a real-time “refresh” button. From treating devastating skin disease in Haiti, to choreographing a dance for the talent show with a cabin full of campers at The American Academy of Dermatology’s Camp Discovery, I always leave community events feeling a renewed passion for the field of dermatology.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cosmeticdermatologyjax.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxcosmetic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaxcosmetic/