Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Dermatologist

🎯 Role Definition

As a Dermatologist you will provide expert, evidence-based medical, surgical and cosmetic care to patients across the lifespan. You will evaluate, diagnose and manage a wide range of cutaneous diseases—ranging from acne, eczema and psoriasis to complex autoimmune skin disorders and cutaneous malignancies—using medical therapy, procedural interventions and multidisciplinary coordination. This role combines clinical excellence, procedural skill (biopsy, excision, cryotherapy, laser, injectables), quality documentation in electronic medical records (EMR), patient education and practice leadership. Ideal candidates are board-certified or board-eligible dermatologists with strong diagnostic skills, procedural experience, a commitment to patient-centered care, and an ability to contribute to practice growth, education and clinical research.

SEO/LLM keywords: Dermatologist, dermatology, skin cancer, Mohs surgery, dermatopathology, cosmetic dermatology, laser treatments, Botox, fillers, teledermatology, acne, psoriasis, eczema, mole removal, skin biopsy, clinical dermatologist.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Dermatology residency graduate (MD or DO), board-eligible/board-certified.
Fellowship-trained physicians (Mohs surgery, dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology, cosmetic dermatology).
Experienced dermatology physicians relocating from private practice or academic clinics.

Advancement To:

Clinical Director / Chief of Dermatology
Medical Director of Dermatology Services or Ambulatory Surgery Center
Academic rank (Assistant/Associate/Professor) with research and teaching responsibilities
Practice owner / Partner in a multi-specialty clinic or specialty dermatology group

Lateral Moves:

Dermatopathologist (with fellowship/certification)
Procedural or Cosmetic Dermatology Specialist (laser & injectables)
Teledermatology clinical lead or digital health product physician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive skin, hair and nail examinations, take detailed histories and synthesize clinical findings to diagnose a broad spectrum of dermatologic disorders, from common conditions (acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis) to rare systemic skin diseases, using evidence-based diagnostic frameworks.
Perform and interpret in-office skin biopsies (shave, punch, excisional), prepare specimens for dermatopathology review and correlate clinical and histopathologic findings to establish definitive diagnoses and treatment plans.
Manage the full scope of cutaneous oncology care including identification of suspicious lesions, excisional surgery, coordination of Mohs surgery or referral to a Mohs surgeon, staging coordination, multidisciplinary tumor board participation, and long-term surveillance for recurrence.
Provide procedural dermatology services including surgical excisions, electrodessication and curettage (ED&C), cryotherapy, intralesional injections, and office-based anesthesia with meticulous attention to sterile technique, wound closure, and postoperative care.
Deliver cosmetic dermatology treatments such as neuromodulators (Botox/Dysport), soft tissue fillers, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and light-based/laser therapies while assessing patient expectations, managing complications and ensuring appropriate consent and follow-up.
Operate and oversee laser and energy-based devices for vascular, pigmentary and resurfacing indications; develop safe protocols for device settings, patient selection and pre/post-procedure management in accordance with manufacturer and regulatory guidelines.
Prescribe and manage systemic therapies including oral antibiotics, retinoids (isotretinoin), immunosuppressants (methotrexate, cyclosporine), biologics (for psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa), and coordinate lab monitoring, risk mitigation and prior authorization processes.
Provide care for complex inflammatory and autoimmune dermatology cases (e.g., bullous disorders, lupus, vasculitis), including ordering appropriate serologic tests, coordinating with rheumatology and other specialties, and titrating immunomodulatory therapy.
Perform patient-focused cancer risk assessment and counseling, skin cancer screening, mole mapping and digital dermatoscopic evaluation; implement prevention strategies and patient education for sun protection and self-skin exams.
Interpret dermatopathology reports, communicate results to patients and referring clinicians, and request additional stains/immunohistochemistry or second opinions when histology-clinical correlation is discordant.
Lead perioperative care for dermatologic surgeries including preoperative evaluations, management of anticoagulation questions, postoperative visits, suture removal and scar management, ensuring timely documentation and clear patient instructions.
Provide teledermatology consultations (store-and-forward and live telemedicine) including triage, remote diagnosis and management recommendations while maintaining high standards of clinical quality, privacy and documentation.
Supervise, mentor and teach dermatology residents, medical students, physician assistants and nurse practitioners; participate in standardized teaching sessions, case conferences and grand rounds to foster academic excellence and continuous learning.
Contribute to quality improvement initiatives and patient-safety programs by monitoring clinical outcomes, procedural complications, infection control, and implementing practice-level interventions to improve patient experience and care metrics.
Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation in the electronic medical record (EMR), complete coding and charge capture for clinic visits and procedures, and collaborate with billing teams to ensure compliant reimbursement practices.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with referring providers, primary care physicians, oncologists and multidisciplinary teams to coordinate complex care, expedite referrals and support integrated patient management.
Participate in clinical research, investigator-initiated trials or industry-sponsored studies including patient identification, consent, protocol adherence and data collection to advance dermatologic knowledge and therapeutic options.
Manage clinic flow and scheduling priorities by triaging urgent cases (e.g., suspected melanoma, rapidly evolving eruptions), optimizing clinic efficiency and ensuring timely access for high-acuity patients.
Provide compassionate patient education, counseling and shared decision-making for treatment plans, side effect management and realistic outcomes for medical and cosmetic procedures, maintaining high patient satisfaction and retention.
Ensure regulatory compliance with state medical boards, facility credentialing, OSHA/HIPAA standards and maintain active DEA and state medical licenses as required.
Lead practice growth initiatives including community outreach, patient education events, marketing support for cosmetic services, and collaborating with administrative leadership to expand service lines and increase patient volume.
Actively manage complications and adverse events from medical and cosmetic treatments, provide urgent follow-up care, and escalate appropriately to surgical or inpatient care when necessary.

Secondary Functions

Participate in departmental and institutional committees related to clinical operations, quality assurance, infection control and patient safety.
Assist with practice operations including inventory management for procedural supplies, device maintenance and vendor coordination for lasers and other equipment.
Support nurse practitioner/PA supervision and delegation of procedures in accordance with state law and clinic policy; provide regular clinical oversight and feedback.
Collaborate with marketing and patient outreach teams to develop educational content, social media messaging and community events that promote skin health and the clinic’s services.
Contribute to EMR optimization projects by providing clinical input on templates, order sets, procedure notes and clinical decision support for dermatology workflows.
Participate in scheduling and coverage rotations, including on-call duties for urgent dermatology consults, inpatient consults and emergency dermatologic issues as needed.
Coordinate with pharmacy teams and specialty pharmacies for biologic therapy initiation, prior authorization navigation and patient assistance programs.
Document and report procedural and clinical outcomes to institutional registries or quality databases (e.g., skin cancer registries) to support continuous improvement and benchmarking.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical diagnosis and management of medical dermatology conditions (acne, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, infections, autoimmune dermatoses).
Skin biopsy techniques (punch, shave, excisional) and specimen handling for dermatopathologic analysis.
Surgical dermatology skills including lesion excision, electrodessication & curettage (ED&C), wound closure and postoperative management.
Dermatopathology correlation and interpretation of pathology reports; ability to request appropriate stains and consults.
Experience with Mohs surgery workflow or coordination with Mohs surgeons (preferred if fellowship-trained).
Proficiency in cosmetic procedures: neuromodulators (Botox), soft-tissue fillers, chemical peels, microneedling and other minimally invasive aesthetic treatments.
Competence with laser and light-based therapies (ablative and non-ablative resurfacing, IPL, vascular and pigment-specific lasers) and safety protocols.
Prescribing and monitoring systemic therapies including retinoids, immunosuppressants and biologic agents; knowledge of lab monitoring and risk mitigation.
Teledermatology and virtual visit experience including remote triage, documentation and image-based diagnosis.
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) proficiency (e.g., Epic, Cerner) with strong documentation, billing and coding accuracy for dermatology CPT/ICD codes.
Familiarity with infection control, sterile technique, office-based procedural protocols and perioperative safety.
Participation in clinical research protocols, outcome tracking, and reporting; ability to interpret clinical literature and apply evidence-based guidelines.

Soft Skills

Strong clinical judgment and diagnostic reasoning with attention to pattern recognition and differential diagnosis.
Empathetic patient communication and shared decision-making, especially for sensitive cosmetic and oncology care.
Teaching and mentorship skills to train residents, advanced practice providers and medical students.
Excellent collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork with oncology, rheumatology, ENT, plastic surgery and primary care.
Time management and organizational skills to balance high-volume clinic schedules, procedures and documentation.
Problem-solving orientation with commitment to continuous quality improvement and patient safety.
Professionalism, ethical conduct, and cultural competence to serve a diverse patient population.
Business acumen and practice development skills for managing growth of clinical and cosmetic service lines.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school.
Completion of an accredited Dermatology residency program.
Board-eligible or board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology (or equivalent national board).

Preferred Education:

Fellowship training in Mohs micrographic surgery, dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology, or cosmetic dermatology (preferred for specialized roles).
Additional certifications in laser safety, cosmetic injectables, and advanced life support (BLS/ACLS) where required.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Medicine (MD/DO)
Dermatology
Dermatopathology (fellowship)
Cosmetic/procedural dermatology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–7+ years post-residency clinical dermatology experience (entry-level to experienced clinician roles available)

Preferred:

2–5 years of independent clinical dermatology practice for standard roles; 3+ years for roles requiring procedural/cosmetic expertise.
Demonstrated procedural experience (biopsies, excisions, lasers, injectables) and prior clinic leadership or academic teaching experience preferred.
Proven success in teledermatology, clinical research or practice growth initiatives is a plus.