A New Face in Town

  • By Lisa Amstutz
  • January 27, 2011
  • 299
                        
Summary: Wooster’s newest dermatologist, Dr. Rene Bermudez, is filling a longtime void in area medical services. “It’s so needed,” said Denise Parker, chief operating officer of Bloomington Medical Services, where Dr. Bermudez is employed. “We previously had only one dermatologist in town. People were having to go out of town for dermatology for a long time.” Parker said Dr. Bermudez’ schedule is filling quickly. The new office, Wooster Dermatology, opened January 3 in a temporary location. “We’re renovating another office in the same building and will be moving soon,” said Parker. She is particularly excited about the new Mohs micrographic surgery lab where Bermudez will be able to perform the procedure onsite. Mohs is a tissue-sparing surgery for skin cancers in areas where it is important to minimize scarring. “They take a slice of tissue, fix it with chemicals and see if the margins are clear,” said Parker. “If not, they take another and keep taking thin slices until the margins are clear. It’s done right in the office, and biopsies can be done in the office as well.” Dr. Bermudez will also operate at Wooster Community Hospital when necessary. Bloomington Medical Services is an affiliate of Wooster Community Hospital. They employ doctors and staff but also offer billing, staffing and consulting services for those who are not employed by Bloomington, Parker said. They currently run ten practices comprising 26 doctors and their staff in various locations around town. Wooster Dermatology is located in the Milltown Professional Building, Suite 201. (MAIN ARTICLE) Despite the chilly temperatures, the area's newest dermatologist, Dr. Rene Bermudez, has received a warm welcome in Wooster. “The community has been asking for another dermatologist for a long time,” said Dave Rhoad, marketing director and public relations manager at Wooster Community Hospital. “We’re fortunate to have someone the caliber of Dr. Bermudez here—he’s an engaging guy and easy to talk to, in addition to being an excellent physician. I think people will really like him.” Rhoad noted that Dr. Bermudez is the first physician in the area to offer Mohs Micrographic Surgery. Northeast Ohio is home to Dr. Bermudez, who grew up in Warren and did his full residency in the Akron/Canton area, followed by a fellowship in Tulsa, OK. He first became acquainted with Wooster five or six years ago, when he and his wife came to town for an Ohio Light Opera production and dinner at the Wooster Inn. When the fellowship ended and they began to talk about returning to Northeast Ohio, his wife mentioned the town where they had seen that play. Both liked the idea of raising their children in a small community like Wooster rather than a big city. Dr. Bermudez called to see if there were any openings for a dermatologist, and the rest is history. “I already feel like I’m at home,” he said. “It sounds cliché, but it’s true—I feel absolutely great here. I’m really happy to fill a void in the community and the patients I’ve seen in my first few weeks here have been very grateful to have another dermatologist in town. I hear it everywhere—even in the grocery store.” When asked how he chose the field of dermatology, Dr. Bermudez said there was no light from heaven or magical story behind his decision. “When I went to medical school, I kept an open mind,” he said. “My criteria for deciding what specialty to choose was this: after a long day’s work, what do I still have a passion to go home and read about? Dermatology did that for me. It’s a nice mix of the medical mind and surgical aspect. I love what I do—and if I can help someone in the process, that’s a bonus for me.” Dermatologists treat rashes, acne, skin cancers, lupus, psoriasis, eczema, warts and many other issues related to the skin as well as hair disorders and nail diseases. Dr. Bermudez shared a few words of advice for avoiding dermatological problems. “In the winter, we see a lot of rashes resulting from dry skin. Daily application of lotions and creams are important in preventing rashes,” he said. “Sunscreen is also important—even in winter, under clouds, you still can get UV light rays. If you apply it every day, it becomes a habit and you don’t have to stress over the weather—you just do it. They make nice creams now that aren’t like the heavy stuff you put on at the beach.” He also emphasized the importance of keeping an eye on moles. If you have a mole that is changing or symptomatic (bleeding, sore, itchy, or tender), you should get it checked out as soon as possible, as these can be signs of a developing skin cancer. Early detection and treatment are critical. Wooster Dermatology offers skin cancer screening among its other services. They specialize in medical dermatology, dermatologic surgery and Mohs micrographic surgery. The new office will have two procedure rooms and a Mohs lab. Mohs is often used to remove melanomas as well as squamous and basal cell carcinomas, Dr. Bermudez said. He was trained in the procedure during his fellowship in Tulsa. Mohs micrographic surgery is not new; it been refined over the past seventy years. First created by Frederic E. Mohs at the University of Wisconsin, it is used primarily in cosmetically sensitive areas, such as the face or arms. “We look at each layer under the microscope as we remove it,” said Dr. Bermudez. “The advantage of Mohs is that it gives us a 98-99% cure rate, the highest out there, as long as the patient meets indications.” The procedure ensures that the cancer is removed all the way to its roots. Dr. Bermudez also uses other methods when appropriate, such as cryosurgery, abrasion and electrosurgery. “We’re here to serve the community and help out any way we can with your skin care needs,” Dr. Bermudez said. His office is located in the Milltown Professional Building at 128 East Milltown Road, Suite 201. Call 330-202-3360 for more information or to schedule an appointment.


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