Session 9 with Dr. Sophia Rangwala
I am double board certified in Dermatology and Dermatopathology, and practice part-time at a regional hospital in the small beautiful mountain town of Salida, Colorado. My focus is medical dermatology and skin pathology. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona and for my undergraduate studies, attended Harvard College. I earned my M.D. at the Baylor College of Medicine in 2012, and completed my dermatology residency at the University of Colorado in Denver. After receiving my board certification in dermatology, I completed a 1-year dermatopathology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University to gain additional expertise in the microscopic diagnosis of skin disorders, including skin cancers and inflammatory skin conditions. I credit this additional training in further honing my diagnostic skills as a clinician. I have been practicing in Colorado for several years, in both urban and rural areas. In my spare time, I participate in various mountain sports, including skiing, mountain biking, and mountaineering.
Journey to Dermatology
Majored in Neurobiology at Harvard College in Boston, MA in her undergraduate years
Obtained medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX
Did an extra research year once I decided to pursue dermatology
Did a Transitional internship at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, TX in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, ER
Completed Dermatology Residency at University of Colorado in Denver, CO and Dermatopathology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD
After medical school, training typically involves 1 year of internship, 3 years of general dermatology, (optional) 1 year of fellowship
Types of Fellowships:
Pediatric Dermatology
Cosmetic Dermatology
What Is Dermatology?
Dermatology is the branch of medicine that involves the skin, specifically diseases related to skin, hair and nails along with cosmetic issues
e.g. rashes, acne, skin cancers, skin manifestations of internal disease, laser treatments
Practicing Dermatology
Involves making visual diagnosis
Sees patients of all ages
Dermatologists can work in private practice, hospital outpatient, academic faculty
Has worked in private practices, and currently works in an hospital outpatient center in Colorado
Benefits of Being a Dermatology
It’s a specialized field
Dermatology requires creativity and there is a wide range of ages, skillsets, and diagnoses, which makes the job very interesting
You often continue to care for the same patients over time (known as continuity of care)
Dermatology is largely about pattern recognition, which means that it can be very intuitive for people who are visual learners
Pathology plays a large role in dermatology, which makes dermatology a good career choice for people who are interested in pathology
Working in Dermatology makes it possible to have a good work life balance
Advice on The Journey to Becoming a Physician
Start researching as early as possible
Find good mentors
Be proactive and take initiative in your learning
Take time to experiment and dabble with other interests
Nurture your friendships
Be honest and kind to yourself
