Spotlight On: Leslie Baumann, MD, FAAD
1. How did you know you chose the right specialty in dermatology?
I have always been a fan of skincare and science; therefore dermatology was a natural choice for me. When I was a young girl I would read all of the biographies about Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubenstein, Estee Lauder, Charles Revson, Mary Kay and all of the other great skincare entrepreneurs. Biology and chemistry were my favorite …
1. How did you know you chose the right specialty in dermatology?
I have always been a fan of skincare and science; therefore dermatology was a natural choice for me. When I was a young girl I would read all of the biographies about Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubenstein, Estee Lauder, Charles Revson, Mary Kay and all of the other great skincare entrepreneurs. Biology and chemistry were my favorite … 
Part 1 of 2 in a series
If you are starting a practice from scratch, whether or not you have been in another practice initially, one of the most daunting tasks can be to hire staff. After all, there are so many applications and the individuals generally seem great during the interview process! How does one make the final cut or even start the process?
Finding Candidates
While it is always possi … 
\Part 2 of 2 in a series
Biopsies
One of the most common codes you will use in dermatology is for skin biopsy. In most cases, you should use 11100 for the first biopsy (shave or punch) and 11101 for each additional biopsy. For example, if you perform five biopsies you would bill 11100 and 11101 with a quantity of four for a total of five. When shouldn’t you use these codes?
- Use shave remo … 
I wish I had more seriously considered what mattered to me most in a job: Would it be a flexible schedule? Ability to do procedures? High pay? Working with excellent colleagues? Hiring my own staff? Having a relationship to a highly respected hospital or higher institution?
I also wish I had known that when finally looking at my first contract, the most important part is how I would get out of … 
I can speak only for myself on the topic of starting a solo dermatology practice. As an aside, I initially had no interest in starting and running a small medical business. My post-training strengths, or at least my comfortable level of competencies, did not include marketing myself, choosing the right business location, buying all the right supplies, getting the right loans, hiring and firing sta … 