Managing Your Pediatric Dermatology Practice and Life: Insights from Brandie Metz, MD, and Megha Tollefson, MD

Brandie Metz, MD, is founder and CEO of Pediatric Dermatology of Orange County, and Megha Tollesfon, MD, is a professor at the Mayo Clinic.

At the 2024 Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Metz and Tollefson presented a session titled, "Quick Hits - Managing your Practice (and your life!)."

They spoke with Dermatology Times to discuss the highlights of their session and what they are most looking forward to in the future of pediatric dermatology.

Streamlining Practice Efficiency

Metz emphasized the importance of streamlining practice operations for maximum efficiency. Efficiency in coding, billing, and completing charts during practice hours can significantly enhance workflow, she noted.

Prioritizing Work-Life Integration

Both dermatologists acknowledged the challenge of achieving work-life balance but emphasized the significance of prioritizing personal well-being alongside professional responsibilities. "There's no such thing as balance," Metz acknowledged. "But really prioritizing yourself and your needs and your family and your passions and your interests outside of medicine, so you can really give yourself your all to both of those when you're there."

Leveraging Team Collaboration

Tollefson highlighted the value of leveraging team members to their fullest potential. "I think another thing that's really important that a lot of times, especially as young pediatric dermatologists, we don't do is really use our team members around us to their fullest potential," she noted. "That's something that I've really learned, really has been valuable for me, in being able to manage kind of all the hats that I wear and still be able to be present and in my home life as much as possible." This collaborative approach not only enhances practice efficiency but also supports a healthier work-life integration.

Exciting Developments in Pediatric Dermatology

Looking ahead, both speakers expressed enthusiasm about advancements in pediatric dermatology. Metz highlighted the growing number of systemic treatments becoming available for challenging conditions. "Before, our toolbox was pretty limited, and it's nice to have an expansion of that toolbox for our kind of needy and deserving pediatric patients," she said.

Tollefson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the impact of new FDA-approved treatments on previously underserved conditions. "It's a really exciting time in pediatric dermatology," she remarked.

Future Trends and Innovations

Discussing future trends, Metz speculated on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and other technological innovations in dermatology practice. "I think we're going see a lot of changes in the next few years with AI and other tools that are gonna change the way we practice, and hopefully it'll all be for the better," she added.