Taking fight to skin cancer

SKIN DEEP: Dr. Jason Michaels, founder and owner of Aspire Dermatology, examines patient Courtney Meinders, while assistant Danielle Tetreault, right, looks on. A Brown graduate, Michaels returned to Rhode Island, focusing his practice mainly on surgical and general dermatology. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
SKIN DEEP: Dr. Jason Michaels, founder and owner of Aspire Dermatology, examines patient Courtney Meinders, while assistant Danielle Tetreault, right, looks on. A Brown graduate, Michaels returned to Rhode Island, focusing his practice mainly on surgical and general dermatology. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

After spending a year from 1995-96 interning at Brown University, Dr. Jason Michaels moved back to his home in Las Vegas, vowing he would one day bring his family and future dermatology practice back to Rhode Island.

In 2011, Michaels – now a Bristol resident – fulfilled that promise and last month opened the third branch of his business Aspire Dermatology in Johnston, at 1524 Atwood Ave. Michaels, who started his practice in Las Vegas, has spent the last 16 years as a board-certified dermatologist and skin-cancer surgeon.

In Las Vegas, Michaels’ practice was two-fold: surgical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology, but when he came to Rhode Island he found there was greater demand for the latter.

“We quickly learned that the demands for general and surgical dermatology here far exceeded the request for aesthetic procedures,” Michaels said. “We adapted quickly by offering what patients in Rhode Island needed most: a qualified, board-certified dermatologist who accepted new patients and was willing to offer appointments to patients on short notice.”

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Aspire’s first branch opened in the Riverside area of East Providence, and Michaels expanded to Newport in 2013. Aspire now employs 19 people and Michaels decided to come to Johnston to offer services in what he calls an “underserved area.”

“There is a shortage of board-certified dermatologists throughout the country, so we don’t view this market as competitive, just complimentary,” Michaels said. “There are plenty of patients to go around and – like my family – people in our area appreciate outdoor activities and being in the sunshine.”

Michaels said he openly discusses the different skin-care products that are out there with his clients so they can better understand the importance of healthy skin.

“We primarily see patients age 14 and up, with a specialty in cancerous lesions, aging issues and general skin care,” Michaels said. “Our base of clients, however, are middle-aged to active seniors who are starting to see the effects of years of sun exposure without enough protection.”

Michaels also practices as a specialized Mohs micrographic surgeon and operates on some of the most common skin cancers in the country. He said the niche expertise gives him a slight advantage over some of the other dermatologists in the state.

“I am one of the few Mohs micrographic surgeons in the state. Should someone be faced with a skin-cancer diagnosis, he or she wants to know that all the suspect cells have been completely removed,” Michaels said. “Mohs surgery has become accepted as the single-most-effective technique for removing the two most common skin cancers.”

Michaels attributes his business’ success to the wide variety of services offered and acute attention to customer service.

“Our focus is on the best patient experience, from the scheduling call through check out,” Michaels said. n

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