We sat down with Dr. Sourab Choudhury, the Chief Medical Officer of The Dermatology Specialists, to learn about his dermatological background, specialties and personal interests.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Choudhury began his training at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he developed an interest in pediatric skincare. After moving to New York City, he completed a fellowship in the field at NYU Medical Center.
He later founded his own practice, Brooklyn Dermatology, in 2005. The practice became known for its pediatric expertise and focus on the neighborhood’s family dermatological needs. In 2003, Dr. Choudhury was appointed Chief of Pediatric Dermatology of the Long Island College Hospital (LICH). He is now affiliated with both Mount Sinai Medical Center and St John’s where he has taught residents for nearly a decade.
Having practiced dermatology for over 20 years, Dr. Choudhury has become known for his world-class expertise and compassionate care. Today, Dr. Choudhury remains one of only a handful of NYC dermatologists to have completed fellowships in pediatric dermatology.
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I’ve always considered myself a visual person. I love creating things with my hands and I was a Film and Video major in college. In medical school, I felt really connected to dermatology because it’s so visual and allowed me to use my expertise in a different way. I’m constantly using my eyes to diagnose patients which gives me a visceral connection to the field. Given my background and that the field requires me to perform multiple procedures with my hands, I found dermatology was my strength.
Additionally, I’ve had great mentors that have guided me along the way. In Michigan, I had the pleasure to spend time with a doctor and mentor who gave me the guidance and insight to pursue a dermatology career, and I’m glad he did.
I’ve always enjoyed working with kids. My interest in pediatric dermatology developed after working in Michigan with many young patients. Helping them with their skincare needs and seeing their confidence grow is incredibly rewarding. They give me the energy and passion for what I do and it’s inspiring to work with them on a daily basis.
My interest and specialty in skincare for people of color stems from a combination of being a person of color and growing up in Detroit where I was trained to contend with skin issues that disproportionately affect patients of color. New York has a similarly diverse community, and I continue to handle the nuances and issues that patients with darker skin tones face.
It’s two-fold. One is seeing my patients who suffer from skin conditions improve. The second is that I’m always training other dermatologists and watching them learn and grow, becoming masters in their own right.
Biologics, a class of drugs that you’ve probably seen ads for on TV, can now treat chronic skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis. It has changed dermatologists’ ability to treat these conditions in safer and more effective ways. Now they’re working on much more focused treatments than we’ve had in the past. It’s super exciting to see these advancements improve a variety of skin issues and put a smile on our patients’ faces. They’ve really changed the game for dermatology.
There’s a lot of misconceptions about how people should properly treat their skin, especially when it comes to the importance of preventative care. Whether it’s basic sun protection (which can prevent a lot of dermatological diseases) or cleansing properly, a lot of problems that patients develop wouldn’t manifest if they used effective prevention techniques.
I think a lot about kids with acne or eczema and how they’re worsening their skin conditions because they don’t understand how to properly treat and prevent these issues. Whether it’s face-washing habits or daily moisturizing, proactive skincare can go a long way toward improved health and happiness.
Growing up, I always loved the visual arts like film, painting and sculptures. I love artists like Cai Guo-Qiang who works with fireworks in his exhibits and installations, and I’m also very supportive of local, emerging artists. As a result, I’m pretty involved in the New York arts scene and hold art shows in the office.
I wanted to design the office in a way that made it more enjoyable and accessible to patients. I met a woman who curates art shows and was inspired to make our office feel a bit like an art gallery. She now brings in local artists a few times a year to showcase their art and I regularly host receptions for local artists. It’s all been well-received by patients, artists, staff and the overall community and I’m really proud of displaying art in the office because it merges two of my interests: dermatology and art.
Among my other personal interests, I love spending time and traveling with my family. I’m also an avid yoga practitioner.
