Member Spotlight: Lindsay Ackerman, MD
We're proud to introduce Lindsay Ackerman, MD, as ArMA's December Member Spotlight.
Dr. Lindsay Ackerman is a board-certified dermatologist, dedicated physician advocate, and leading educator on dermatology & internal pathology. She serves patients as the founder and president of Medical Dermatology Specialists, now a part of US Dermatology Partners, located in Phoenix. Outside the clinic, she advances patient care and medicine through her docuseries, SKINTELLAGENT, and leadership in local and national medical organizations.
Since 2005, Dr. Ackerman has served as a representative to the American Medical Association, where she tackles complex legislative and policy issues, tirelessly working to improve healthcare on a national level. She also sits on the Dermatology Section Council, where she shapes decisions impacting dermatologists across the country. In recognition of her long-term commitment to organized medicine, Dr. Ackerman was presented ArMA's Award in Memory of Edward Sattenspiel, MD, earlier this year.
In her interview, Dr. Ackerman reflects on how informal decisions can be some of the most meaningful, how humility and authenticity make all the difference in the clinic, and how advocacy empowers her to change the lives of patients she'll never meet.
Read more about Dr. Ackerman and her journey below!
You're the Founder and President of Medical Dermatology Specialists in Phoenix (now a part of US Dermatology Partners). With over 17 years of experience, what have been the biggest lessons you've learned about owning and running a medical practice?
1. We are in the people pleasing business folks! Not in any way that diverges from the mission of providing medically necessary and comprehensive care but rather converges with the philosophy that we are here to recognize, appreciate, and meet patients' needs. Sometimes it may be that the patient needs to get in a quick assessment and get back to work. Sometimes there is a need for additional handholding, a hug, sitting down, or even just eye-contact and open ears. Sometimes I send someone a card that is going through a rough time. I believe that humility builds connection. Being authentic and attentive allow you as a physician to read the room and understand the 'unspoken' word, and what it is saying. This has helped me connect with patients with sincerity, in a way that is more satisfying for both of us.
2. There is always more to learn – and that's okay. The 'human' condition is dynamic. It is important that we, as professionals, remind ourselves that we won't necessarily have exactly all the answers at every moment, but that we are equipped to find the right answers when they otherwise seem evasive. (Never give up!)
3. I recognize the value in having an incredible office administrator. Tracey has been with me for over 17 years, and she is someone I can't say enough good things about! Tracey runs the office with ethics and expectations that demand the best of everyone around her. She motivates by example and leads in a way that is trustworthy and sincere. Tracey also has built the best personnel-infrastructure we ever could ask for. I believe we have patients that return because they like the front-office staff, or back-office staff, as much as they like me (and that's something to be extraordinarily proud of!!!). Without Tracey I would never have been able to create this remarkable 'space' in downtown Phoenix that serves our entire state, and beyond."
What prompted you to become involved in organized medicine?
"I got started by just saying 'Sure'. I was asked by the American Academy of Dermatology, during my Dermatology residency, if I would like to serve as the 'Resident Representative to the American Medical Association'. I didn't even know what that meant – but I said, 'Sure'. Sometimes, the best things come from scenarios that weren't planned or expected, but that just presented themselves in an informal way .... and then the journey begins!"
Career Journey
Earlier this year, you were awarded ArMA's Award in Memory of Edward Sattenspiel, MD, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate a long-term commitment to organized medicine and healthcare advocacy in Arizona. How has being involved in organized medicine and advocacy changed your relationship with your profession?
"Receiving this award was a true highlight of my career. I have given of myself (time and supra-tentorial resources) for over 20 years in organized medicine, both nationally and at the state level. I believe that with great privilege comes great responsibility – and that when you see something that needs your knowledge, experience, or expertise, you do something with it. Advocacy has allowed me to bring healthcare benefits to patients I'll never meet. Advocacy takes my skillset beyond the four walls of my practice and works to do things much greater than that which I can deliver alone. The future of healthcare began 'yesterday', and by being in the room pushing for policies that are important for patients in Arizona, and throughout our country, makes the actual execution of the work I do clinically, much more meaningful. Being recognized for my work in healthcare policy by ArMA was an enormous honor."
Where is your favorite place to grab food in Arizona?
"Could be any Sam Fox restaurant, Ocotillo, or Buck and Rider."
What drew you into the field of medicine and, more specifically, dermatology?
"First, I'd be remiss not to 'open' with the fact that I absolutely love my specialty of Dermatology... However, I also do love the day-to-day privilege of practicing medicine.
I am especially fond of the long-standing relationships I have shared with patients and their families over the 17-year duration of my career here in Phoenix.
Dermatology, very specifically, is an incredible specialty to practice. As a field of medicine, it touches every component (and remains often at the crux) of human disease: From infections and infestations, to malignancies, metabolic disorders, immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, genetic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and more. We treat from infancy to the elderly. We touch the rigors of medical science, surgery, counseling, physical exams, and the microscope – literally every day! The diseases we treat often require cross-over into multi-disciplinary care, from GI to Rheumatology, ID to Oncology, OB to Cardiology, and Rad-Onc to Plastics – we get to remain connected with other specialists, which keeps us bright. We can do hospital work for critically ill patients and help an adolescent triumph over an acne condition that feels devastating at a difficult time in life. We have aspects of our work that span aesthetics, where we can restore one's sense of self; and in the next room we may gently help someone decide when it is time to forgo additional treatment in the interest of giving back quality to the remainder of one's life. Dermatology is a subspecialty of medicine that is remarkable for all the reasons I've mentioned, and even many more."
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
"I set the state record for greatest number of consecutive free-throws made in women's high school basketball."
What's one thing you wish more people knew about their skin and taking care of it?
"This could be my favorite question. Skin is an incredible window into hidden internal pathology! In fact, I built a medical docuseries,
'SKINTELLAGENT with Dr. Lindsay Ackerman' (housed on YouTube), to display just that! Built to captivate, fascinate, educate, and illustrate, we brought a film crew into the hospital and clinic to document patient journeys, where I knew the skin finding was telling me something critically important was otherwise going on ... and we captured these journeys from disease presentation to discovery. From the skin findings that revealed a hidden leukemia diagnosis, or rare tumor abutting the aorta, or protein synthesis disorder, or, or, or .... I'm educating the public and healthcare professionals about the importance of skin findings in detecting internal disease!"
If you weren't practicing medicine, what would you be doing?
"News broadcasting – or some form of media-related 'education'."
What was the biggest pivot point in your career?
"When I decided to 'go for it' and build a medical docuseries to make medical Dermatology 'sexy' again. While I value all aspects of our precious specialty, I believe we have glamourized so much of what we do in aesthetics, that we've marginalized the incredible scope of our field. I am giving visibility to how immensely amazing our skin is as an organ system to tell us about internal pathology, to 'fix' the misconception that Dermatology is only superficial.
I built a 501(c)3, 'SKINTELLAGENT: Dermatology Undressed' (Skintellagent.org), to house my medical docuseries on YouTube, and other media-related materials, and quite literally put my money where my mouth was. Again, with great privilege comes great responsibility. I know better than to let Dermatology be diminished in its importance. I want to change the public opinion of Dermatology. I want to reposition our specialty as one that is of critical importance in the House of Medicine. And, I want to ensure that the future pipeline for medical dermatology is robust. I'm making medical dermatology 'sexy' to give visibility to how meaningful our work really is, quite literally putting our skillset on display, as the skin provides clues to uncover hidden internal disease .... and how immensely gratifying this work is!!! Yes, I could make more money doing other things. But I guarantee, I wouldn't be happier."
What is one message you would give your younger self?
"You are enough, but it is okay to also want to keep trying."
Why is ArMA important to you?
"ArMA is a critically important organization for our healthcare delivery in Arizona – for us as physicians, and for the patients we serve. We as a collective group of physicians have ArMA to do the heavy lifting for us at our state legislature. ArMA listens to the voices of clinicians and works tirelessly to ensure that our needs are met. If you have frustrations with how your practice workflow feels, or how 'truth in advertising' has affected your business (and the fairness you believe patients deserve), or the insurance policies that tie your hands in getting efficient medically necessary care to
your patients, ArMA is your workhorse and lobbying body to get things to change! If you aren't 100% pleased with healthcare delivery today in Arizona, you should be an ArMA member, helping provide them the resources they need to help you (and the patients you want to help)!"
What personal or professional achievement are your most proud of?
"My wife and children bring me tremendous pride!!! There is no better accomplishment than knowing you've made an exceptional choice in a spouse, and watching your children grow into loving, hard-working people with good values."
What's the best advice you've ever received?
"Begin anywhere....."
Together, we stand stronger. Become a member today!
