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(l-r) Drs. Thomas and Favreau perform a procedure on a patient.

Like all medical disciplines, dermatology strives to improve the lives of patients. Some may see dermatologists as focused solely on the quest for physical enhancement, but Tracy Favreau, D.O., chair of the Department of Dermatology, and her residents see that as a small corner of a complex tableau. This philosophy explains why Dr. Favreau and her team at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine are committed to a more complicated calling to tackle the challenges many of her colleagues avoid.
 
“A lot of people think dermatology is just popping zits or treating acne, but it is so much more than that,” said Dr. Favreau, who is board certified in both family medicine and dermatology. She leads her department with innovative, patient-centered practices that focus on fighting whatever skin-related disease she encounters. “Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine allows me to help in the Broward Health Medical Center District Clinics. A lot of the patients face very difficult life circumstances. I, along with our dermatology residents, really enjoy helping out at these clinics. It is so rewarding to be able to make a positive change in our patients’ lives.”
 
A rare and unusual case of leprosy is one medical challenge that stands out among the many Dr. Favreau has faced. Through her studies on leprosy, Dr. Favreau was familiar with the highly contagious disease. When a patient from the Specialty Care Center in Fort Lauderdale visited the dermatology clinic, he manifested the ailment’s classic features. A biopsy confirmed lepromatous leprosy bacteria had attacked the cartilage of the man’s ears and nose, displaying the features of a collapsed saddle nose and circular depressions in the cartilage around his ears. The mandatory notification of the Department of Health in Broward County and the Hansen’s Clinic in Miami, was completed. Examinations of family members and others who had been in close contact with the man were also performed. The patient did very well thanks to modern medicine, Dr. Favreau said.
 
Fighting cancer is the focus of the dermatology department. “We are so much more educated today,” Dr. Favreau said. “The department takes pride in providing patient education and raising awareness. Nova Southeastern University is so passionate about helping and reaching out, especially to underserved communities. NSU’s support allows us to work in clinics funded by grants and taxpayers’ money. This support greatly helps people who are unable to pay.”
 
At the community clinics – the Specialty Care facility on Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale and the Broward Health Medical Center outpatient clinic – Dr. Favreau treated almost 2,000 patients last year. Drs. Favreau and Jacqueline Thomas, D.O., assistant professor of dermatology, perform various other dermatology consultations at Broward Health Medical Center and are consulted frequently.
 
In the dermatology clinic on NSU’s campus, four exam rooms are available to meet the high demand for appointments. Nine residents on rotation work with Drs. Favreau and Thomas. Two more members of the team are Daniel Sheridan, office manager, and Dorothy Sainvil-Brown, medical assistant. In the past year, Dr. Favreau examined 1,787 patients on campus.
 
Skin cancer – basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma – is the primary target of the department’s work. Basal cell is the most common and grows slowly. Squamous cell is the second slowest-growing, but can be a little bit more aggressive. Melanoma is highly aggressive and can spread quickly into the lymph nodes and lymph systems. Dr. Favreau and other physicians use the “ABCDE” rules – Asymmetry, Border, Color, Dimension, and Evolution – to inform patients on how to check for red flags during a self-exam. Following those guidelines of changes in moles can make the difference between life and death, Dr. Favreau said.
 
“There is nothing more rewarding to me in this world than helping somebody. I select and carefully train my residents to develop a bedside manner focused on healing. If patients can’t open up and feel comfortable with you, they’re not going to tell you what’s wrong with them.”