For many people, dealing with challenging skin conditions can be confidence sapping and daunting. But for Dr Levashni Naidoo (or Dr Lev as she is fondly known) and her dedicated team at The Dermatology Room in South Africa, their inspiration is provide effective and life enhancing solutions.
LoA met with the inspirational Dr Lev this month at the Lioness Lean In event in Johannesburg and found out more about her unique story.
What does your company do?
The Dermatology Room is a specialist Dermatology Practice in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"We're passionate about helping start you on your journey toward feeling comfortable, confident and happy about your skin!"
What inspired you to start your company?
The Dermatology Room was inspired by the nurturing philosophy of skin restoration. We wanted to create a space where people felt comfortable to have their skin concerns assessed, with regard to both medical and aesthetic dermatology, and where they felt confident they would be treated both ethically and effectively in a manner that aligned with their skin goals.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
At The Dermatology Room we have a singular purpose; helping you achieve great skin. We're passionate about helping start you on your journey toward feeling comfortable, confident and happy about your skin! We offer a comprehensive spectrum of dermatological care ranging from antenatal and paediatric skincare. general clinical dermatology, aesthetic dermatology and laser therapy.
"We wanted to create a space where people felt comfortable to have their skin concerns assessed, with regard to both medical and aesthetic dermatology"
Tell us a little about your team
The team at The Dermatology Room includes Dr Lev (Specialist Dermatologist) and therapists Melissa Jeannes and Annique Schultz. We're here to help ensure everyday is a great skin day.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Dr Lev is a specialist dermatologist specializing in great skin. She completed her undergraduate medical degree at The University of KwaZulu-Natal cum laude. She obtained the Fellowship of the College of Dermatology with distinction and was awarded the prestigious Jannsen gold medal for recognition of academic excellence from her mentors in the discipline of Dermatology. Dr Lev’s interests extend beyond the understanding of the disease process to the appreciation of how pathology affects the individual, her patient. It is with the vision of practicing holistic health care that she completed a short term fellowship in Epidemiology at Columbia University in the city of New York.
She has also been a keen advocate in the development and maintenance of the Harvard/ Columbia- UKZN partnership which allowed her to optimize the surgical arm of the dermatological care she offers to her patients. She has since gone on to obtain her Masters in Medicine. Dr Lev is a keen academic. She has served as a senior lecturer at The University of KwaZulu-Natal and continues her health promotion endeavors through patient education platforms. She is a member of The Skin Cancer Foundation and The Vitiligo Society of South Africa.
Dr Lev is sought-out for her expert opinion in medical and aesthetic dermatology. She has been a contributor to the development of dermatological care through her authorship of the chapters she has contributed in dermatology textbooks and the research articles she has published in peer-reviewed journals. She is passionate about guiding her patients from skin correction to skin perfection, and it is with this philosophy in mind that she founded the Dermatology Room in Hyde Park where she hopes to bridge the gap between traditional dermatology and beauty.
"We offer a comprehensive spectrum of dermatological care ranging from antenatal and paediatric skincare. general clinical dermatology, aesthetic dermatology and laser therapy."
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
The Dermatology Room will continue to endeavor to deliver the latest, most effective evidence-based skin care treatment options to our patients.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
There have been so many positives following the start of The Dermatology Room. The change I am most grateful for are the smiles on the faces of patients following the care they have received at our practice and the improvement they see in their skin.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Reach out for a hand of support when the path seems daunting and be equally ready to reach out your hand to steady that of another on their journey. Growth is collaborative.
Contact or follow The Dermatology Room
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL info@thedermatologyroom.com
Why LoA loves it….
It is always inspirational to meet passionate women entrepreneurs whose sole mission is to improve the lives of others, and Dr Lev is definitely one of those women. She is dedicating her time and considerable expertise to help others to confidently go out into the world with great skin, often dealing with challenging conditions that can be confidence sapping for her clients. Each day, she helps people to feel more confident and ultimately happy in their skins, a rewarding journey. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo of Lionesses of Africa