Laugh Lines and Life Lessons with Hershel Dobkin, MD, FAAD

Early this year, Dermatology Times had the incredible opportunity to start working alongside Hershel Dobkin, MD, FAAD, to bring his humorous clinical insights to our readers. Dobkin’s writing leans into the everyday realities of clinical practice, offering a refreshing contrast to the data-driven rigor of traditional research articles. Whether you are just starting out in your career or have a firm grasp on the life of a clinician, Dobkin’s work will bring a smile to your face and serve as a reminder that other professionals in the field face the same difficulties each and every day. From performing a chemical peel on himself to examining the role of perception in men’s health, he finds a way to highlight even the most challenging topics with humor and heart.

Q&A With Hershel Dobkin, MD, FAAD

Hershel Dobkin, MD, FAAD: I'm Hershel Dobkin. I'm a board-certified dermatologist in Columbus, Ohio. I'm from Bexley, Ohio, born and raised, but I went to school at Ohio State, then Wright State for medical school, and then did my transitional year at Riverside Methodist. Then I was at Hackensack University Medical Center for dermatology, but then I came back here because can't stay away from home too long.

DT: Where do you currently practice?

Dobkin: I currently practice at Bexley Dermatology, and within the Dermatologists of Central States group in Columbus, Ohio. I'm also president and CEO of Club Hersh Inc. which is my side business/LLC that I do non-clinical work out of such as consulting, research, speaking. It started out as a photoshop project in college for a fake magazine cover, then it evolved into, the name of my apartment where I lived, and then a term of endearment, and then with friends, and then this.

DT: What inspired you to combine your love of comedy with your passion for dermatology?

Dobkin: I view it as a healthy coping mechanism for life's challenges. There's a saying that tragedy makes comedy, and there's something special about creating good vibes and smiles. In addition, I did take a stab at it in college, where I did open mics and some amateur stuff, but clearly, I was no Robin Williams. I'm wearing a white coat now, but I learned how to deal with failure, and I also gained more intimate appreciation of the craft. Despite not continuing stand-up, I've always tried not to take life too seriously in many ways, and comedy has facilitated that. In my work, when it'sappropriate, of course, I like to elevate moods of patients and staff with jokes, goofiness—because medicine work can get dry or be a drag at times. And to avoid burnout, especially for myself and staff, comedy is a key outlet. I just kind of think life's too short to be a stiff, serious downer all the time.

DT: What do you hope readers take away from your pieces?

Dobkin: I hope readers achieve a refreshing break from the heavy research articles with important but sometimes confusing statistics and verbiage, and enjoy my, for the most part, mundane language and funny dermatological medical commentaries on relatable things that dermatologists and many practitioners encounter—except for the article about giving myself the chemical peel. I'm humble, but that—that’s one of a kind that needs a Pulitzer.

DT: Do you have any advice for clinicians or medical students about pursuing personal passions alongside their careers?

Dobkin: Yeah, I feel really strongly about that. Embracing personal hobbies and passions, I think, is the key to avoiding burnout in medicine. I've seen burnout firsthand from colleagues and hints of it myself through medical training and practice. And no matter how much a physician loves their field, there needs to be balance in and outside of work to stay happy and just find meaning in what you do. It's all about balance.

DT: Finally, what are you most excited about right now in dermatology?

Dobkin: Yeah, I mean advancements in lesser-known or orphan dermatologic disease treatments are exciting. I don’t even call them orphan anymore, but vitiligo, granuloma annulare, Daria disease, or chronic spontaneous urticaria, LP, pityriasis rubra pilaris. Also, it’skind of cool—especially with that last zombie apocalypse show—there’s newer antibiotics and antifungals being studied and created due to the rise of resistant bugs and stuff. So that's kind of exciting. Mostly, a lot of the medical stuff is what excites me. I do some cosmetics—obviously, the peel—but I like that kind of stuff too.

Want to read more from Dobkin? Find more of his work here.