 Dr. Dorfman has licenses to practice in California, New York, Connecticut, and Florida, and is currently completing a fellowship in hair restoration and transplantation.
TAG: Why did you choose to become a medical professional?
I knew that I wanted to become a doctor when I was six years old, and I owe much of that early interest to my grandmother as she always dreamed of being a doctor herself. My grandparents, who came to the U.S. as refugees, helped raise me. They would take me to doctor appointments, drive me to volunteer at the hospital and made sure I attended every summer program that had to do with medicine and surgery starting at an early age. It was during these appointments with my grandparents that I discovered the power of healing and how important the person behind the white coat was to the people who were coming to them for care. I dreamt of one day being like the many doctors who impacted these two people who were, and are, so close to my heart.
TAG: What is your primary area of interest within aesthetic medicine?
Hair restoration is my absolute favorite because of how transformative it can be for both men and women alike. It is one of the most important aspects of aesthetics, yet there are so few practitioners who know how to treat it properly. I hope to be one of those great practitioners that innovates and changes the way haircare is performed in the U.S. and globally.
TAG: How and why did you choose your specific specialty?
My decision to specialize in hair restoration/transplantation and aesthetic medicine stemmed from my own experience of hair loss, weight gain and dissatisfaction with my appearance. I vividly remember sitting down in a barber’s chair at 18 years old and being told I was losing my hair. I did what most guys do: I panicked, bought a bunch of hair loss products and noticed that my hair loss only seemed to get worse. It was not until medical school that I learned about the concept of healing and tissue regeneration with procedures like microneedling. I decided to apply these same principles to hair loss. I started mixing chemicals at home and was able to invent my own topical hair loss product that helped me reverse my own hair loss. All of a sudden, my classmates and friends were asking me what I used for my hair regimen and kept complimenting me on my great hair. It was life changing! I have since filed a patent on my product.
At the same time, I was overweight and dissatisfied with my appearance, so I went on a journey to start eating healthier, exercising regularly, improving my skincare regimen and altogether transformed my appearance, my self confidence and my life. It got to the point that I was reading about innovations in hair loss and aesthetic medicine in my spare time – it was actually fun for me. So, I decided to make a career out of my passions. My goal today is to help people overcome the same challenges that I faced. When you like how you look and feel great, you can change the world. And that is what I want to offer to my patients.
TAG: What challenges do you think your generation, or the next generation of aesthetic practitioners will face?
I think the biggest challenge is for providers to remember that first and foremost, we are doctors and healthcare professionals. We are here to help patients. Profits should be secondary. If you are doing a good job and making patients happy, the profits will come naturally. I always put my patients first and deliver the best quality care possible.
TAG: Who is your biggest inspiration?
Without question, my biggest inspiration is my mom. She is an absolute rockstar. Growing up, I remember she would work two jobs while taking PhD courses at night – all while raising me as a single mother. My grandparents wanted her to focus on her career, so they had me stay with them and helped her raise me. No matter how much she worked, my mom always made time for me and made me feel like I was the most important person in her life. She currently serves as the CEO of the world’s largest healthcare media agency, and I am so proud of all she has accomplished because I know there is no harder working person on this planet than my mom. Most importantly, I learned from her the concept of leading by empowering others. I think all too often we see leaders who rule by instilling fear, but my mom’s leadership style is one of uplifting those around her and making them feel like they can achieve anything. I think this is what makes her such a successful leader, and this is something I try to emulate in my own practice and life.
TAG: Anything else you would like to share with your peers?
A rising tide lifts all ships! Looking forward to meeting you all, as well as sharing more ideas and innovations at upcoming meetings.
