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Congratulations to the AAAM Scholarship (US & Europe) 2013 Winners

Level 1 Certificate Course

Athena Theodosatos, DO
Family Practice Physician
Winter Park, Florida

Level 2 Diploma Course

Lori Playfair, MD
Dermatologist
Kingston, Jamaica

Level 3 Board Examination

Soren S Thomas, MD
Family Practice / Aesthetic Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia

Athena Theodosatos, DO
Personal statement
I am very excited to recently become a member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. I am a family doctor who has been providing dermatology services to an underserved community in Riverview Florida for the past 4 years. I have a lot of dermatology training in surgical excisions and common skin disease treatments but very little training in aesthetic medicine. I recently branched off from the practice I was working for and started my own company and plan to continue focusing on skin problems but I would also like to include aesthetic medicine. As a new solo physician with a lot of start up expenses and overhead for my new office the funding to attend the conference has been a huge concern. If I am not able to afford to go this March I hope to attend the next conference. If I am able to get the scholarship I would be able to budget for the part 2 conference/training in Miami in April of this year and then able to take the boards 6 months later in November. I have been reading many of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine board certified members websites and really anticipating getting the training I need to provide the best aesthetic care possible to the patients I currently treat. After receiving the training, my contribution would be to provide these services at an affordable cost to those who desire aesthetic care in the community where I work. Another desire I have is to promote the aesthetic medicine certification courses to the residents that rotate with me in my clinic. I believe many family doctors are interested and would provide aesthetic care if they had proper training and a certification that would give them recognition to their communities that they have the skills necessary to provide excellent results. I am very eager to start my aesthetics training and would be honored to receive the assistance I need to reach my career goals in aesthetics.
Post-Course Report
I have completed my second of 3 courses for board certification through the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. After receiving the scholarship to attend the level one course I started incorporating more aesthetic procedures into my practice. As a practicing dermatologist, I have lots of patients with medical dermatology problems that have been excited to now be able to also have aesthetic procedures offered in my office. I feel very confident in providing the best care and treatment to my patients after completing my advanced training through the AAAM. I have also met some really great doctors through the AAAM that have given me some ideas and opportunities to make sure my practice is successful. I recently purchased a laser and look forward to expanding that part of my practice as well as continuing to attend the level 3 course and future AAAM meetings to network with my peers and continue to learn and grow in the aesthetic medicine field.
Lori Playfair, MD
Personal statement
The primary reason for selecting scholarship at the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine is that I am interested in expanding the aesthetic aspect of my practice of dermatology. The America Academy of Aesthetic Medicine's board certification courses are the only ones recognized in the US, Asia, and the Mid-East by the International Association of Aesthetic Medicine and this global recognition gives me confidence in the teaching and the knowledge imparted in this course. Having done the level 1 course it has become clear that the expert faculty of the Academy is not only dedicated to teaching participants the science of aesthetic medicine but they are also highly proficient at imparting the knowledge regarding the clinical aspects of aesthetic medicine as well. These qualities make for enthusiasm and ease of learning. There is also a focus on teaching techniques that can be performed safely in the office. Although I am a dermatologist, I work in a large inner city public hospital in Jamaica. As such I give a lot of my time and effort to the less fortunate, which has a negative impact on my earnings. This being the case, I am unable to devote a large amount of my time to private practice. As such the scholarship would help me greatly in covering my cost. The exchange rate is very high which also adds to the financial burden. As I would like to expand my private practice offering to include more aesthetic procedures, the scholarship would give me the opportunity get to level 2 and a chance to achieve my goal. The most important benefit to be gained from this scholarship is the overall improvement of care to be offered to the patients. Patients are now not only seeking good health but they also seek to minimize the effects of normal aging and improve their appearance. With the scholarship and completion of the course and armed with my newly acquired knowledge, I would be able to offer patents procedures to best improve their appearance in a non- invasive or minimally invasive way. For those patients who are unable to afford expensive and extensive procedures, less- expensive and less-extensive procedures, advise and confidence building can be knowledgeably offered which will improve their overall well-being. As the course also includes marketing and business development I can use this knowledge to develop my aesthetic practice and be able to represent the tenets of the mission statement of the America Academy of Aesthetic Medicine in my country.
Post-course report
The elective experience was a very rewarding one. Having done the Level 1 course, the Level 2 was the next phase in the learning continuum. The Level 2 introduced new material and went in depth in many aspects of the management of the aesthetic practice such as the startup, advertising and legal aspects pertaining to medical aesthetic practice. I learned advanced procedural techniques with injectables and once again, the focus was on teaching techniques that can be performed safely in the office. The administrative staff and teaching panel were exemplary in carrying out their duties. The teaching panel imparted their knowledge well and was able to address any questions and concerns I had. Where there were errors and/or pages omitted in the course material the teaching staff and the administrators coordinated their efforts and ensured that the material was received in short order. I am very grateful for the scholarship for two most important reasons. The first is that the scholarship assisted me financially in pursuing further education in aesthetic medicine. The second benefit I have gained from this experience is the overall improvement in the care I am able to offer to my patients. Since I am now equipped with greater knowledge and practical experience I am able to introduce what I learned into my patient care delivery and so enhance my practice of medicine and more specifically, dermatology. I have more confidence in addressing my patients' aesthetic needs as they arise and, by extension, in improving their self-esteem. Overall, my experience in being afforded the opportunity to pursue the level 2 course has been a rewarding one. I am grateful for the support of the academy and look forward to doing my board certification in 2015.
Soren S Thomas, MD
Personal statement
I believe that AAAM has the right goal and mission, which is to promote aesthetic medicine and educate the practicing doctors so that we can continue to improve the aesthetic service offered to our patients. No other organization or seminar has similar goal. I attended many seminars, but no quality control or aim to help doctor to achieve the status that AAAM offer, which is board certification. The board certification is important to doctor to give credibility. The board certification certifies that a certified doctor has proper credential to practice proper aesthetic medicine. It is very important that the doctor has proper training so that we, the doctors in aesthetic medicine, can offer quality aesthetic care. We have increasing population who are aging. Currently, over 50% of the population is over 30 years old. These people want to stay and look young. By 2040, half of the population is of retirement age. This group of patients, too, desires and need extensive help from aesthetic medicine to maintain their youth. I have extensive training in aesthetic medicine, and have been practicing aesthetic medicine for about 10 years. I am not a novice who might change the mind of practicing aesthetic. I am definitely interested in pursuing excellence in aesthetic. However, there have not been an organization to standardize the aesthetic protocol or to assure that the training you are receiving is proper one. I believe that AAAM came into being for this purpose. I feel that I deserve the scholarship for two reasons. First, it will help me a great deal financially. It has been a strain financially to attend aesthetic courses. Second, I am confident that this scholarship shall not be wasted. This fund shall not be used in vain. It shall be used for a good cause, both for patients, present and future, and for my practice growth. By receiving this scholarship, I will be able to complete the course and take the Aesthetic Board examination. I will then be able to offer quality aesthetic medicine to patients. HOW I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AAAM MISSION: I shall continue to educate myself in this constantly changing and challenging field of aesthetic medicine. I will like to contribute to AAAM mission by participating in their teaching program. If opportunity arises, I would like to be an instructor. I would like to contribute to the mission by participating in research if available. I would promote and support AAAM as an organization which assures the quality and excellence aesthetic medicine. This shall reflect the high status and quality of the organization.
Post-course report
It is an honor to be selected to be a recipient of scholarship to sit on AAAM board certification. I would like to thank you for your generous financial support toward my higher goal and training, to wit, practice of aesthetic medicine. AAAM has created an organization around noble goal of educating and training physicians from all walks of medicine to build and grow aesthetic medicine practice based on avant-garde and leading edge information. I am proud to be a member of such organization. As 2014 passed and a new year 2015 dawns, as recipient of AAAM scholarship program, I want to say "thank you" to AAAM organizers and everyone involved in making AAAM a success story. I want to thank you for sharing your vision and allowing me to grow with AAAM. To president, faculty, organizers, vendors, and faculty board members, and testing faculty examiners, I say "thank you" for your shared dedication to excellence and quality of organization. I say "thank you" for sharing your vision with me by allowing me to sit on AAAM board certification exam. I say "thank you" to the faculty board examiner, Dr. John Kim, for encouraging words of advice, thorough review and seeing a potential in my future. To Board members, I say "thank you" for trusting and believing in me. Along with AAAM, I shall endeavor to create and bring out beauty in each of my patient I take care of every day. May 2015 bring each of you to be more successful , bring more beauty and health in everything we do.

 

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