It is fascinating to examine how different industries adapt and evolve with each passing day. This is in part, due to daily advancements the world sees and secondly because of the many individuals who have been working relentlessly to make a positive difference in their respective field with their consistent efforts, knowledge and passion. The dermatology field is one where many medical professionals and doctors have come to the forefront with their unique discoveries and treatments. However, only a few have gone beyond boundaries even amidst the trying times of a global health pandemic, to make sure they reach every patient and provide them with services that are bound to give them the results they desire. Dr Dev Patel from England tops the list of these medical practitioners who is an MBBS and has a specialises in aesthetic and medical dermatology.
Dr Dev Patel graduated from Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospitals in 2000 and served as a Medical Officer in the Royal Navy; retiring as a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander in 2010. During that time he completed his Diploma in Practical Dermatology and since then has never looked back. His love for treating patients and his passion to do something in the skin and aesthetics industry helped Dr Dev Patel to open his own skin clinic – Perfect Skin Solutions – in 2014, based in Portsmouth, England. The clinic started with one employee and now has a team of 13 people and is growing every few months.
COVID-19 changed the game for many, where several businesses had to shut shop and so many others were laid off from their firms. However, to help people and to solve their queries and questions on health, Dr Dev Patel worked day and night during these trying times to reach as many people as possible across the world with the help of social media. He posted content on health promotion and education, answering personal concerns but also addressing the fears of the wider public; receiving widespread and highly positive feedback from followers across the globe. He also offered complementary consultations and advice – remotely – for anyone who needed help for any medical condition. During the lockdown, he produced a 4-part series on Coronavirus which created much buzz on social media, resulting in over 90 k views. The series garnered exceptional accolades on social media from UK and across the world.
Dr Dev Patel made a patient journey video for the “new normal” and explained what patients should expect. This became one of the most popular videos on social media, where many other clinics and his colleagues from the UK and across the world wished to take inspiration from his work and use the same for making their own versions. Dr Dev Patel instigated numerous changes very early on, for e.g. converting all paper materials including leaflets and other forms into digital versions, usable by their CRM or via QR Code from their patients’ mobile devices. To maintain connection to his patients, Dr Dev Patel also wrote to his whole patient database throughout 2020. He focused on making that communication very informative, supportive and uplifting for his patients, for which he was highly appreciated by them. Dr Dev Patel made sure he connected emotionally with each of his patients to maintain a strong doctor-patient relationship.
Dr Dev Patel also launched his training academy called ‘Perfect Skin Academy’ (@perfectskinacademy) during the height of the pandemic. Face-face courses were postponed, but this did not stop Dr Dev Patel delivering training courses via Zoom e.g. to a clinic in Florida in November. He has also delivered workshops and lectures to global audiences of doctors on invitation from conference organisers or companies.
The pandemic revealed the best of this astute medical practitioner. When many were winding down in December and indeed, the UK went into another virtual lockdown, Dr Dev Patel even did a soft launch of his skincare brand, ‘CellDerma’. A week later Dr Dev Patel and his team learnt that they had reached the finals of the 2020 Aesthetic Awards in no less than 3 categories, including Aesthetic Medical Practitioner of the Year and Best Clinic South England. Despite the many downs that businesses and industries saw during COVID-19, Dr Dev Patel through his rigorous hard work and passion for discovering newer treatments and providing training in the subject through his academy stayed on top of his game in 2020. As his final gesture in 2020, Dr Dev Patel donated much needed blood plasma to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, on 30 December – did we tell you that he had antibodies having suffered with COVID-19 in August? That is for another story.
