“DirectDerm is all about making top-tier dermatologic care available to people who might not otherwise be able to access it,” says Dr. Wong.

As a parent, Dr. Wong has a special interest in seeing that kids’ skin concerns are treated promptly.
“I can’t imagine having a child with a medical issue that can’t be addressed because no doctor is available. This is why we see many children at DirectDerm,” says Dr. Wong, who treats patients of all ages.
To prevent or detect serious conditions like melanoma, Dr. Wong urges parents to put hats, protective clothing, and broad-spectrum sunscreen on their children every day and to scan their entire skin once a month for anything that looks unusual.

He has seen firsthand the positive impact of teledermatology on people’s lives. Instead of being placed on a six-month waitlist to see a dermatologist in his hometown, a 6-year-old boy was quickly evaluated and diagnosed by DirectDerm. His condition was serious, requiring a biopsy and immediate treatment. Even at his young age, it’s likely that his life would have been shortened if not for teledermatology and the resulting early diagnosis.

“There is no feeling like that of knowing you’ve made a difference in the life of someone who otherwise would have had delayed care or had none at all,” Dr. Wong says.