Island Dermatology LLC — Attraction in Hawaii

I have been to three dermatology offices in Kona, and Island Dermatology stands out as superior. When I first called the office, I was impressed with the young woman, Brooke, who helped me schedule my first appointment. And upon arriving at the office, I noticed it felt comforting and cheerful. The staff greeted me and my wife warmly. As soon as I completed some paperwork, the medical assistant, Cason, took us into a private office.

A few minutes later, Emily, the dermatologist, greeted us warmly and attentively. She looked at the skin condition on my arm and recommended it be removed and biopsied. When I told her I wanted to review all my options, she patiently went over them with me. In my experience, it's rare to be in a medical office and feel like the doctor or practitioner is wholly present and truly listening to my needs, but that's how I felt with Emily.

I agreed to have the growth on my arm removed for a biopsy. Cason, the medical assistant, prepped me for the procedure. I don't know how many injections of Lidocaine she gave me, but she was highly skilled, and I felt no discomfort. In addition to being professional, she was personable.

Emily returned, explained what she would do, and skillfully removed the growth on my arm. She explained what she was doing at each stage, repeatedly checked in with me, and created a positive experience that helped minimize my anxiety.

I am a member of a group of doctors and researchers who study the healing process. One of our primary findings is that people heal best when they feel safe and experience connection with other people. The staff at Island Dermatology creates the conditions required to facilitate healing. Although this is what we should expect when we go to medical offices, in my experience, this is the exception, not the rule. The other dermatology offices I visited in Kona felt rushed and crowded, and I didn't feel cared for. I highly recommend Island Dermatology and am grateful to the...

When I moved from New Jersey to Hawaii I was legit scared I wasn't going to find a Dermatologist that could help me with my acne issues. The first day I went to Island Dermatology and Koru Medical Spa I was blown away with how welcoming everyone was and how amazing their products and services are.

I've gotten micro-needling done several times along with many other procedures. As someone who runs an on-camera/entertainment business, procedures like this are extremely needed and was a huge concern to me when moving.

What matters to me is how both Island Dermatology and Koru work together to find the best possible solutions for you as a patient and individual. You aren't just welcomed as another client/patient, you are welcomed as yourself. Your concerns become theirs and your conditions reflect how they work. They work with you. Nothing is forced, everything is discussed and reviewed one on one.

If you're thinking about going to any other Dermatologist on the island stop right there, and consider going to Island Dermatology and Koru Medical Spa. You won't regret it for your health, because they aren't just doctors, they care and...

Reading the reviews here is honestly shocking. First of all, the fact that the practice owner has the audacity to call herself "Dr. Shellie" when she is a nurse practitioner is misleading. Having an academic doctorate (DNP) should not be clinically conflated with an MD or a DO as it is confusing to patients and misleading.

This misrepresentation is seen very obviously in the other reviews, which frequently refer to the "dermatologists" at this practice. There is not a single physician who works here, much less an actual board-certified dermatologists.

Practices like this take advantage of those who are too ignorant to understand or care about the credentials and education of the people they are seeing.

I am used to being cared for by actual board-certified dermatologists on the mainland and the knowledge gap, skill level, and attention to (relevant) detail far surpasses any other "Provider" (i.e. physician assistant or nurse practictioner), especially if you have an actual serious dermatological condition that requires expert care. Run, don't walk to Oahu or Maui to see an actual physician if you need dermatological...