I first met Dr. Elizabeth Rostan, founder of Charlotte Skin and Laser, back in March when I was interviewing her for the Specialist Spotlight feature. She was friendly, engaging, and professional, and I asked her a number of questions, one of which was regarding her hobbies and interests outside of work, and I remember her response…

“Dogs — I love dogs and have been engaged in dog rescue for quite a while. Currently, I only have four dogs. And one horse. I am on a foundation board that gives grants to animal-related nonprofit organizations — very rewarding work.”

Dr. Rostan has been involved with the Humane Society of Charlotte, HSC, for more than 15 years now, both personally and professionally through her practice. Early on, her husband encouraged her involvement but forbid her to work directly with the animals as she has a tendency to take in animals with abandon. At the 2020 Women for Animal Welfare luncheon sponsored by Charlotte Skin & Laser, she went home not with a doggie bag, but a real-live puppy that she adopted at the event! Without working directly with the animals, she has leveraged her practice and her time to support fundraising events for the HSC and has even involved her practice directly with some fundraising and food drives, and has generously donated over $130,000 to help advance their mission. All of which raises awareness of our community’s humane society and the importance of supporting an organization that promotes the well-being of the animals in our community and surrounding communities.

She is a firm believer that how a community supports animal welfare reflects on the community itself. She regularly sponsors events like the annual Ties & Tails Gala as well as their Women for Animal Welfare fundraiser. Her passion for animal welfare as well as her love and respect for Charlotte, has also led her to serve on the Capital Campaign to raise funds for a new animal resource center that is currently under construction.

“What I would like to share is that you can make a difference in your community even while pursuing your own passions. As physicians, we are valued as community leaders, and we can leverage that respect to help organizations with their operations and fundraising as well as awareness.

One of our core beliefs at Charlotte Skin & Laser is, “We engage as a team to support our patients, each other, and our community.” This community support has been demonstrated in our support for the Humane Society of Charlotte as well as several other community organizations such as Classroom Central, Carolina Breast Friends, Loaves & Fishes, Charlotte Rescue Mission, and Dove’s Nest. It is not just my staff, and I taking pride in what we can come together to do to help support our local community, but our patients have also rallied around our drives to support these organizations:’

Since their inception in 1978, the work accomplished by the Humane Society of Charlotte has been nothing short of remarkable, and in 2020, the HSC faced challenges unlike they had ever seen before. They believe that by working to improve animal welfare, they are not only saving the lives of animals who need their help but also building a better community by creating families with healthy, happy pets, educating pet owners, and ensuring the safety and well-being of both two-legged and four-legged Charlotteans.

They strive to build a world where there are no more homeless and unwanted animals and follow a no-kill philosophy that is based on saving all animals that present to them.

Visit HumaneSocietyofCharlotte.org to learn more about how to become involved with this wonderful organization and the great work and services the HSC provides.