Spring is right around the corner; you can sense the anticipation in every warm breeze on your skin and in every grain of pollen covering your car. That being said, you want to look your best when that time comes. But if you’re worried about your appearance, especially when it comes to your skin, you should make an appointment with Charlotte Skin & Laser to feel confidently “spring ready.”

I always wanted to be a veterinarian until my junior or senior year in high school when I got an opportunity to spend two days with medical doctors – four half days each with a different specialist. One was a neurosurgeon and I was fascinated. Subsequently, I got an internship in a research lab at Bowman Gray – now Wake Forest – School of Medicine Department of Neurology, and I was hooked. I entered freshman year at UNC-CH wanting to go to medical school to be a neurosurgeon. I later changed my mind about that specialty but never diverted from my goal to become a doctor.

The first week of the first year of medical school – also at the University of North Carolina – in an immunology course, there was a lecture by a dermatologist, Dr. Al Briggaman, and I thought the dermatology part was very interesting. I always kept an open mind but decided I did want to pursue a career in dermatology and Dr. Briggaman advised me that he thought I could find a residency spot so I pursued it. I am so blessed to have found a career that I absolutely love and in which I continue to learn new things almost daily. In residency, I worked with Dr. Sheldon Pinnell, the inventor of antioxidant serums and the founder of Skin Ceuticals. He became an important mentor as he was a pioneer in anti-aging skincare.

Later in residency, I presented an abstract at the annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, and at that meeting, I met my future mentor Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick who has been called the King of Lasers and the father of laser resurfacing. He invited me to do a laser and cosmetic fellowship in his practice with him and his partners – two well-known cosmetic dermatologists. “Fitz,” as he was known, became an invaluable mentor to me. Sadly, I have lost all my valuable mentors but their impact on my career and life cannot be understated. I am so grateful for the relationships I had with these influential dermatologists.

Charlotte Skin & Laser offers all the medical and cosmetic procedures. Anti-aging treatments, body contouring/sculpting, non-surgical skin tightening, laser hair removal, fillers, and even spa facials are routine procedures, along with traditional medical services like mole removal, skin cancer scans, and treatments for skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema. “Our motto is ‘We help you look and feel your best,’” explains Dr. Rostan. “We strive to achieve this with every patient encounter — cosmetic and medical. We use our knowledge, skill, and experience to guide patients through their dermatologic and cosmetic care over their lifetimes.”

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 non-profit organizations, very rewarding work. My passion has always been in equestrian sports and if I give up medicine, it will only be for the pursuit of equestrian happiness daily.

I am not playing golf right now because of work and horses but I can become obsessed with golf. A well-struck golf ball is the best feeling. This might go back to my civil engineering desires. We have a home on Lake James and I love the lake and hiking and skiing and just being there and looking at the mountains. A true treasure of North Carolina. Now, many that know me would say I would not be telling the truth if I didn’t mention that I love shoes although age has tempered my enthusiasm a bit. You can still find me in heels on some clinic days for at least a half-day.

An age-old story, but finding the time to do all that I want to do – put all the energy and time that I want into the practice and my patients and staff and still have time for hobbies and friends and family as well as relaxing time. I do not take a lot of time away from the practice for vacations and should probably take more. Also challenging, is surviving and thriving as an independent practice in a medical community dominated by a few large medical systems and groups.

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 non-profit organizations, very rewarding work. My passion has always been in equestrian sports and if I give up medicine, it will only be for the pursuit of equestrian happiness daily.

Donna Canzano Stucker, CFRE

Yes, the safest way to protect your skin is to not get in the sun but that is no fun and not realistic. There are great skincare products that provide consistent, easy to use daily must haves for any skin type. So enjoy your time outside in our beautiful neighborhood and beyond – but keep your skin protected while you do so!