Tru-Skin Dermatology, formerly known as Austin Skin, is building a nationwide network based on the "Business Concept Franchise Model".

Name: Dr. Daniel J. Ladd, Jr.
Clinic: Tru-Skin Dermatology
Location: Austin, TX
Website: tru-skin.com

Dr. Ladd is a man of action, an energetic person with various interests and enjoys telling jokes. Aside from founding The Shade Project, Dr. Ladd is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Surgeon who has seen far too much skin cancer. Committed to help prevent it, he has started a local sun safety dialogue with the Dr. Dan Radio Show. 

The show welcomes guests from all areas of medicine and the non-profit world alike. Listeners can become informed on the many aspects of wellness, healthy skin, skin cancer prevention, and current events on a local, regional and national basis.

Is there anything that is unconventional or uncommon from the average clinic in any way? How do you separate yourself from your competition?

Tru-Skin Dermatology is an industry leading, board certified, state of the art fully integrated dermatology practice; surgical, medical and cosmetic, composed of skin cancer experts and MOHS surgery specialists. Our brand offers patients a dependable, predictable patient centered experience in a clean modern office facility where they will receive expert care. Our affiliation with The Shade Project sets us apart from other clinics. A portion of every service, patient visit and product purchase at Tru-Skin Dermatology is donated to The Shade Project to help skin cancer prevention efforts. The Shade Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing skin cancer through education, community outreach and building shade structures where children and families play.

You’re using video in your waiting room to market to your patients. How effective is that? 

We've begun a concerted effort to promote cosmetic services available at our practice through internal marketing. We're using a customized waiting room video from Frontdesk that has proved effective for awareness of additional services available. Having the videos in our waiting room has allowed patients to feel comfortable bringing up a procedure they saw on the video with the provider during their appointment. The folks at Frontdesk were very easy to work with and responsive to our questions and needs for customization unique to the Tru-Skin Dermatology brand.

Are you planning on adding more technology considering the fact that you’ve recently relocated to a bigger place?

Keeping up with ever evolving technology in the medical field is extremely important. We use iPads, website platforms, EMR and of course we began using DVD/TV monitor in our waiting room (the Frontdesk video) a couple of months ago. We are considering using computer monitors in our exam room as an opportunity to highlight some of the services that we offer at our clinics in an interesting and informative manner. We are considering adding additional videos or slide shows in the exam rooms to be playing while the patients are waiting to see their provider.

We have 3 corporate locations, Austin, TX, Bastrop, TX, and LaGrange, TX and are getting ready to expand by 1 next month (August) with the opening of our first franchisee location in Leander, TX.  

What do you think that you do better than most other physicians that helps you to succeed? 

The Tru-Skin Dermatology philosophy is for Happy Patients and Happy Doctors. We take time to listen to our patients and strive to provide a culture of excellence for our patients and employees.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received as a physician? 

"No one cares how much you know if they don't know that you care."

What’ s the best business advice you’ve ever received? 

"Nail it before you scale it."

About: Daniel J. Ladd, Jr., D.O.is the Medical Director and Founder of Tru-Skin Dermatology in Austin, Texas. He earned his BA from the University of Texas at Austin and received his medical degree from Des Moines University in 1999. He completed his Dermatology residency at the Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, Missouri in conjunction with the Dermatology Institute of North Texas in 2004. In addition to general dermatology and cosmetic dermatology, Dr. Ladd is board certified in Mohs micrographic surgery.

He is a member in good standing of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons and the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, as well as a Member of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.  Dr. Ladd is a lifetime member of the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Amonette Circle, an elite group of the country’s foremost dermatologists and Mohs surgeons who have made a commitment to skin cancer education and prevention.

This interview is part of a series of interviews of physicians running medical spas, laser clinics and cosmetic surgery centers. If you'd like to be interviewed, just contact us.