Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Divya Shokeen of Ocean Skin and Vein Institute

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Divya Shokeen.

Hi Dr. Divya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As a daughter of immigrants and the eldest child, I’ve always felt a responsibility to carve out my own path in this world. My interest in medicine was sparked at a young age, and during my undergraduate studies at UCLA, I dove into research in the fields of neurology and cardiology. However, it wasn’t until I embarked on my postdoctoral research in dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania that I discovered my true calling. The experience of dealing with a medical condition that is visible for all to see – before even a single word is spoken – instilled in me a sense of profound empathy and determination to enhance patients’ confidence through expert dermatological care. Following years of exhaustive training, including completion of my dermatology residency at the University of Florida, I returned to Southern California eager to establish my own practice.

I opened my practice, Ocean Skin and Vein Institute, in May 2019. Today, we have locations in Manhattan Beach, Torrance, and Tustin, California. Our services include medical, surgical and cosmetic treatments. Our team of dermatologists are experts in the detection, prevention, and management of all skin cancers, and we have cutting-edge treatment options, including excisions, Mohs micrographic surgery, and superficial radiation treatment.

Though the onset of the COVID pandemic brought unforeseen challenges, my commitment to the field, bolstered by the loyalty of my patients and my dear husband’s support, has helped create a thriving enterprise. As a dermatological surgeon and cosmetic specialist, I focus on skin cancer and laser interventions that leave a lasting positive impact on my patients and their loved ones.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not. As they say, good things are worth fighting for. In medical school and residency, we learn how to treat a patient holistically. We are not taught the nuances of running a practice. However, learning how to build a team that has a similar vision, loves to work together and thrives as a group has been one of the greatest aspects of my job.

We’ve been impressed with Ocean Skin and Vein Institute, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our team of physicians and staff at Ocean Skin and Vein Insitute are dedicated to patient-centered and comprehensive care, and we take pride in offering the full breadth of dermatological services. From cosmetic to medical and surgical to reconstructive needs, our highly specialized team of board-certified physicians includes experts in cosmetic, Mohs micrographic, plastic reconstructive, and vascular interventions. As Southern California natives, we intimately understand the unique needs and concerns of our patients. Our goal is to establish enduring relationships with our patients and their families by offering services delivered only by experienced physicians and treating not only specific medical conditions but the patient as a whole. As a family business helmed by a husband-and-wife team – a dermatologist and vascular interventional radiologist (Bhavraj Khalsa) – we are well-equipped to provide superior-quality care. We are humbled by the trust our patients have placed in us, and we remain dedicated to delivering nothing less than clinical excellence.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced my start-up business and dermatology practice to re-evaluate their operations and adapt to unprecedented circumstances in real time.

One of the most important takeaways is the critical importance of digital technology in facilitating remote communications. I definitely started seeing many patients through telehealth. This technology allowed for an accessory digital resources in times of limited access to care. However, I do feel there is no replacement for in-person medicine.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oceanskinandvein.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshoskin/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@drshoskin

Image Credits
Dexter Brown