Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Hure, MD.
Dr. Hure, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve known I was going to be a doctor from the age of five. I’m not sure exactly what prompted me to have such an unwavering devotion early on, but it was a devotion that endured and strengthened with my life experiences.
Experiences such as being hospitalized for several months after a car accident when I was seven, making it necessary to complete the 2nd grade from my hospital bed and learn how to walk again. Spending my weekends in high school and college volunteering in the Emergency Room instead of hanging out with friends. Working nights and weekends on the ambulance and as a researcher during graduate school. Or jumping through the innumerable hoops and challenges of medical school, internship, residency, and fellowship to become a well-trained physician. A physician who has been a patient and has seen all aspects of the medical field. A physician who took the long way and road less traveled to get to her goal. Why is this significant?
Experience creates perspective and fosters genuine empathy. My patients get all of me, not only my expertise but my understanding and compassion. Hopefully, my path also serves to provide residents and medical students with perspective and guidance as I mentor them in the hospital, my office and through social media and the occasional podcast. As a physician, I diagnose, treat, operate and cure. As a physician with perspective, I heal.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road has definitely been winding and difficult. The road to becoming a physician is notoriously difficult even under the best circumstances. I decided to make it harder by tackling other pursuits at the same time like grad school, research, working on the ambulance and teaching. I wanted to have a varied and broad experience. I’m so glad I did too even if it took longer. I’m the doctor (and person) I am today because of it.
Please tell us about OC SkinLab.
I started my own practice, a micro practice, specializing in full-service dermatology and dermatopathology almost three years ago. Having worked for a large multi-specialty practice out of training that treated patients in an impersonal way, I dreamed of working for a compassionate practice that centered on patient care instead of high profit. Not finding one, I started one. I wanted to have the luxury of time to interact with my patients.
A micro practice is a solo physician with minimal staff that allows for more time to be devoted to patient care. OC SkinLab was created to provide expert medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology and dermatopathology care in a caring and warm environment. My expertise and background provide a unique advantage allowing me to more accurately diagnose skin conditions and cancer.
Other dermatologists in the community also send their biopsies and surgery specimens to me for expert pathologic interpretation as I’m also a board-certified dermatopathologist. I’m honored to know that my dedication, passion and time I’ve put into my practice has been noticed by my patients who have voted me one of the best dermatology offices in all of Orange County (Locale magazine) and best doctor in town for two years running (San Juan Capistrano Dispatch). Wanting to give back to the community, I routinely give free skin cancer screenings to all first responders in town and see uninsured dermatology patients at Lestonnac Free Clinic every month. I created OC SkinLab to not only offer the best patient care, but to be part of the community that I love.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my best memories was also one of my toughest. I remember going through brutal physical therapy after recovering from the car accident as a kid. Learning how to walk again and not having my legs work the way they used to was so frustrating and hard for a kid to understand. I just wanted someone to fix me and make everything alright.
One day, I realized that no one was going to fix me. If I wanted to walk again, I had to make it happen, myself. My success or failure rested with my attitude, determination and hard work. The day I realized that was the day my life changed, and I took control of my future. I’m grateful I was given a chance to gain that insight, which has been a building block of my life and career.
Contact Info:
- Address: 31899 Del Obispo St., Suite 130
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 - Website: www.ocskinlab.com
- Phone: 949.359.6400
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocskinlab
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/OCSkinlab
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/ocskinlab
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/oc-skinlab-san-juan-capistrano
Image Credit:
Lauren Ford Photography
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