Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Kopelson.
Peter, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Brooklyn, New York and spent my elementary school years in White Plains, New York. My father was an attorney specializing in entertainment. His firm represented Johnny Carson. This took us to Los Angeles; we moved to Beverly Hills just before I started high school.
I moved back to New York and attended Columbia University where I majored in philosophy. I knew I was going to go to medical school, so I wanted to study the arts before becoming entrenched in the sciences. Columbia was wonderful. I studied liberal arts as Columbia demands one study a core curriculum which started over a hundred years ago, the syllabi remaining the same to this day.
My early role of caretaker instilled a desire within me. During my Columbia years, I volunteered at St. Luke’s hospital in the pediatric emergency room. Helping to take care of sick children satisfied my desire to care for those in need of help. I was then accepted to medical school at New York University.
My experiences there taught me what had happened during my childhood and formed and shaped who I am today. Often taking care of people in need both at Bellevue Hospital and the Manhattan VA, I fit comfortably into the role of caretaker, and it was very satisfying and comforting to me.
During medical school, I volunteered in a dermatologist’s laboratory doing experiments on histamine. I was also given the opportunity to see patients with him, and I developed an interest in diseases of the skin. The use of lasers was just beginning, and so I saw the genesis of laser dermatology. This was both extremely exciting and rewarding to me.
As a resident first in Internal Medicine, then in Dermatology, I slowly began to have an impact on people’s lives. I learned how satisfying it was to make people feel better, even if only a little. I initially was interested in Oncology, no doubt because of my exposure to it in childhood. I was able to identify with the patients, even if in fact they were dying and learned to make them comfortable.
After medical school and working with the dermatologist, I became more interested in diseases of the skin and was fascinated with the emerging science of cutaneous laser treatments. I decided to pursue a dermatology residency and moved back to Los Angeles to attend U.C.L.A. I served as chief resident in my final year of residency.
As I described earlier, my family had been in the film business for many years. I spent much of my youth on film sets and grew to feel comfortable around people in the industry. My father won an academy award for best picture in 1987 for Platoon, and I was lucky enough to attend the Oscar ceremony and the parties. My parents were regarded somewhat as Hollywood royalty and by extension, so was I.
“I first met Dr. Kopelson at UCLA, when he was in his residency (over 25 years ago), referred to him because of his interest in rare skin diseases. He’s a miracle worker. I recognized instantly that I was in the right place with the best and most compassionate doctor ever,” says, Sandra Kuker-Franco (Entertainment Publicist – Sandra Kuker PR).
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My memories of childhood are unfortunately filled with grief. My mother had a very aggressive form of breast cancer. She was often quite ill, had many surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and ultimately, she passed when I was 12 years old.
I was often her caretaker especially since my father traveled so much for business. I was too young to understand the disease process and its treatments, but I believe these traumatic memories were the root of my interest in medicine. I felt I needed to study medicine to understand what happened, why the chemotherapy caused its effects, what was the radiation all about, why she started having seizures, etc.
These scary memories needed to be put to rest and my way of doing that was to go to medical school. While I was in my internship, the AIDS crisis was at its apex. The medical floors were filled with sick patients with serious and rare infections seldom seen before. There were no viable treatments, so hoards of people were gravely ill and dying.
Once again, I felt it appropriate, and I even enjoyed taking care of and calming these sick patients and their families. In these cases, it wasn’t about curing these people. It was about making them feel just a bit more comfortable, adequate, a bit happier and more at peace. I found it gratifying.
After my mother died, my father remarried a woman named Anne. Anne raised me through adolescence which, as for many, was a difficult time in life. She worked through my problems with me and helped me come out ahead on the other side.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about THE KOPELSON CLINIC – what should we know?
Due to my comfort level around actors, models and those behind the camera as well, and because of my name recognition in this town, it seemed natural for me to open an office in Beverly Hills.
My office has the feel of a Swiss medical clinic, white and mid-century, filled with state-of-the-art lasers and other beauty devices. Again, it’s not always about curing diseases, except I do see a fair number of medical patients, it’s about making people feel better about themselves and holding their hands through the process.
“Dr. Kopelson is a gifted and knowledgeable dermatologist, I will continue to refer all of my friends and peers to his office.” Scott Mlodzinsky – Producer (ABC, Fox, Bravo)
Many of my patients are actors, models, or have other high-profile jobs. It’s important to be able to work on them without anyone knowing anything was done. This can be a bit tricky as many of my procedures involve needles, lasers, or other invasive technologies. I have become accustomed to this and am fully aware of my limits.
Again, sometimes it’s not about fully curing a problem but more-so about making someone feel a bit better about themselves. This to me is very satisfying. “Dr. Kopelson is the consummate professional and a brilliant dermatologist. His exceptional education, training, and dedication to his patients are unmatched.
Dr. Kopelson’s expertise and precision about the latest cosmetic procedures and techniques, laser therapy and his conscientiousness about evaluating my needs including thorough skin checks enables a successful solution for every concern.
Whether going for an aesthetic “perk up” or having a question about even the most obscure mark, Dr. Kopelson’s skill always succeeds and provides me with the utmost confidence.” – Stephen Joel Brown, Producer
Many people are curious about my tattoos and consider them a defacement of my body. On the contrary, I find it interesting and a beautification. The colors the different pigments take on when placed into the skin fascinate me. I find a tattoo sleeve like a lovely shirt.
My tattoos have deep meaning to me, each signifying a story of those who have passed on in my life. I recently lost my father, and I immediately placed a tribute to him on my body. My family members names are hidden within the tattoos camouflaged by the various designs.
Another exciting area of interest of mine is cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD. CBD is currently being studied and used for a multitude of diseases including epilepsy. The skin has receptors that CBD are attracted to. Therefore, CBD is being studied for several skin diseases. It’s a powerful anti-oxidant, more powerful than Vitamins C and E. It is also anti-inflammatory, and it inhibits the oil glands in the skin from producing oil.
Therefore, CBD is being studied for diseases such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema. Interestingly, due to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, CBD is being studied as an anti-aging agent for the skin. It’s thought to reverse sun damage, protect against skin cancers, and prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue fibers. I find this to be most exciting.
As a medical doctor, I would like to take part in creating a skin care line with CBD in it including cleansers, toners, moisturizers, body lotions, sunscreens, lip balms and even a CBD-based make-up line, a truly state-of-the-art idea.
Where do I see myself in the future? I cannot imagine a time when I would stop being a caretaker. So, I don’t think that would change much as time moves on. Perhaps I would make a move away from the ultra-fortunate and more toward people in need. I have always dreamed of becoming active in organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a humanitarian effort, providing care in emergencies, epidemics and natural disasters and tending to the sick in underprivileged countries.
My love of animals is also a passion that has been largely untapped. I have been a long-term supporter of the ASPCA, directly having an impact on animals’ lives, helping animals in need, stopping animal abuse, fighting animal cruelty and promoting animal protection, rescue and placement. Initiatives like No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA) and its coalition partners bring together passionate individuals, city shelters and animal welfare organizations to help end the killing of pets in LA city shelters simply because they don’t have safe places to call home.
In 2015, the NKLA Coalition helped find homes for over 25,000 dogs and cats, serving as a model for how the entire nation can become no-kill, with no pet ever having to die in a shelter again simply because they do not have a home. I see myself playing a greater role in animal care such as this.
The Kopelson Clinic, Inc., is located at 414 North Camden Dr, Suite 640, Beverly Hills, 90210. Telephone: (310) 271-7400 www.kopelsonclinic.com.
Who deserves the initial credit for my success?
My parents, Anne and Arnold Kopelson. Anne especially taught me that through persistence and organization, anything was possible. Also, Nicholas Soter, one of my mentors, with whom I performed laboratory research while in medical school.
Contact Info:
- Address: 414 North Camden Dr., Suite 640
Beverly Hills, CA. 90210 - Website: www.kopelsonclinic.com
- Phone: (310) 271-7400
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @TheKopelsonClinic
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thekopelsonclinic
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/kopelson-clinic-beverly-hills
Image Credit:
Peden + Munk
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