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GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com | 61 S Kate Ross, MD Board Certified Dermatologist, LA Plastic Surgery & Dermatology When you meet Dr. Ross, you could easily mistake her for someone much younger, a great compliment for this rising dermatologist at LA Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. Ross moved to Sarasota after completing her residency in Tampa last year, and became a savvy businesswoman networking at local events and organizations to help build her notoriety in the fiercely competitive skin care and plastic surgery field. In an industry where your face makes a first impression on the world, Ross takes a different approach with her patients, focuses less on the enhanced air-brushed beauty portrayed in the media and more on looking healthier and refreshed from a facial procedure. She also stresses the importance of great skincare, at any age, and protecting yourself from the Florida sunshine that we enjoy year- round. True to her commitment in medicine, she delivers compassionate patient-centered care to those who need it most, often devoting extra time listening to patients' needs and concerns. Relaxed and easy-going, she is a natural athlete who enjoys the outdoors and traveling when she is not working. In her own words, Ross talks about the challenges she faced as a new doctor building her practice, how she mentors the next generation of female physicians, and reveals her own skin care routine. You had a personal experience with medicine that made you decide to get into the profession. Tell me about it. I actually had knee surgery from playing soccer in high school when I was 16. e surgeon was so impersonal and just gave me the worst possible experience. I thought could do this better. I would be someone who actually listens to my patients and pays attention and sits in the room with them and talks through whatever issues are going on. What sparked my interest was having that bad experience. It actually made me want to do something better. Who were some of your mentors? I really think my parents are by far the greatest mentors I've had. My mom was a professor at the University of Florida (now retired). She was a working mother but was home so much and just kind of showed me how to balance life in that way. I don't have kids yet, but hopefully one day when I do I'll be able to kind of follow in her footsteps and if I'm half the woman she was, I'll be good. She's amazing. My father started his own law practice in Gainesville and he's been valuable with looking at contracts for me. After you completed your residency in Tampa, how did you get started in your career? Continued page 62 uffering a serious high school sports injury can be a defining moment for many. For Dr. Kate Ross, 31, the hospital experience that followed her surgery defined how she perceived the lack of patient care from some doctors. She pivoted her focus from her beloved sport to medicine, vowing to do better for her future patients. By Katherine Ferrara Johnson

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