MOUNT VERNON — Universal Dermatology & Vein Care formally celebrated its move to 408 Coshocton Ave. with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
The practice opened in its new location on Aug. 4. Ddr. George Skandamis said the move is a big step.
“We have been here for 10 years now. Because of how great the city has treated us, we’ve needed more space, and we’ve needed to grow,” Skandamis said. “We’ve basically had to expand, so that’s what this was.”
“It was a long time coming. It needed to happen sooner.”
Todd Hill, administrative assistant to Mayor Matt Starr, said the city was thrilled to celebrate a new chapter for local health care, new jobs, and new investment in the community.
“Access to quality dermatology, everything from everyday care to skin cancer screenings, matters for families, seniors, and employers alike,” Hill said.
“When a business like this plants roots here, it strengthens both our local economy and our quality of life.”
“You’re not just opening the clinic, you’re becoming part of the Mount Vernon story,” Hill told the Universal Dermatology team.
Skandamis said the practice has been looking for a larger space for a long time. The new office has more than 2,000 square feet, more than double its former location at 1650 Coshocton Ave.
More space means expanded services at Universal Dermatology
“We went from three exam rooms to six exam rooms and a radiation room where we’re able to treat skin cancers now with a unique modality,” Skandamis said.
“Whereas before all we could do was surgically cut things, now we’re able to offer a second method of treatment for skin cancer that for some patients makes more sense.”
Skandamis said radiation fits patients who are not good surgical candidates or who have had multiple surgeries and do not want further procedures.
Additionally, radiation can treat multiple locations at the same time.
“So instead of having to do one cancer per visit, now we can do three,” Skandamis said.
According to Skandamis, skin cancer is prevalent in central Ohio, with a farming population that works outside a lot. Additionally, the population is primarily White and older.
“All that unfortunately leads to a lot of skin cancer, so there’s a need for the services here. And there’s not really any other providers in the direct location,” he said.
“There really is a need, and that’s why this location was important. We were so tight and out of space that we weren’t able to accommodate the volume of patients and volume of skin cancer that needs to be treated here.”
With the additional space, Skandamis said the clinic’s aesthetician can provide services more frequently.
The practice will also offer blue light or red light therapies, methods that treat pre-cancerous lesions, in the next few months.
“Before we didn’t have a room to put the red light in. … Now that we have space, we’re able to bring it in,” Skandamis said. “That’s great because again, that’s preventing skin cancer. We’re not just treating it, we’re trying to stop it from happening in the first place.”
‘Ingrained in the community’
Skandamis, who is board-certified in dermatology, is the medical director and co-founder of the practice. He works out of the Mount Vernon location and Lewis Center office.
Staff members include Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Rodebeck and Physician Assistant Sara Chandler (twin to Stephanie).
Stephanie works primarily in the Mount Vernon office; Sarah works primarily in the Lewis Center office.
Physician Assistant Madeline Myers works at both locations.
“Since we have some new providers, we have more availability and more open schedule space to be able to get people in faster,” Skandamis said.
“You could have waited months before. Now, hopefully, we’re able to expedite people and get them in sooner.”
Skandamis said that, with being in the community for over a decade, Universal Dermatology is ingrained in the community.
“It’s not something like we just popped up shop or like we’re brand new,” he said. “We’ve been here, and we definitely are planning to stay here for the long term. So yeah, we’re definitely going to be part of the community.”
