By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
When Tom and Dr. Jenny Wang were searching for the perfect place to raise a family and start a comprehensive dermatology practice, Playa Vista topped the list.
They founded SoCal Skin and Surgery, which specializes in medical, cosmetic and surgical services.
“We did look all over LA for a good location,” Dr. Wang said. “We wanted a good community and an area that needed a dermatologist.”
The practice’s services range from diagnosing and treating complex skin conditions to enhancing patients’ natural beauty through advanced cosmetic procedures. Its multidisciplinary team is dedicated to providing comprehensive solutions tailored to each patient.
“We treat a range of skin conditions, including skin cancers, acne, eczema, hair loss, and psoriasis. We also offer cosmetic services,” said Dr. Wang, a board-certified dermatologist. “I remove benign lesions, perform injectables, and use lasers and chemical peels to help our patients look as young as they feel.”
SoCal Skin and Surgery also treats urgent cases like allergic reactions and allocates slots for same-day appointments.
“Dermatology is a really unique career,” she said. “You can make people really, really happy, and boost their self-esteem. It gives a sense of accomplishment.”
For Dr. Wang, dermatology was a longtime dream. The Wangs grew up near each other outside of Chicago, but didn’t meet until they were undergraduates.
She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts with general honors in biology. She was also honored as the recipient of the prestigious Jeff Metcalf Research Fellowship.
She earned her MD with Distinction in Research from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, from which she was awarded an Einstein Research Fellowship. At the college, she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Alpha Honor Society.
Enthusiastic about her new career, Jenny completed her dermatology residency at UC Davis in Sacramento, following a transitional internship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. She was the first dermatology resident to receive the GME High Value Competition Winner in quality improvement.
Eager to help other students, she served as vice chair of the UC Davis Resident Medical Committee, where she supported house staff during their medical training.
Her impact on dermatological research has been significant. As a clinical research fellow at the University of California Davis Department of Dermatology, she focused on psoriasis, pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), and other complex inflammatory skin conditions. Additionally, her research fellowship at Weill Cornell Department of Dermatology led to the discovery of a novel cAMP microdomain that inhibits the growth of cancer cell lines, thereby opening new horizons in melanoma cancer research.
SoCal Skin and Surgery specializes in medical, cosmetic and surgical services. (Submitted)
“I did a lot of work with skin cancer in school,” she said. “I did a lot of research to see how melanoma grows in the body. That was very exciting.”
“I also researched complex dermatological conditions, like autoimmune blistering disorders. That was a different side of dermatology. These patients were very sick. It really impacted their quality of life.”
A member of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Wang actively contributes to the Teledermatology Committee and the Dermatology Resident and Fellow Committee, underscoring her commitment to trainee education and ethical standards. The rapidly evolving specialty fascinates her.
“In dermatology, there have been so many new updates on how we treat our patients,” she said. “There are so many new medications out there now.”
“In the past, people who had metastatic melanoma wouldn’t have too many treatment options. Immunotherapy is a constantly changing field. We have patients living for many years. Medications can regulate the immune system and reprogram it to go after skin cancers. In the past, chemotherapy, toxins, killed the cancer, but it killed everything in sight as well. The side effects were awful. Now our medications are more elegant and go after specific cancers.”
In speaking with Dr. Wang, it’s clear that dermatology is the perfect field for her. She said she feels the same.
“I get to see patients from all walks of life,” she said.
“I like having that longitudinal relationship with them. I do everything from surgeries to a lot of patient counseling. I do spend a lot of time with patients about how to improve their skin health. It’s something a lot of people have questions about.”
Therefore, she said, she strives to stay informed.
“It’s my responsibility to stay informed and educate my patients on what’s true, what works and what doesn’t work.”
SoCal Skin and Surgery has been just as fulfilling as the Wangs’ time in Playa Vista.
“We love Playa Vista,” he said. “Kids are running around. There’s just a real sense of community but there wasn’t a dermatologist around here. We hope to grow with the community.”
SoCal Skin and Surgery
12555 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Suite 202, Los Angeles
424-543-0066, socalskinsurg.com
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