Angelo P. Thrower, Medical Doctor, a specialist in Dermatology and Ethnic skin conditions. He has been in private practice for 14 years and is the creator of the Heritage Skin Care System. Dr. Thrower is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine and George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC. He is also a member of the Professional Team Physicians (a group of physicians of different specialties that treat professional athletes) and is one of the team physicians of the NBA’s Miami Heat. In addition, Dr. Thrower is the author of the book Black Skin Care for the Practicing Professional and co-author of: Skin Care How to Save Your Skin and Basic Care for Naturally Textures Hair.

After researching the issues that affect Ethnic skin and the treatment options available to his patients, Dr. Thrower recognized a need for a product line that addressed the specific conditions of Ethnic skin but would also be as effective for non-Ethnic skin. He envisioned a system that would treat an existing problem while maintaining or returning the patient’s skin to its normal health and provide clearer skin once the problem had been resolved.

Dr. Thrower has applied his vast knowledge as a physician and extensive experience at his Dermatology clinic to create the Heritage Skin Care product line. Heritage Skin Care Treatment products are the strongest composition of active ingredients available without a prescription. These products are medical solutions not cosmetic cover-ups. The treatment products and skin care products are made with the highest quality of natural antioxidants, herbs, oils and vitamins.

Jeanine B. Downie, MD is board certified and is the director of image Dermatology P.C. in Montclair, N.J. She has extensive training and experience in all aspects of dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, laser and dermatologic surgery. Dr. Downie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Psychology. She has a Masters of Arts degree from American University and her Doctor of Medicine from SUNY- Health Science Center at Brooklyn. She then completed her Dermatology residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where she was the Chief Resident. She is on staff at Mountainside Hospitals and Overlook Hospitals and has published fifteen scientific papers. Dr. Downie has been honored repeatedly by Castle Connolly as one of New York Metroplitan’s Top Doctors.

Dr. Downie is a medical consultant for The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The View and Ten Years Younger. She has been featured on The Montel Williams Show, The Rachael Ray Show, MSNBC and many others. She is a highly sought after lecturer who enjoys an excellent national and international reputation. Dr. Downie consults lectures and does FDA and investigator-initiated clinical trials for many of the top tier pharmaceutical companies.

Her newspaper and magazine credits include USA Today, The New York Times, In Style, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine, New Beauty and Essence, among others. Her first book, Beautiful Skin of Color, is a comprehensive skin care guide for Asian, Olive and Dark Skin (Harper Collins 2004).

Fran E. Cook-Bolden, MD, is clinical assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, is the director of the Skin Specialty Group and the Ethnic Skin Specialty Group in New York City and has private practices in dermatology, cosmetic and laser surgery on New York’s Upper East Side, in Brooklyn and in Westchester County. She is an Attending Physician in the Department of Dermatology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center and is the Founding Associate Director of the Skin of Color Center where she opened the doors for patient treatment at the center before moving on to the Ethnic Skin Specialty Group to serve as the Director. There, along with a renowned team of accomplished dermatologists and cosmetic physicians, she offers cutting-edge dermatologic care and cosmetic procedures in a convenient and pampering environment, in the ultimate elegance.

A member of the Executive Board of the Greater New York Dermatology Society and the Education Council of the National Campaign to Control Acne, Dr. Cook-Bolden is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, National Medical Association, American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, Women’s Dermatologic Society, and Manhattan Medical Society. She serves on many advisory boards and as consultant for the pharmaceutical, laser, and beauty industry, in addition to being a speaker/lecturer across the United States and abroad for these industries. She also lectures extensively at medical centers and universities across the country in the field of dermatology.

Dr. Cook-Bolden has conducted numerous clinical investigations as principal investigator and co-investigator for several studies on acne, skin cancer and actinic keratosis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, pigmentary disorders such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma, etc., acne keloidalis, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and other hair and scalp disorders, and the use of lasers in ethnic skin among other dermatology-related topics. She is considered a leading researcher in the treatment of ethnic skin, lasers, cosmetic dermatology, and medical dermatology and continues to engage in cutting-edge research, directing a full, highly qualified research team.

Dr. Andrew F. Alexis is the Director of the Skin of Color Center, and an attending physician at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. He also is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Alexis received his medical degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, and his Master’s of Public Health degree from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health. He completed his dermatology residency at Weill Cornell Medical Center, and a fellowship in dermatopharmacology at New York University School of Medicine, all in New York City.

Dr. Alexis currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Skin of Color Society and is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology Diversity Task Force Committee. He is also President-Elect of the New York Academy of Medicine Section on Dermatology.

Author of numerous dermatology publications and an investigator in many clinical studies, Dr. Alexis’ areas of interest include the management of skin and hair disorders in patients with skin of color.

Dr. Callender is an internationally recognized Board Certified Dermatologist who is known for her expertise in the surgical treatment of Hair and Scalp Disorders and Pigmentary Disorders. Dr. Callender has written 6 textbook chapters and many articles for academic journals. Dr. Callender is a frequently invited speaker to national and international meetings. She has made presentations to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons in New York City, Vancouver, Canada and Sydney, Australia; The World Congress of Hair Research in Berlin, Germany; the European Society of Dermatology and Venerealogy in London, England; the Mexican Society of Cosmetic Surgeons in Mexico City; the Puerto Rican Dermatological Society in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Caribbean Dermatological Society in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and many state and national societies.

Dr. Callender has been a visiting professor of Dermatology at Brown University, the University of Maryland, the University of Florida and the State University of New York. Dr. Callender has conducted and participated in over 20 research studies and clinical trials for both therapeutic and cosmetic products, and is a consultant to many cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Callender is frequently quoted and featured in both print and electronic media and serves on the Boards of the Women’s Dermatologic Society, the Women’s Dermatologic Society Foundation, and the Skin of Color Society where she is a founding member and Treasurer. Dr. Callender is the founder of the Callender Skin and Laser Center which is located in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Region. Dr. Callender received her medical degree from Howard University, where she also did her residency, and currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology.

As a board-certified Dermatologist and a board-certified Dermatopathologist, Dr. Wendy E. Roberts specializes in Cosmetic Dermatology, Ethnic Skin of Color, Geriatric Dermatology and Generational Dermatology. Dr. Roberts and “The Roberts Skin Type Classification System©” inspired her recent appearance on The Today Show and a nationally televised, first of it’s kind, ‘skin health’ program, entitled “America’s Ethnic Skin” addressing the special concerns, challenges and issues affecting an increasingly diverse America. Well-equipped by the rigors of her Stanford Medical School training, surgical and dermatology residences, and Pathology fellowship, Dr. Roberts is the Founding Director of Dermatopathology of Loma Linda Division of Dermatology. Dr. Roberts has tackled and triumphed over a comprehensive range of skin problems, diseases and conditions using innovative methods that have earned her national recognition. Dr. Roberts is a forerunner in her medical specialty. Her pioneering research includes developing a Dual therapy regimen for the treatment of Melasma and other disorders of facial hyperpigmentation. Dr. Roberts has also developed a Skin Type Classification which is published in the May, 2008 Journal of Drugs in Dermatology “The Roberts Skin Type Classification System ©” which is groundbreaking in its approach to identifying and communicating medical details regarding all skin color types.

In 2004, Dr. Roberts founded, as a member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS), a national outreach skin cancer screening program called “Play Safe in the Sun” which travels to LPGA tournaments and provides free Sun Safety education and skin cancer screenings.

Dr. Roberts is currently Vice President/President-Elect of the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS). She is a Past-President of the State of California Dermatologic Society (Calderm). As a member of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Dr. Roberts has served on numerous committees including the 2008 American Academy of Dermatology Nominating Committee, Organizational Structure Health Care Delivery Committee and Melanoma and Skin cancer screening. She was also appointed to the Stanford University Medical Alumnae Board Governors to which she currently serves.

Dr. Crutchfield is a native of Twin Cities. He was born in Minneapolis and grew up in the Highland Park area of St. Paul. He attended Highland Park and Minnehaha Academy high schools. He has a Bachelors degree from Carleton College. He graduated from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine with both a Masters degree in Molecular Biology and Doctoral degree (M.D.) in Medicine. His post-graduate medical training included one year at the Gundersen Clinic and a three year Dermatology residency at the University of Minnesota. He is a board certified dermatologist and active member of the American Medical Association, National Medical Association, Ramsey Medical Association, and American Academy of Dermatology.

Discovering, Teaching and Sharing With Colleagues

Dr. Crutchfield is also involved in academic medicine. He has published over 100 dermatologic articles and most recently co-authored a textbook of Dermatology “A Clinical Atlas of 101 Common Skin Diseases”. He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota, teaching medical students, residents, and other clinical physicians. He has been selected twice as the Teacher of the Year at the University of Minnesota by the medical students and the Minnesota Medical Foundation. He is active in medical research involving psoriasis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and acne keloidalis nuchae. He lectures both at local, State-wide and national medical conferences. Dr. Crutchfield has also been awarded the “Karis” humanitarian award from the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Grimes is the Director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California. She is also a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Grimes graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1974 and completed her Dermatology residency at the Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. in 1979. She is nationally and internationally recognized for her work on pigmentary disorders. She lectures worldwide on areas of dermatology that are of special interest to her including vitiligo, melasma, laser-induced hypopigmentation and other disorders of pigmentation as well as ethnic skin and hair disorders. She also lectures on cosmetic procedures for darker racial ethnic groups including chemical peels and microdermabrasion.

Dr. Grimes has authored 100 publications and abstracts and is a member of National and International Professional Societies including: The American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the American Dermatological Association, Society of Investigative Dermatology, Dermatology Foundation, International Pigment Cell Society, and the Women’s Dermatologic Society. She is listed in “The Best Doctors in America” in 2000 and 2001.

She is a past Assistant Editor and Editorial Board Member of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Dermatology, Practical Cases in Dermatology, and Skin and Allergy News. Dr. Grimes is presently a contributing editor to Cosmetic Dermatology.

Dr. Grimes has dedicated her career to disorders of pigmentation. She founded The Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California in 1990 in order to provide cutting edge and alternative therapies to patients suffering from vitiligo and other pigmentary disorders as well as to provide full-service dermatological care to adults and children with other skin diseases.

Dr. Grimes and the Institute are committed to continuing research into the causes and treatments for pigmentary diseases, as well as unique ethnic skin and hair conditions. As a part of this commitment, the Institute has an ongoing research program that focuses on a variety of skin and hair disorders.