What if the practice of medicine is actually holding you back from building the healthcare company you envision?

Dr. Anna Chacon welcomes Dr. Haroon Ahmad, MD, founder and CEO of Proton Health, to discuss his remarkable journey from eczema patient to health tech innovator. A trained physician who practiced in the UK, Dr. Ahmad shares how his lifelong struggle with severe eczema—combined with witnessing physician burnout during medical school—inspired him to create Symphony, an AI-powered platform that gives dermatologists complete patient context before appointments even begin. His mission? Bring the human connection back into medicine by eliminating administrative burden and letting clinicians focus on actual patient care.

The conversation explores the intersection of dermatology, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship. Topics include the evolution of clinical workflows, how Symphony automates documentation while preserving the doctor-patient relationship, the role of AI in future dermatology practice, and Dr. Ahmad's personal victory over eczema using his own technology. They also discuss the challenges of building health tech, learning to code as a physician, balancing CEO responsibilities with family life, and the free patient app Skin X that helps individuals track and manage their skin conditions.owerful conversation about autonomy, impact, and designing life on your own terms.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) From childhood eczema patient to physician: how severe skin disease shaped an entrepreneurial journey
• (05:45) Proton Health's mission: bringing humanism back into medicine through Symphony's pre-visit AI platform
• (11:45) Why physicians should learn to code and how AI tools like Cursor are reducing barriers to entry
• (13:55) Solving his own severe eczema using Symphony's tracking and data analysis after 27 years of struggle
• (17:16) Getting involved with Proton Health and downloading the free Skin X patient management app
• Share with a dermatology pro you know, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the show: Welcome to Skin Deep, a podcast designed for dermatology professionals. Host Dr. Anna Chacon, a distinguished dermatologist and author, shares her unique experiences and offers valuable insights on the future of dermatology, including telemedicine and teledermatology in reaching underserved communities. Dr. Chacon provides actionable recommendations for dermatology practices, emphasizing compassion, patient education, and staying current with advancements in the field.

About the host: Dr. Anna Chacon, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Indigenous Dermatology, specializes in treating patients in remote and rural communities. As the first dermatologist serving Alaska's Bush region, she travels by bush plane to reach isolated communities. Dr. Chacon holds medical licenses in all 50 states, DC, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, providing both in-person and teledermatology services.

Resources:

Dr. Haroon Ahmad Linked...

• (00:00:00) - Scratching Your Own Eczema
• (00:00:43) - How did you get into health tech and dermatology?
• (00:02:41) - How to Get Invited to Techstars
• (00:03:50) - How to transition from clinical practice to startup life
• (00:06:10) - Proton Health's Symphony platform for dermatologists
• (00:08:49) - dermatology expert talks AI and the future of the field
• (00:11:06) - Dermatology App Available in UK, US
• (00:11:44) - How to Build a Health Tech App by Yourself
• (00:14:09) - Immunity for eczema
• (00:15:40) - What Kind of Criteria Do Techstars Have for Companies?
• (00:17:44) - How can people get involved with Proton Health's Skincare

What if the future of dermatology depends on doctors taking control of technology—before tech entrepreneurs do it for us?

Dr. Anna Chacon welcomes Dr. Bilal Fawaz, board-certified dermatologist and associate program director at Boston University's Department of Dermatology, who is revolutionizing healthcare technology as the founder of DermHub—a mobile teledermatology app created and run entirely by dermatologists. With extensive experience managing over 7,000 econsult patients at BU since 2019, Dr. Fawaz brings a physician-first perspective to digital healthcare innovation. His core belief? "Physicians should be the ones leading the health tech field, not tech entrepreneurs."

This episode explores the critical intersection of dermatology and entrepreneurship, examining why doctors must take control of health technology before profit-driven companies compromise patient care. What are the hidden costs of building a medical app? How do you navigate HIPAA compliance, state licensing, and insurance reimbursement? Dr. Fawaz shares his journey through app development, from initial sketches to launch, while discussing the future of store-and-forward teledermatology, the limitations of mid-level providers in digital healthcare, and why judgment-based care deserves better compensation.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Dr. Bilal Fawaz introduces DermHub and the mission to put dermatologists in charge of teledermatology
• (05:01) Breaking down the costs: initial investment versus recurring expenses for healthcare apps
• (11:00) Why physicians should lead health tech instead of being discarded as advisors
• (15:18) Store-and-forward technology: the scalable future of dermatology access to care
• (19:11) The harsh reality of telehealth compensation and physician liability in digital medicine
• (23:51) Managing 50 state licenses and the hidden bureaucratic costs of nationwide practice
• (30:02) Final thoughts: why dermatologists must collaborate and support each other in health tech
• Share with a dermatology pro you know, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the show: Welcome to Skin Deep, a podcast designed for dermatology professionals. Host Dr. Anna Chacon, a distinguished dermatologist and author, shares her unique experiences and offers valuable insights on the future of dermatology, including telemedicine and teledermatology in reaching underserved communities. Dr. Chacon provides actionable recommendations for dermatology practices, emphasizing compassion, patient education, and staying current with advancements in the field.

About the host: Dr. Anna Chacon, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Indigenous Dermatology, specializes in treating patients in remote and rural communities. As the first dermatologist serving Alaska's Bush region, she travels by bush plane to reach isolated communities. Dr. Chacon holds medical licenses in all 50 states, DC, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, providing both in-person and teledermatology services.

Resources:

• (00:00:00) - Dermhub: The Future of Tech in Health Care
• (00:00:28) - Dr. Bilal Fawaz on DermHub
• (00:02:17) - How to Build a telehealth app in the US
• (00:05:26) - How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App?
• (00:06:48) - Dr. Rodolani on her venture and Durham's support
• (00:08:21) - The Toothpick App for Dentists
• (00:15:59) - How to get your Derm Hub, your own LLC registered in
• (00:19:13) - The Complicated Issues of Telehealth
• (00:26:35) - How to prescribe via the Internet
• (00:30:19) - Dr. Chacon on Health Tech

Dr. Anna Chacon welcomes Dr. Carolyn Francavilla, a family physician and obesity medicine specialist who founded Green Mountain Partners for Health nearly a decade ago. What drove her to launch a practice just seven months pregnant, a year out of residency? Dr. Francavilla serves on the board of the Obesity Medicine Association and chairs the AMA's Private Practice Physician section, bringing unique insight into building sustainable, patient-centered care models. Her all-female practice has thrived by maintaining an unwavering mission: never sacrifice time with patients for profit margins.

The conversation explores the explosive growth of GLP-1 medications, the future of obesity treatment beyond semaglutide and tirzepatide, and when bariatric surgery remains the gold standard. How can private practices stay lean yet profitable while accepting insurance? Dr. Francavilla reveals her strategies for hybrid membership models, virtual assistant integration, and the unconventional hiring approaches that built her team. From navigating compounding pharmacy controversies to mentoring pre-med students, this episode delivers actionable wisdom for healthcare professionals seeking clinical autonomy.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) From family medicine to obesity medicine: Dr. Francavilla's unconventional career path
• (01:46) Starting a practice seven months pregnant and one year out of residency
• (03:44) The GLP-1 revolution: how semaglutide and tirzepatide transformed obesity treatment
• (06:55) When bariatric surgery is still the most powerful tool for weight loss
• (08:42) Navigating private practice challenges while maintaining your mission
• Share with a dermatology pro you know, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the show: Welcome to Skin Deep, a podcast designed for dermatology professionals. Host Dr. Anna Chacon, a distinguished dermatologist and author, shares her unique experiences and offers valuable insights on the future of dermatology, including telemedicine and teledermatology in reaching underserved communities. Dr. Chacon provides actionable recommendations for dermatology practices, emphasizing compassion, patient education, and staying current with advancements in the field.

About the host: Dr. Anna Chacon, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Indigenous Dermatology, specializes in treating patients in remote and rural communities. As the first dermatologist serving Alaska's Bush region, she travels by bush plane to reach isolated communities. Dr. Chacon holds medical licenses in all 50 states, DC, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, providing both in-person and teledermatology services.

Resources:

Green Mountain Partners for Health (practice website): https://www.greenmountainpartnersforhealth.com/

Colorado Weight Care (weight loss program): https://www.coloradoweightcare.com/

Help...

• (00:00:00) - Private Practice Owners' Guide
• (00:00:19) - Anatomy 101: Obesity Medicine Specialist Guest
• (00:01:55) - Primary care physician's focus on obesity and diabetes
• (00:03:54) - GLP1s and bariatric surgery
• (00:08:33) - Private Practice in Colorado
• (00:13:53) - How big is your practice? Virtual Assistants, in-person
• (00:14:56) - Private Practice Physician on Hiring