Carlos Garcia, MD was born in Mexico City and came to the United States in the early 90's for a Mohs Surgery Fellowship training at Duke University. He eventually became a United States citizen after he and Andrea, his wife of 36 years, fell in love with America and decided that they wanted to live, work, and raise their family here.

Dr. Garcia has been practicing dermatology and performing Mohs surgery since the 90's. He is a former president of the American Society for Mohs Surgery and has served as the Director for the Fundamentals of Mohs Surgery Course by the American Society for Mohs Surgery. He has lectured extensively about Mohs surgery and dermatology to physicians and surgeons around the world. He serves on the editorial board of multiple journals and has authored numerous book chapters.

 

Dr. Garcia and Andrea have a son and a daughter, both of whom are married. Their marriages have led to the birth of three grandchildren so far. They all live in the Oklahoma City metro so family occasions and holidays have some extra sparkle now that the little ones are part of things.

When he is not working at Southwestern Dermatology, Dr. Garcia enjoys reading and spending time with his grandchildren in addition to being an avid chess player.

Erin Dum is a certified Physician Assistant with her Bachelor of Science in Zoology and her Master of Health Science in Physician Associate Studies. She has been practicing since 2011. She attended the University of Oklahoma for her undergraduate degree and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center for graduate school. She is certified through the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). She completed extensive training through the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants to be a certified SDPA Diplomat. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) the Oklahoma Association of Physician Associates (OAPA) and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.

After graduating from PA school she worked in rural family practice while moonlighting at local urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. She loved developing long lasting relationships with her patients in family practice and developing a broad base of medical knowledge. However, dermatology was always a passion and an area of medicine in which she wanted to work. When the opportunity to join the Southwestern Dermatology team presented itself, she jumped at the chance.

When she is not caring for patients, PA Dum enjoys reading, trying new foods and restaurants and spending time with her husband and 4 children. 

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Physician Associate Tovan Truong embarked on her journey in healthcare from her hometown. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Sciences in Microbiology and a minor in Psychology, she continued her academic pursuits at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, earning a Masters in Health Science. With a passion for skincare and a commitment to patient well-being, Tovan collaborates closely with her patients to craft personalized treatment plans tailored to their unique needs and concerns, focusing on general dermatology and skin cancer. Her dedication is rooted in ensuring that every patient feels comfortable and valued throughout their dermatology journey.

She is a member of the Oklahoma Academy of Physician Associates, the American Academy of Physician Associates, and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys experiencing new restaurants and cuisines, spending time with her family and friends, traveling with her husband Tim, and cherishing moments with her dogs Kobe and Seiko. PA Truong is committed to providing high quality dermatological care to patients in the OKC metro area at Southwestern Dermatology.

PA Urvi Patel was born in India and raised in Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Science degree and Master in Health Science as a Physician Associate from the University of Oklahoma. During her physician assistant training, Ms. Patel discovered a passion for dermatology and was determined to find a position in the specialty that made her heart sing. Fortunately, an opportunity at Southwestern Dermatology presented itself and she was able to dive right in to dermatology after graduation.

 

PA Patel is certified by the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants as a Diplomate Fellow. She is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. Ms. Patel strives to help patients feel more confident and comfortable in their skin by tailoring treatments to fit each individual's needs. 

 

When PA Patel is not taking care of patients at Southwestern Dermatology, you can find her at the gym working out, trying new food, traveling, or spending time with friends and family.

PA Christopher Liendo, is a South Texas native. He has dedicated his physician assistant career at Southwestern Dermatology to treating patients with a diverse range of dermatologic conditions. His passion for dermatology was originally ignited by his own childhood bout of chickenpox. Mr. Liendo obtained his Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree at the University of Texas Southwestern School of Health Professions and is a member of numerous professional associations for physician assistants. 

 

When he is not caring for patients at the clinic, PA Liendo finds solace and joy in the company of his loved ones and cherishes quality time spent with family and friends. 

 

Mr. Liendo's love for music knows no bounds, spanning genres from the timeless classics of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to the rhythmic beats of modern rap, pop and rock. He has delved into the world of piano with a newly acquired electronic piano. Chris immensely enjoys being on South Padre Island in Texas whenever possible to enjoy some fish tacos or fishing itself. Cruising along the beach access on a longboard is a must when the weather is right. He embraces new culinary experiences, and eagerly tries out new restaurants and flavors whenever possible. He calls his dabbling in painting "mostly splattering paint onto canvas in the most calculated way possible (no math involved)" and finds joy in any creative process! He is always up for a game of basketball, tennis, or the latest craze, pickleball.

 

PA Liendo aims to impact lives through genuine conversation and acts of kindness, with a goal of leaving a positive imprint on all whose paths he crosses.

Derek Cook, ME is an army veteran who became a licensed medical esthetician after graduating from Bellflower School of Cosmetology in Los Angeles in 1995. Soon afterward, the opportunities of a couple of lifetimes presented themselves when he was able to study under Edgar Morris, "the skin guru", and to take advanced acne treatment classes at the International Dermal Institute in Torrance, CA under James Fulton, MD.

 

After 16 years of working and honing his skills in Los Angeles, Derek decided to relocate back to his hometown of Oklahoma City where he opened a private practice skincare clinic. He taught aspiring medical estheticians at Heritage College for five years during the time prior to 2014 when he joined Southwestern Dermatology.   

 

Mr. Cook has been practicing medical esthetics for almost 30 years now and enjoys it as much today as he did when he first started. In his free time, Derek plays the saxophone, the guitar, and golf and is working on perfecting his latest pursuit, scuba diving. He is "looking forward to many more years with Dr. Garcia and our amazing staff at Southwestern Dermatology".