Dermatology office takes root in Brandon

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This article was published 03/02/2014 (4445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A temporary dermatology office opening in Brandon today will serve the needs of local and rural community members, according to one local cosmetic skin care clinic owner.

“It’s great that we’re finally able to have a dermatologist again in Brandon and for the rural area it’s going to be fabulous to refer people that direction,” said Cathy Woodmass, owner and operator of Simple Skin Solutions Laser and Skin Care Clinic, in a recent interview. “It will be different than our cosmetic clinics in town.”

Dr. Jason Sneath and his wife Robyn will open a temporary dermatology office inside Brandon Medical Arts Clinic, located at 339 Princess Ave., today. So far, the temporary clinic only has a two-day wait, compared to nearly six months for some services in Winnipeg, Jason said.

“Word that we’re opening seems to be spreading now, so the referrals are starting to trickle in,” he said. “With the area not having a dermatologist for so long, I think a lot of people are in need of a skin check to make sure that spot they’ve been ignoring for years isn’t something more sinister.”

Their temporary office will offer both medical and cosmetic services, he said. The only thing they won’t have set up is a UVB booth and laser. He expects those will be up and running when they move into their permanent office at 1031 Rosser Ave. — Brandon’s historic Fraser Block and former home of Pennywise Books.

Their permanent office, which they plan to open in mid-March, will fill a service gap between Regina and Winnipeg, Jason said.

The Sneaths purchased the building in April 2013 with the intention of redeveloping the back two-thirds of it into a dermatology office with an upscale café “selling high quality espresso-based drinks, smoothies and snacks” in the front, according to the proposal they submitted to the City of Brandon. Jason said renovations to the building’s upper floors will accommodate more office space, but added that work won’t happen for five or 10 years.

Their permanent office will offer a list of medical treatments including consultations, hyperhidrosis treatments, skin surgeries, acne treatments, wart treatments and UVB treatment for skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and vitiligo. The list of cosmetic treatments offered will include botox, dermal fillers, laser, mole removal and anti-aging treatments. In addition to his cosmetic training, Jason has also recently published a textbook chapter on the cosmetic use of botox.

“I’m really excited to get the clinic up and running,” he said. “I always wanted to be in my own space and run my own show so I’ve been planning and looking forward to this for quite a while.”

So far, clients are being scheduled for a wide range of chronic skin issues, he said.

Jason did his four-year undergraduate degree at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of science. Prior to attending the U of M, he attended Harvard University studying public health and health care management. Following his dermatology training, he moved to Vancouver to complete a five-year residency at the University of British Columbia. Since dermatology is not a residency program offered in Manitoba, Sneath said he completed part of his residency training at hospitals and clinics in Tokyo, Sydney, Honolulu and Oxford to gain extra skills in surgery and cosmetic dermatology.

Overall construction of their permanent office is going well so far, he said.

“We’re working with the heritage committee on restoring the building for modern windows, doors and signage without taking away from the historical significance.”

Medical skin issue appointments, made through a referral from a physician, can be faxed to 204-717-7549.

Cosmetic and wart treatments do not require a referral and appointments for treatment can be made by calling 204-717-SKIN.

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