Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Mcniece
Hi Kayla, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Starting out as young girl in West Texas, I never imagined myself as a Mohs skin cancer surgeon. I didn’t even know what that was!
I grew up in Abilene, TX… Abilene is known for its three Christian colleges and the famous (infamous in my opinion) song by George Hamilton IV. Although Abilene won’t be the prettiest town you’ve ever seen, the people there won’t treat you mean in Abilene. There, I grew up on generosity, sharing and looking out for those in need.
Nothing fits “need” more than the sub-Saharan African country of Zambia. Zambia was a focal point of my childhood church’s healthcare mission platform. As an undergraduate student, I joined this mission — a pop-up dental/medical clinic meeting the needs of rural “bush” people. The work was hard but rewarding. I was able to stomach the blood and guts, but I could not stomach the gross inadequacy of diagnostic tools and treatment options. No chest x-ray? No blood tests? No steroids to give? No antibiotics for infections? What?!
However, I came to realize that expert physical diagnosis (looking at observable bodily features to make a diagnosis) could take the place of labs and imaging in an environment such as Zambia. Since physical diagnosis is the crux of dermatology, I chose this medical specialty for my life’s work.
As I advanced through dermatology training, my West Texas heritage took hold as I found myself naturally drawn to surgery. Cutting and suturing was so much like hand stitching with my grandmothers. In fact, I could sew before I could read or write! Mohs surgery (a specialized type of dermatologic cancer surgery) married my past and future perfectly.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Wow! Great question. Not a smooth road at all!
Medical school was very rigorous, some might even say abusive at times. I succeeded and made it through, but it left a mark. I also had to move around the country a lot for the different levels of mandatory training — seven different cities from undergraduate to postgrad. Uprooting your life so many times takes a toll on ya. Within the machine of medicine, being a woman brings its own challenges. Even though conditions are improving, there are still patriarchal elements to overcome. It can seem impossible to balance medicine and a family life.
Although it has been a rocky road for me, I see so many great changes coming for healthcare trainees. I am hopeful for our future physicians.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Bellaire Dermatology is a privately owned boutique dermatology practice. Under one roof, we have experts in every realm of dermatology–medical, surgical, cosmetic/aesthetic and pathology. In addition, we are one of the largest laser practices in Houston. As other private practices continue to be purchased by larger conglomerates, we are proud to remain independent, local, and personal.
I run the surgery center for Bellaire Dermatology. Although I perform benign excisions for cysts and lipomas, my specialty is Mohs surgery. A type is skin sparing procedure used to treat skin cancers in high-risk areas. This type of surgery provides cure rates approaching 99+% and boasts the best cosmetic outcomes.
As the only Mohs surgeon at Bellaire Dermatology, it is my job to deliver this type of high-quality surgery with a boutique feel! Surgery is an anxiety provoking experience, and one of my strengths is making patients feel comfortable through the process. Because my surgeries are performed in an office setting, my patients are awake and talking to me (of course the site of surgery is numbed completely so they don’t feel anything). This is my favorite part of the job because I really get to know my patients! And I learn so much from them! For instance… Did you know you can bake a turkey in a trash can? Did you know fisherman in Louisiana use Victoria’s Secret lotion to ward away biting bugs? Did you know the Galleria used to be a ranch (in the early 1900s)? My patients are a wealth of knowledge.
Although my priority is the highest cure rates and the best outcomes, this personal experience is what I strive to create for each patient. I want every patient to feel like family when they leave.
What matters most to you?
People.
Hands down people. I chose medicine to serve and love on people. Like many, I want to make a difference in the lives of others–friends, family, patients, and even strangers. Life is hard–each of us is fighting a hard fight. I want to help people win those fights by providing health and compassion with a personal touch.
Pricing:
- Cyst and Lipoma Excision $1500
- Earlobe Repair and piercing: $650 per ear
- Full Face CO2 Laser: $3500
- Around the mouth CO2 laser: $1300
- Around the mouth CO2 laser: $1300
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellairedermatology.com
- Instagram: drkaylamcniece
