A dermatologist who listens, teaches and is dedicated to lifelong learning

Kristen Savola, M.D. understands that for many people, a skin condition is more than skin deep.

Whether it's acne that undermines a teenager's confidence, rosacea that keeps someone from feeling comfortable in public or a scar that serves as a daily reminder of trauma, Savola believes dermatology has the power to restore both health and self-confidence.

"My mission is to provide patients with the best and most state-of-the-art treatments that will not only help their medical condition, but also address the psychological ramifications that come along with them," she says. "I view the patient in his or her entirety instead of just limiting my focus to the skin condition. As dermatologists, we need to listen, understand a person's medical and financial limitations and develop a treatment plan that works for that individual."

Savola brings that philosophy to every patient encounter. Her work has earned recognition for both clinical excellence and compassionate care, including multiple awards for her bedside manner, while her research, teaching and national lectures have established her as a recognized leader in cosmetic dermatology. She specializes in cosmetic dermatology, laser surgery, acne, rosacea and scar revision.

At VCU Health, Savola serves as director of cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery, where she is building the health system's cosmetic dermatology service line while mentoring residents through classroom instruction and hands-on procedural training.

Her vision of cosmetic dermatology at VCU extends beyond caring for today's patients.

"My goal at VCU Health is not to continue to perform these procedures myself, but rather to prepare and train the next generation of dermatologists providing cosmetic services," she says.

That passion for education is one of the reasons Savola returned to the institution where she completed her dermatology residency. Before joining VCU Health, she spent more than 20 years in private practice, caring for patients in general, surgical, cosmetic and laser dermatology while building and managing her own successful cosmetic dermatology and medical spa practice in Fishersville, Va.

Before specializing in dermatology, Savola completed training in internal medicine and infectious diseases, experiences that continue to inform her approach to patient care. In addition to her dermatology residency at VCU Medical Center, she earned a master's degree in education from Harvard University, received her medical degree from Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, and completed advanced training at Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco, institutions widely recognized among the nation's most prestigious universities.

Savola is an internationally recognized expert in aesthetic devices and has helped pioneer the development of cosmetic procedures through collaborations with industry partners. She continues to lecture and train physicians both within and outside academic medicine.

"I want to be a leader at the forefront of new medications, procedures and research" in acne and rosacea, she says.

One of the reasons she returned to VCU Health was its collaborative approach to care.

"I love the fact that at VCU Health, we as physicians work together to discuss and decide on the best care for our patients," she says. "Although it is a large system, the focus has been and continues to be on providing the best care for the community. The feeling I get working here is that everyone is committed to compassionate care. It's the small things...the kindness and respect...that make me enjoy working here."