Like Father Like Son? Not at First

Alan Tanenbaum, MD, wanted to be a doctor from the time he was a little boy. The source of his aspiration was his father, Mark Tanenbaum, who had opened a dermatology practice in Memphis in 1962.

“My interest in medicine came from him,” Alan said. “He had a great career and was always fascinated by medicine, and he always seemed to come home happy from work.”

But Alan set his sights on pediatrics because he thought he would love taking care of children. So to keep an open mind, he purposefully stayed away from his father’s practice all the way through to his third year of medical school.

And then he got hooked on dermatology.

“When I was able to shadow him, I learned I could see all ages of patients because in dermatology we see patients from infancy to elderly,” Alan said. “We can follow people through their lives. So being interested in dermatology and being able to see all ages, not only kids, was a real drawing card.”

He had gone away to Indiana University to earn a degree in biology, and then he came back to Memphis to the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. While at UTHSC, he went on a blind date with the woman he would marry. He was in residency and Laura was getting her master’s in social work.

They both took jobs in Jacksonville, Fla. – he as a dermatologist in a large group practice and she as a clinical social worker. After two years there, Tanenbaum came back to Memphis to join his father’s dermatology practice. Father and son worked together for 13 years until Mark Tanenbaum retired in 2010.

“You know the quote about standing on the shoulders of giants?” Alan said. “I feel like that’s where I am because of the two mentors that I had. One was Bill Rosenberg, who was the chairman of dermatology when I was in residency. He was such a brilliant dermatologist.

“The other one was my dad. The way he got to know his patients so well, his empathy, and he just had a very caring and gentle demeanor. I think that’s what set him apart from most other doctors that I’ve worked with.

“I still have patients ask me every day ‘how’s your dad doing?’ and ‘what’s he up to?’ I tell them if I can be anywhere close to him as a dermatologist, then I’ll really have achieved something special.”

In all likelihood, Mark Tanenbaum feels as if Tanenbaum Dermatology Center is in good hands. Alan is in the process of expanding by opening a satellite office in Crosstown Concourse. He became interested in Crosstown a few years ago when Dr. Scott Morris, founder and CEO of Church Health, approached him and pitched the project to him.

At the time, Tanenbaum was a volunteer at Church Health and was doing a monthly clinic there.

“The whole idea of the community is healthy living, healthy maintenance and prevention of disease, and I think that aligns so well with my mission and my practice.

“So I try to counsel people about sun protection and diet and how that plays a role in their skin condition and how it can possibly affect their quality of life.”

Tanenbaum appreciates the fact that being at Crosstown part of his time will make it easier for him to help at Church Health, which will be just downstairs from him. Tanenbaum Dermatology, in East Memphis, is a small practice, where he is helped by two physician’s assistants, so the opening of a satellite location will likely result in the hiring of a second dermatologist.

In his 22 years of practice, Tanenbaum has witnessed a trend among younger dermatologists toward aesthetics and cosmetic dermatology. He doesn’t have a problem with that, and in fact he offers those services, but he says he always has been more interested in primary medical and surgical dermatology.

“That’s where our niche is now,” he said. “I feel like we’re on the cutting edge of those things.”

As an example, Tanenbaum says his practice was the first in Memphis to offer the XTRAC laser.

“It’s an excellent laser to treat psoriasis and vitiligo,” he said. “In the past there were certain forms of psoriasis that were very difficult to treat. The options were either a topical medication or jumping all the way to systemic medication, which may come along with some serious side effects, and there was really nothing in between.

“So now we have this XTRAC laser which treats some difficult cases, and it’s just ultraviolet light that’s focused on certain areas of skin involvement, and it’s very effective and safe and there’s no systemic risk.”

While Tanenbaum foresees some advancements in treating skin cancer, the emphasis among dermatologists remains prevention and early diagnosis, particularly when the subject is melanoma.

“People are more aware of what exposure to the sun can do,” he said. “But people still probably don’t use sunscreen as frequently and as liberally as they should. We have a lot of patients who come in and get their skin checked, but they still go to the beach and get burned, so it’s kind of working at cross purposes.

“We’re glad that they’re conscious, but we encourage them to be diligent also. “

The Tanenbaums have three children, two of whom are at the University of Michigan. The eldest, daughter Rachel, is a junior in premed and is interested in dermatology. Claire is a sophomore in Ann Arbor. Son Josh attends MUS.