Dr. Gioconda Gaudiano - Dermatologist and Pathologist

Doctor Gioconda Gaudiano, M.D. is widely recognized as the best dermatologist in the Republic of Panama. She specialized in Dermatology through studies at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She also specialized in Dermatopathology at the Ben Taub hospital and the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Houston, Texas. She has a sub-specialty in Tropical Dermatology from the U.S. Navy Tropical Research Laboratory, Gorgas Hospital as well as the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. She was the Chief of the Dermatology Department of the Gorgas Hospital in the Panama Canal Zone, and has been in private practice since 1983. She is currently the Director of the National Program for Detection and Prevention of Skin Cancer, the Panamanian Association of Dermatology, and "Fundacancer," a melanoma awareness program. She has a black-belt in Shotokan karate, is a member of the American Society as well as many other civic organizations, and is fully bi-lingual.

Personal Endorsement from Don Winner: Regular readers know I rarely make personal endorsements. To date there have been exactly two, Kevin Bradley and Carlito's Pizza. Doctor Gioconda Gaudiano is about to become the third. She has been my personal dermatologist for at least ten years, probably longer. She was the Chief of Dermatology of Gorgas Hospital in the Canal Zone when the US military was still in Panama, and I probably first met her there. Dr. Gaudiano is widely recognized as the best dermatologist in Panama, and while the other doctors won't admit it, they send the really hard cases to her. A few months ago I was in her waiting room, and President Martin Torrijos came out from the back, so she's good enough for the president of the country. She raised awareness to the dangers of UV exposure and the increased risks of skin cancer this summer with a public awareness campaign. If you live in Panama, chances are good that sooner or later you will require the services of a Dermatologist. I highly recommend you contact Dra. Gioconda Gaudiano when that time comes. She's the best there is, and I really can't say enough good things about her.

Doctor Gioconda Gaudiano has been studying the effects of ultraviolet light on the skin for a long time. She published “Systemic Protection Using Antioxidants Against Eritema Induced by Ultraviolet Light" in the The Journal of Investigative Dermatology in 1978.


The Warning Signs of Skin Cancer

Dermatopathologist: Physicians who after completing their training in either dermatology or pathology pursued additional training in accredited programs for the interpretation of skin biopsies. These physicians integrate the clinical information with microscopic observations of the biopsy from the patient to provide diagnostic information to the treating physician. Dermatopathology is a consultative service to the referring dermatologist and not simply a laboratory test. The accurate microscopic interpretation of the biopsy is important in the selection of appropriate therapies. As a dermatopathologist, Doctor Gaudiano is better trained and equipped to diagnose and treat and ailments of the skin.

Identifying Skin Cancer: Would you be able to spot this killer if you saw it? Probably not. That's why it's important to know the characteristics of the different types of skin cancers.

Basocellular Carcinoma: Basocellular Carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, and in fact it is one of the most common forms of all cancers. One out of every three new cases of cancer are cancers of the skin, and the vast majority of those are Basocellular Carcinoma. Every year the number of new cases has increase significantly, and every year the average age of first appearance has been decreasing meaning that you are more likely to see this kind of cancer at an earlier age. In fact there is a new epidemic of skin cancer among young people. The five warning signs of Basocellular Carcinoma are;

• 1. An open bleeding ulcer on the skin. It forms a scab and then remains open for three or more weeks. A persistent ulcer that does not heal is a very common sign of Basocellular Carcinoma that is just starting to grow.
  
  
• 2. A Patch of Skin That Is Reddish In Color: It can look like an area of skin that's been irritated and this kind of thing appears frequently on the chest, shoulders, arms and feet. Sometimes the reddish patch may form a scab, and it can also itch or hurt. However, sometimes this warning sign can appear and not me annoying or painful.
  
  
• 3. A Pink Growth: It can appear with elevated edges and with the center depressed and with a scab. When it begins to grow it will slowly for small capillaries in the surface of the skin.
  
  
• 4. A Boil or Pimple: This can appear as a translucent, pink, red or white nodule. The nodule can also be skin colored, black or brown. These are very often confused with a mole.
  
  
• 5. Similar To A Scar: Sometimes these can be white or yellowish and its edges are not clearly defined. The skin seems to be tense and shiny; this can indicate the presence of and aggressive tumor.

Ultra Violet Exposure Bracelet: Dr. Gaudiano is frequently asked to speak to groups of people about skin care and skin health in general, and these speeches always have one theme in common - "Protect Yourself From The Sun". It is now well understood that the harmful effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the root cause of many types of skin cancers. These Ultra Violet Exposure Bracelets are a cheap and easy way to see at a glance exactly how much ultraviolet light you've been exposed to. When you see purple, it's time to get out of the sun.

Solar Exposure Warning Sign: Another initiative that's under development are these ultraviolet warning signs that can be placed in areas frequently visited by tourists, together with information regarding the risks of high levels of UV exposure. Obviously if the green light is lit then there's a low risk, and if the top Purple light is lit then there's an extreme risk. At these levels unprotected exposure should be limited to as little as ten minutes or less.

Affiliations and Memberships: Dr. Gaudiano is a member of:

• The American Academy of Dermatology - The largest, most influential and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of over 13,700 it represents virtually all practicing dermatologists in the United States.
  
  
• The International Society of Dermatology - Building a new Dermatology to meet the growing educational needs for dermatologists all over the World.
  
  
• The Panamanian Dermatology Association (Director)
  
  
• The Ibero-American College of Dermotology
  
  
• She has a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate
  
  
• Director of Findacancer, a National Program for Detection and Prevention of Skin Cancer
  
  
• Member - American Society of Panama
  
  
• She crewed on the "Dale Dale" in the annual Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco Race in 1997

What to Look For

Getting to the Clinic

Contact Information for Doctor Gioconda Gaudiano:

• Office Location: Located in the Consultorios Medicos Paitilla, the medical offices that are across the street from the Paitilla Hospital. Her office is on the 4th floor, #413.
  
  
• Telephone: 269-7243 or 269-7336.
  
  
• Cell Phone: 6596-4956