Dr. Mohiba Tareen is a nationally acclaimed board-certified dermatologist and the Founder and Medical Director of Tareen Dermatology. She established the practice in 2011 with the vision of providing cutting-edge, compassionate dermatologic care. Dr. Tareen specializes in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology, and is a certified Mohs surgeon for skin cancer. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan, she earned her medical degree from the same institution, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Tareen completed her dermatology residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and a Procedural Dermatology Fellowship. Known for her volunteerism, she actively contributes to local and global communities. Dr. Tareen is committed to excellence in patient care, education, and innovative treatment.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts early. I wake up at 5:00 AM to spend some quiet time meditating and planning my day. By 6:00 AM, I’m exercising, which helps me stay energized and focused. I arrive at the clinic by 8:00 AM and begin seeing patients, ranging from routine check-ups to complex surgical procedures. My productivity hinges on meticulous scheduling and delegating tasks to my capable team. I also make it a point to spend time mentoring my staff and Gap-Year employees, as their growth contributes to our collective success.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Bringing ideas to life involves a combination of creativity and collaboration. I believe in brainstorming sessions with my team where everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas. Once we have a solid concept, we create a detailed plan with clear objectives and timelines. For example, our Gap-Year program started as an idea to address staffing challenges and evolved through input from various team members and partnerships with local universities.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The integration of artificial intelligence in dermatology excites me. AI has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics and treatment planning by providing highly accurate analyses of skin conditions. It can enhance our ability to detect skin cancer at earlier stages and personalize treatment plans, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Prioritizing my tasks every morning is a habit that significantly boosts my productivity. I use the first 30 minutes of my workday to outline my top priorities and allocate specific times to address them. This habit helps me stay focused and ensures that critical tasks are completed efficiently.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to embrace challenges and failures as opportunities for growth. Early in my career, I was afraid of making mistakes. Over time, I’ve learned that each failure teaches valuable lessons and drives innovation. Embracing this mindset earlier would have saved me a lot of stress.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that work-life balance is achievable even for highly ambitious professionals. Many people think you must choose between career success and personal fulfillment, but I’ve found that setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care allows you to excel in both areas.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Regular self-assessment is something I do consistently and recommend to others. Whether it’s weekly reflections on my performance or periodic evaluations of my clinic’s services, self-assessment helps identify areas for improvement and fosters continuous growth.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed, I take a step back and breathe. A short walk outside or a few minutes of meditation can help clear my mind. I also break down my tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and tackle them one at a time, which helps regain focus and momentum.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building strong relationships has been a key strategy in my career growth. Whether it’s with patients, staff, or industry peers, fostering genuine connections and maintaining open communication has led to numerous opportunities and a supportive network that has been invaluable to my success.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Early in my career, I launched a new treatment line that didn’t perform well. Instead of seeing it as a setback, I gathered feedback from patients and my team to understand the shortcomings. We revamped the line based on this feedback, and it eventually became one of our most popular services. This experience taught me the importance of listening to stakeholders and being adaptable.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A tele-dermatology platform dedicated to underserved communities could be a game-changer. By providing remote consultations and treatment plans, we can reach patients who lack access to quality dermatologic care. This platform could leverage AI for initial assessments, making it both efficient and scalable.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I rely heavily on our electronic health record (EHR) system. It streamlines patient data management, appointment scheduling, and follow-up reminders, allowing me to focus more on patient care and less on administrative tasks.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I highly recommend the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. It offers practical strategies for building good habits and breaking bad ones, which has helped me both personally and professionally. The concepts are easy to implement and have made a noticeable difference in my daily routine.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed watching “The Crown.” It’s fascinating to see the intricate details of historical events and personal dynamics within the royal family. The series offers a deep dive into leadership, duty, and personal sacrifice, which are themes that resonate with me as a professional and a leader.
Key learnings
1. Prioritize Education and Mentorship: Dr. Tareen emphasizes the importance of educating and mentoring both patients and staff to foster growth and improve outcomes in dermatology.
2. Embrace Innovation: Staying ahead with the latest technology and trends, like AI in dermatology, is crucial for providing cutting-edge care and enhancing patient satisfaction.
3. Balance and Self-Care: Achieving work-life balance is possible through setting boundaries, regular self-assessment, and prioritizing personal well-being, leading to a more fulfilling professional and personal life.