Dermatology Q and A

Q & A with Dr. Brock Davis, D.O.

New Dermatology Physician Joining Central Peninsula Hospital

Question:

What drew you to Central Peninsula Hospital and the Kenai Peninsula specifically?

Dr. Davis:

I’ve always been interested in rural healthcare and rural medicine. I attended medical school in West Virginia, which has a strong focus on rural medicine, and then completed my dermatology residency in Kirksville, Missouri. It’s really the only true rural dermatology residency program in the country. Other programs may have outreach clinics, but ours is located in a genuinely rural community, so rural medicine is what we do every day.

I also love the outdoors. I enjoy being in the mountains, skiing, hiking, and fishing. The Kenai Peninsula offers all of that, so it was a natural fit.

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Question:

What excites you most about helping build a brand-new dermatology practice here?

Dr. Davis:

For me, it’s really about access to care.

I come from a rural community myself. I live in a town of about 17,000 people, and if my family needs specialty care, we often have to travel anywhere from an hour and a half to three hours depending on the service. I know firsthand how significant that barrier can be.

One of the goals of my career has always been to decrease those barriers, particularly in dermatology and Mohs surgery. Having worked in rural communities, I’m incredibly impressed with Central Peninsula Hospital. The organization is clearly committed to improving access to care and providing services that aren’t currently available locally. That forward-thinking approach is exciting to be part of.

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Question:

Many residents on the peninsula struggle to access dermatology care. What does it mean for you to help fill that gap?

Dr. Davis:

Driving three hours to Anchorage for specialized healthcare is a major obstacle for many people. Access to dermatology services—and especially Mohs surgery—has been limited on the peninsula.

By bringing those services closer to home, we’re reducing a significant barrier. It will genuinely make a difference in people’s lives and, in some cases, may even save lives. Some people simply won’t seek care if the travel burden is too great, whether because of cost, physical limitations, or other challenges. I’m happy to help make care more accessible.

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Question:

What is your philosophy of patient care?

Dr. Davis:

I believe in a patient-centered approach. You have to meet patients where they are—their level of understanding, their expectations, and their goals for treatment.

Ultimately, my role is to provide the best information and recommendations I can, while allowing patients to make informed decisions about their care.

More than anything, I try to treat every patient like they are a member of my own family. I want to provide the same level of care that I would hope someone would give to my mother. That’s the standard I strive for.

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Question:

How do you want patients to feel when they leave your office?

Dr. Davis:

I want them to feel like they’ve been well cared for—like a family member has taken care of them. I want them to leave knowing they were listened to, respected, and given the best care possible.

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Question:

What do you enjoy most about dermatology as a specialty?

Dr. Davis:

I love the diversity of it.

On one side, you have complex medical dermatology. A patient may come in with a rash, and it could be caused by an infection, a genetic condition, something environmental, or any number of other possibilities. Every case is different.

Then there’s the surgical side. Mohs surgery allows us to remove skin cancers very precisely, ensuring all of the cancer is gone while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. That gives patients the best possible cosmetic and functional outcome.

We also have the pathology aspect, where we examine tissue under the microscope. Dermatology combines medicine, surgery, pathology, and patient care across the entire age spectrum—from newborns to older adults. It’s a very rewarding specialty.

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Question:

What should patients know about the importance of skin cancer screenings in Alaska?

Dr. Davis:

Everybody has skin, and everybody is exposed to the elements.

Our skin is the barrier between us and the outside world, and one of the biggest factors affecting it is sun exposure. The sun causes ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skin every day. When skin darkens or tans, that’s actually evidence of DNA damage occurring in the skin.

Over time, that damage accumulates and can lead to skin cancer. Because of that, everyone should consider regular skin screenings, especially if they’ve had significant sun exposure throughout their lives.

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Question:

What would you say to someone who has delayed getting a concerning spot checked?

Dr. Davis:

Just come in.

There’s nothing to be worried about. We’ll discuss everything step by step, and if there are treatment options you’re not comfortable with, we can talk through alternatives. The important thing is to have it evaluated.

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Question:

You’ve participated in medical outreach work around the world. How has that shaped you as a physician?

Dr. Davis:

It’s given me a broader perspective on both dermatology and medicine in general.

Just because one physician practices a certain way doesn’t mean there aren’t other approaches that can be equally effective. Seeing different healthcare systems and treatment methods has given me more tools in my toolbox and more ways to tailor care to individual patients.

The other thing I value about outreach work is that it allows me to serve people who might not otherwise have access to care. Increasing access and reducing barriers has been a consistent theme throughout my career.

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Question:

What are you most looking forward to about life on the Kenai Peninsula?

Dr. Davis:

Fishing is definitely high on the list.

I love being outdoors, and it seems like you’re surrounded by incredible outdoor opportunities here all the time. I’m excited about hiking, fishing, skiing, and simply being immersed in nature. It seems like a wonderful place to raise a family.

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Question:

What do you hope this clinic becomes for the community over the next several years?

Dr. Davis:

I hope it becomes the trusted home for dermatology care on the Kenai Peninsula.

Whether someone has a concern about a skin condition, needs a skin cancer screening, or requires specialized treatment, I want patients to feel comfortable coming to us and confident that they’ll receive high-quality care close to home.