Douglas D Altchek, MD

Dr. Altchek attended Quaker schools, Friends Seminary, Friends Academy, and the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in English literature further diversified his education by studying medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid.  He then trained in surgery and dermatology at Mount Sinai.  He is currently Clinical Professor of Dermatology and the archivist of the department. 

Dr. Altchek has taught dermatologic surgery at Mount Sinai for over 30 years.  He practices out of the oldest, continuous dermatology office in Manhattan (in operation since 1929) and is a member of the United Nations Medical Corps.  He is frequently consulted in tropical dermatology.  At one time, he had the largest Hansen’s disease practice in the city.  Fluent in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, and Catalan, Dr. Altchek also reads Hebrew and Old English.

He has published a variety of papers and book chapters dealing with hair transplantation, skin tumors, eczema, and the history of dermatology.  Several of his publications were in Spanish and Portuguese and have appeared in international publications and texts.  He has lectured both in this country and abroad on subjects ranging from forensic dermatology to tropical dermatology.  He is a past President of the Manhattan Metropolitan Dermatology Society.  He has made numerous television appearances, been broadcast on radio, appeared in public forums, and is often quoted in magazines on a wide variety of topics ranging from hair loss to skin cancer to bogus dermatologic devices.