I'm writing this because Yelp helped me find this place, and it deserves more reviews.
Years ago I tried a few dermatologists in mid- and northern Michigan. I was disappointed, and in one case appalled. The offices were dirty, the staff were surly and uncouth, and the doctors were mystifyingly indelicate and unskilled.
Suffice it to say, I abandoned confidence and dismissed the entire field as a nebulous and immature area of medicine, to be categorized with hair removal shops, tanning salons, and a few fly-by-night chiropractors. I was naive, and unfortunate because I have sensitive skin and a few allergies--typical stuff associated with my Scandinavian heritage.
Last month I discovered Dr. Ganger and her staff, and I did a 180-degree turn in attitude and perception!
I live overseas, but travel to Michigan frequently and always make a stop in Ann Arbor on my way north to the "tip of the mitt." It's a ritual I enjoy because I love that town and lived and worked there for years in the not too distant past.
Upon arriving in Michigan, I had progressively worsening redness and flaking on my face. My skin was inflamed, and I was unwittingly frightening small children in the hotel lobby where I was staying. (I'm joking, of course, but not by much.) My first morning in A2, after a hot shower with hotel soap, my skin went haywire and became super-irritated. I said "Enough!" and went to Yelp to find local dermatologists. I decided on Ganger.
Jessie answered the phone and listened while I explained my issue. She said there was a long waiting list, but earlier that morning they had a cancellation. I took it. She was thoughtful to remember it, mention it, and offer it. This is not always the case at other practices where ornery staff might not care either way.
I e-mailed a couple of iPhone "selfies" so she could show the medical staff what my affliction looked like. During my initial appointment, Dr. Ganger told me that she would've seen me without an appointment in light of the .jpg photos I sent. This illustrates that she cares about her patients, and that compassion trumps the typical strict rigidities of more jaded practices.
[This is getting too long. I'll try to sum it up.]
Her assistants were skilled, helpful, professional, and very friendly. Her new office is convenient, beautiful, and comfortable. Her equipment is new and state-of-the-art. They gave me samples of natural and mild skin moisturizers, which have been a joy to use.
After expertly taking a biopsy sample from my face (which was small, discreet, healed very quickly, and is now unnoticeable), she directed me to get some blood samples from a St. Joseph Mercy Hospital lab located walking-distance from her practice. A day or two afterward, her assistant called me with the test results: a photoallergic reaction to something that was on my face. This made sense, as the previous week I was driving through the Arabian desert, and on a boat in Manila two days prior to my flight to the U.S.A.
She wrote a prescription during my first visit. (Just as the lab, also convenient is the nice Walgreen's pharmacy located across the street.) By the next day, I was already healing quickly, and looked good when I woke up on my second day up north.
During my follow-up visit the next week, I was as good as new! Even the office administrators were struck by the change in my appearance. I was delighted in every way.
Dr. Ganger and her team are fantastic! Good, friendly people too.
Note: The entire office is staffed by women, so women should feel comfortable being examined here. I'm a man and I felt a little uncomfortable, but that's only because every damn one of them is charming and gorgeous! I'll be back...but not for this last reason. (Though I will hold in my belly when I take my shirt off in the exam room.)
;-) read more