Christchurch is gaining a new specialist dermatologist as the country grapples with a shortage that is making it harder for patients to get skin conditions diagnosed and treated.

German trained dermatologist Salim Greven is joining KM Surgical and Dermatology Associates on Bealey Avenue, with consultations available from November.

He is also a qualified specialist in paediatric and adolescent medicine, making him one of the few options for families seeking specialist skin care for children and teenagers.

“We’re delighted he’s joining our team at KM Surgical. He’s well liked by our staff, and we know our patients will enjoy his very caring nature,” clinic founder and dermatologist Dr Ken Macdonald said.

The clinic’s dermatologists specialise in skin cancer and mole checks, skin cancer surgery and Mohs surgery, which it offers on site with its own lab technician.

It also provides acne treatment, patch testing, UVB therapy, biologic treatments and photodynamic therapy, alongside cosmetic surgery and laser treatments.

Greven joins a team that includes Dutch trained dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Tom Middelburg.

Greven completed his medical and dental studies at Christian Albrechts University in Kiel, Germany, qualifying as a specialist in paediatric and adolescent medicine in 2013 and in dermatology, allergology and venereology in 2020.

He has worked in university hospitals, specialist departments and private practices in Germany, including in senior consultant and departmental leadership roles, as well as at Taranaki Base Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre in Australia.

His clinical interests include skin cancer, surgical dermatology, inflammatory skin conditions, aesthetic dermatology and hyperhidrosis, a condition involving excessive sweating.

He has also contributed to research on skin cancer diagnostics and shared decision making between patients and clinicians.