Remembering Melanie Grossman, MD

Dr. Melanie Grossman was truly one of a kind. A brilliant researcher and talented dermatologist, she was admired by her peers and mentors, and beloved by her staff and patients.

I met Melanie in the early days of starting my company. She had it all: a big brain, a kind heart, and a healthy cynicism for BS. I always learned a lot from our conversations. Melanie was never inclined to market her busy dermatology practice. Yet, I would get the call every summer: “Wendy, I need to talk to you about marketing.” We would meet so she could ask me the same questions she asked the previous year. After several sessions, she let me write some copy for her website. I felt honored; it was a huge leap of faith as she was the quintessential “anti-marketer.” As a scientist, she was curious but couldn’t quite get her head around the concept of self-promotion. It was one of her many endearing qualities. As smart as she was, she never made me feel inferior and always treated me like her equal, which I certainly was not.

I recall the time I brought someone to her office and there were lasers stacked one on top of the other in the treatment rooms and hallways. If you have ever seen a typical New York office, you know that when you can’t add space horizontally, you go vertical. She was wearing a pair of stunning knee-high black Chanel boots that I complimented her on. Modest to a fault, she blushed with a cross between guilt and embarrassment at having spent so much money on herself.

To honor her legacy, we reached out to many of Melanie’s friends and colleagues to share sentiments about her life and how she influenced the field.

—Wendy Lewis

Before either of us were in Dermatology, Melanie Grossman changed my life forever. I was a medical student at Yale, nervous to start my sub-internship in Internal Medicine. When I got on the floor, I was assigned to share an on-call room with a smart, quick, efficient, and beautiful young intern who was known to be the best of the best. She immediately put my worries to rest.
Melanie and I had an instant connection and became fast friends, despite our lack of sleep. During our middle of the night talks in between pager rings and emergency calls, she would tell me why dermatology was the best field and the only residency I should consider. It was her mission to ensure that I would follow her into a career in dermatology, and when Melanie had a mission, it was clear she would get it done. Melanie was not only a brilliant physician and incredible mentor, but she was also a trusted friend. On our catch ups throughout the years, Melanie would always take interest in my career and offer herself as a sounding board whenever I needed advice or a brainstorm. Melanie was fiercely independent, and despite my efforts, refused to settle down until later in life (it was very hard to find a guy good enough for her). I was thrilled she found a great guy and found happiness, even though she moved to Westchester just as I was moving out of Westchester and back to the city. I can still hear her unique laugh and picture her mannerisms and will never forget her words of wisdom. I will miss her and always appreciate her impact on my life and career. 

Melanie was truly one of a kind and taken from us way too soon. I can close my eyes and see her beautiful smile, Rest in Peace my friend.

—Amy Lewis, MD, Lewis Dermatology & Associates

Melanie was my medical student when I was a derm resident at Yale in the late 1990s. A longstanding friendship was forged, and I became her mentor. She credited me with providing her with the confidence and encouragement to pursue a laser fellowship in Boston. Needless to say, we kept in touch with each other through the decades. I knew she was nearing the end when she left me a message on my voicemail detailing some of our times together—essentially, she was saying goodbye within days of her death. I have kept her voicemail as a memento of our friendship; it never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

—Tina S. Alster, MD, Director, Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery

The world of dermatology recently lost a wonderful loving person in Melanie Grossman. 

An important contributor in the field, her smile and willingness to help others professionally and personally will be missed. May she rest in peace.

—David A. Laub, MD,
Laub Dermatology

Melanie Grossman was one of those unique individuals who graced us with her presence, her charm, and her quest for knowledge.  She was a pioneer in the laser industry and her work paved the way for many of us in the ensuing years.  She was always complimentary to the work others performed, and she readily shared her insights and ideas with many of us. Early on in my laser career, Melanie and I would sometimes just talk about her work, and because of it, how she inspired an entire generation of women in our business to be the best they could be. Melanie will be missed by all of us.

—Michael Gold, MD, Gold Skincare Center

Melanie was my medical student and sidekick during her derm rotation.  Her beautiful eyes and luminous smile were captivating, and we started a friendship immediately which lasted until the end.  I decided she was the perfect girl for my brother, as did my parents and my grandfather, but after a while, she decided otherwise, and we were all heartbroken!  But I continued (unsuccessfully) to try to find ‘Mr. Right’ for her for many years. Melanie’s assertion that I was the one who influenced her to go into dermatology has always been a source of great pride for me.  Smart, generous, and kind, Melanie was also fiercely independent and fun, but sought a quiet life filled with family and friends. I am reminded of her every day when I use my laser hair removal device, as she patented this early in her career. Her voice and radiance will be indelibly imprinted on my mind with love and admiration.

—Ellen Gendler, MD,  Gendler Dermatology

My first impression of Melanie was one of warmth and enthusiasm. During residency, she allowed me to shadow in her busy NYC office. Despite a frenetic pace of patients, she always took the time to stop and review a teaching point or two. Melanie also provided sage (and sometimes highly entertaining!) information on the dermatologic laser field as a whole and advice for my future. She was generous and giving with her time and expertise. A beautiful person both inside and out, she will be greatly missed.

—Elizabeth L. Tanzi, M.D. FAAD, Capital Skin & Skin Care

Melanie was truly special. I spent nearly a decade on the Thermage Scientific Advisory Board with Melanie and am so happy my wife Heather and I got to know her well. We vacationed together for years, traveling to SAB meetings to talk some science, help build a company and a technology, and importantly to become friends. Melanie was always the voice of caution in our Scientific Advisory Group and helped us carefully plot a course with both safety and efficacy at the helm. She was unrelenting, but so smart and thoughtful that all you could do was sit back and smile when Melanie went on one of her rolls.  I’ll never forget it, and it brings a smile to my face just thinking about her now. I hope I can take some of her insights and pass them forward to future generations of dermatologists. It would be the best tribute I could give Melanie.

—Michael S. Kaminer, MD, Skincare Physicians

Melanie was a calm, thoughtful and inquisitive person who always came to meetings with new information on her latest research.  I can remember being awed by her studies on laser hair removal- as one of the founders of the technique. She was an inspiration to me to begin lecturing and teaching after my fellowship (who do I want to be like when I grow up?!) and was an incredible role model.  We were lucky to have known her and have her contributions to the Dermatologic, Cosmetic and Laser world.

—Carolyn Jacob, MD, Chicago Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology

I met Melanie when she and I were doing some of the earliest FDA studies on devices for hair removal. That professional interaction, so long ago, began both our professional and personal relationship. I worked with Melanie on so many studies, lectures, and patient issues. She was serious, conscientious, and so well respected by both her peers and her patients. More importantly to me, Mel became my close friend. There was almost nothing we did not discuss in both our professional and personal lives. The dermatologic community has lost an incredible physician; I lost a great friend. We will miss her.

—David J. Goldberg, MD, JD, Schweiger Dermatology Group

Melanie was an extraordinarily special person. She was bright, fun, had an electric smile and always lit up any room she entered. 

She was cautious, circumspect, careful, and precise and helped to put Laser Hair Removal on the map, but she also helped propel aesthetic and Laser Medicine to its highest levels. By using research and data she took a fledgling area of dermatology and made it real. Before her work, the work of others, and dermatology in general, it was considered an allied healthcare profession, and laser surgery specifically was not considered much of anything. By doing real research on real topics and helping to figure out the mechanism of action of laser tissue interactions, she and others helped propel it to where it is today. Many stand on her shoulders without even realizing her contributions.

Above everything she was a delight, and had a beautiful smile and laugh. We never had a meeting without her having her join us on the faculty or podium. She always added a special ‘je ne sais quoi’ to our get togethers. We have we missed her terribly for the last decade during which she’s been battling cancer valiantly. She was a great friend and colleague and is sorely missed.

—Jeffrey S. Dover, MD, FRCPC, Skincare Physicians

Melanie came to Wellman labs as a fellow and when we were first working with laser hair removal and did the first clinical trials, becoming infamous for her contributions. We spent many late nights in the lab working on our projects, as well as talking about life in general.  She wasn’t comfortable getting up on the podium but her confidence in her research and the data won out and her contributions to laser hair removal were huge.  She had a brilliant mind, huge heart, and caring soul that just made you feel like family, and she will be greatly missed by me and all the Wellman Rats.

—Suzanne Kilmer, Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California

Our first connection was a little rocky! I had just moved to Manhattan as the sales rep for Fraxel and she called the company wanting to speak to top level management but was transferred to me. She was NOT happy and let me know it! I hand delivered what she needed for her publication deadline after hours and then I was in. 

Melanie stood out; she was an expert in her field and became a true mentor to me both professionally and personally. She was smart, highly ethical, committed and also fun! Her days were busy, but she always took the time to chat when I stopped by. We discussed her practice and also life in general, including my passion for yoga and hers for pole dancing!  She was genuine and often gave me advice and direction. I owe much of my success in the industry to her support.

Melanie was one of those special people who made your own life more meaningful and special. She will be missed in so many ways.

—Marda Levy, Vice President of Business Development, DefenAge

Dr. Grossman was an authority in laser dermatology. She mentored so many residents, fellows and colleagues that speak of her as encouraging and inspiring. The Dermatology community will miss her.

—Kimberly Campbell, Founder, Dermatology Authority