Dr Arusha Campbell-Chambers - Making you beautiful

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

Her radiance is not only expressed through beauty, but also through her warm and inviting personality that captivates her patients and creates lasting relationships as she helps them reconnect with the beauty of their skin.

Renowned dermatologist Dr Arusha Campbell-Chambers owns and operates the Dermatology Solutions Skin Clinic and Medi-Spa in Kingston and Montego Bay. She has developed quite a repertoire of experience helping both men and women enhance the features of their skin or conduct skin surgery in major instances.

With her newly opened Dermatology Solutions office at Sagicor Commercial Centre (formerly LOJ plaza), Dr Chambers is excited about the new challenge and making skin treatment easier for persons in western Jamaica.

"What made me take the bold step to open a branch in Montego Bay in this economic times was a quotation I saw by Bill Cosby that said, 'You have to decide if you want it more than you fear it' and that turned on a switch in me and I said we're gonna do this," the St Vincent-born dermatologist told Outlook.

RELAXING ATMOSPHERE

Once you enter the facility, your mind is ushered into a tranquil space that evokes relaxation and emanates the soothing characteristics of the Caribbean, something she admits was intentional.

Her experience at the University Hospital of the West Indies and St John's Institute of Dermatology in London, where she received her formal training in dermatology and cosmetic dermatology, was not what she imagined when she initially began studying medicine. In fact, it was far from it!

"I entered medicine wanting to do obstetrics and gynaecology and when I actually got a taste of it, I realised that was not the right fit for me," she confessed with a smile. "I was like what next? So towards the end of my internship, I thought, 'let me try the elective in dermatology'," and it is there that her passion evolved.

"Seeing how your therapeutics impacts a patient in terms of their skin, it was the most fulfilling thing for me. It's really fulfilling to see how you can help them transform and see the benefits of the treatment in making the skin better," explains Campbell-Chambers.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she is not helping patients love their skin again, Campbell-Chambers is busy satisfying the sweet tooth of her family with her baked goodies, doing a little interior decorating or going to the beach.

"I love baking. My mother is a caterer and a pastor, she even owned a boutique at one point, so she is very multifaceted. I grew up around cooking and baking. My kids love it and enjoy doing it almost every week. I enjoy decorating as well, one could say I added my personal stamp on the décor with our office space in MoBay."

Guided by her Christian faith and love for family, the mother of two underscored that the balance between career and family can be challenging but everyone has to identify their own strategy and not subscribe to a template outlined by society.

"Family is everything to me. My husband is also a medical doctor; he is a radiologist. We met in medical school when I came to Jamaica to study, we were in the same class and the rest is history," she chuckled.

"There's no perfect balance. It's different for each woman," she quickly pointed out. "It's a constant work in progress to strive for this balance (with career and family) and for some women, they may be more career-driven while others are more focused on the home. As women, I feel that we don't have to feel guilty with whatever decision we make and for women who may not have children and a family, I don't think they should feel less of a woman," Campbell-Chambers advises.