Dermatologist unique specialty broadens scope of service at Keesler

Published Aug. 21, 2007
By Steve Pivnick
81st Medical Group Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler Medical Center's dermatology clinic has gained a second dermatologist with a unique specialty.

Lt. Col. (Dr.) Steven Ritter, officer-in-charge of the 81st Medical Operations Squadron dermatology element, is specialized in Mohs micrographic surgery. He joins Maj. (Dr.) Charles Greeson on the dermatology team.

"Mohs surgery is a specialized technique for the treatment of skin cancer using frozen sections that permits the highest cure rate possible," Colonel Ritter explained. "While completely removing a skin cancer, it results in smaller surgical defects permitting
optimal cosmetic outcomes.

"It can be performed in conjunction with other specialty services such as plastic surgery, ear, nose and throat surgery and ophthalmology, expanding its usefulness to skin cancers anywhere on the body," he said.

The doctor added, "We remove skin from a patient and immediately screen it for cancer. If we see any of the tumor remains, we go back and remove more skin. We do this until the tumor is completely removed."

He said he performs the Mohs procedure about three times a week and hopes to increase the number of cases based on demand.

Keesler Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, are the only Air Force medical facilities offering Mohs surgery.

"His arrival here provides our medical center with a wonderful service and adds significantly to our dermatology capability," said Col. (Dr.) Kathleen Elmer, 81st MDOS commander and an experienced dermatologist in her own right.

Colonel Ritter arrived July 2 after completing a year-long fellowship learning to perform Mohs surgery at Nashville's Vanderbilt University. He had been at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, before entering the fellowship program.

Dermatologist Unique specialty broadens scope of service at Keesler