Accomplished dermatologist, medical alumna to deliver May 17 MUSC Commencement address

Celebrated dermatologist, media contributor and proud MUSC College of Medicine alumna Dendy Engelman, M.D., will return to her alma mater to address the graduates as the keynote speaker at MUSC’s 195th Commencement Ceremony on May 17 at the North Charleston Coliseum.

A nationally recognized dermatologic surgeon, Engelman combines specialty training in Mohs micrographic surgery with expertise in advanced cosmetic and procedural dermatology. She has performed more than 10,000 surgical procedures to treat skin cancer and is known for her work in laser and light-based therapies, neuromodulators, injectable fillers, body contouring and other minimally invasive techniques that enhance patient confidence.

 

Originally from Summerville, South Carolina, Engelman graduated with honors from Wofford College, where she double majored in psychology and French. She earned her medical degree from MUSC in 2004, participating in the prestigious Dr. Raymond S. Greenberg Presidential Scholars Program and receiving the Humanism in Medicine Scholarship.

Engelman’s commitment to service has been a constant throughout her career, from working with underserved populations in Charleston as student director of the MUSC CARES free medical clinic to volunteering for medical mission trips to Haiti and Kenya. Even now, she volunteers as a skin cancer screener for the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Destination Healthy Skin project, helping to promote early detection and prevention nationwide.

After earning her medical degree at MUSC, Engelman completed an internal medicine internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, followed by a dermatology residency in the Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery at MUSC. She then pursued advanced fellowship training in Mohs surgery and procedural dermatology at the Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey. 

In 2011, Engelman was appointed director of Dermatologic and Mohs Micrographic Surgery at New York Medical College, where she was honored as Attending of the Year in 2015. Since 2020, she has served as director of Dermatologic Surgery and Laser Medicine at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City. In addition to her clinical work, she remains committed to mentoring the next generation of medical students, residents and fellows.

Engelman is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and the American College of Mohs Surgery. She has co-authored multiple textbook chapters, published research in peer-reviewed journals and frequently speaks at national and international dermatology conferences. In addition to her clinical and academic work, Engelman is a trusted medical expert across multiple media platforms and serves as a consultant for several pharmaceutical, skincare and laser companies, providing guidance and expertise on research and product development.

Engelman lives in Tribeca, New York, with her husband, Devin, and their children, Gadsden and Ellis. She maintains strong family ties to MUSC, where both of her parents are alumni who reside in Summerville.