Skin Care Success Leads to Small Business Person of the Year win for South Florida Dermatologist

Board Certified Dermatologist and Pediatrician Dr. Aurora Badia founded Florida Skin Center shortly after completing her dermatology training in Albany, New York in 2001. Dr. Badia graduated from the University of Miami before obtaining her medical degrees from the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and University of Health Sciences School of Medicine. In a mission to fulfill her childhood entrepreneurial dream, she took the leap of faith and started her business nine months before arriving in Southwest Florida via an ad in the Yellow Pages. She officially opened her office doors shortly thereafter with 13 booked appointments.

For the past 17 years, she has developed the practice to be a full-service dermatology center, offering state-of-the-art technology and amenities to her patients in both dermatology and pediatric dermatology. Dr. Badia is unique in her field as she holds a rare dual specialty as a pediatric dermatologist and is the only doctor in Lee County - and a 160 mile radius - to do so. Through her center, Dr. Badia and her team of doctors provide narrowband UVB phototherapy for treatment of eczema and psoriasis in children, as well as Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgery and dermatopathology services. Working to develop her craft and experiencing growth in patient related care resulted in the need for expansion. That is when Dr. Badia sought out the Florida Small Business Development Center at Gulf Coast State College for assistance.

Through a robust, long-term working relationship which started in 2012, the SBDC at FGSC was able to provide technical assistance to Fort Myers-based skin center via one-on-one consulting sessions and various business development workshops. In 2015, Dr. Badia also worked with a student cohort as part of the SBDC’s applied and experiential learning partnership offered by FSGC. It was during that time a marketing plan was created, specifically tailored toward a niche within her practice.

Since that time, the company's revenues increased over 60 percent. This growth also contributed to her opening three additional offices; Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Leigh Acres and Punta Gordon in 2013, 2016, and 2018, respectively. Dr. Badia recently added two new doctors to her team, bringing her staff to 39 in 2018.We will continue to grow the business in our new offices and look for opportunities for organic growth on the West coast of Florida," Dr. Badia said. "We would expect to add several new offices in our region in the next three years."