Meet Our Dermatology & Skin Care Team in Dartmouth

Education
1981-1984 Resident in Dermatology, Roger Williams General Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI
1979-1981 Resident in Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence RI
1978-1979 Intern in Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence RI
1974-1978 M.D. Milton S. Hershey School of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey PA
1972-1974 B.A. Biology, University of Pennsylvania, PA
1970-1972 Long Island University, Greenvale NY

Specialty Board
Board Certified Internal Medicine, January 1982
Board Certified Dermatology, October 1984
Fellow American Academy of Dermatology, 1985

Societies
American Academy of Dermatology
Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology
Massachusetts Medical Society
New England Dermatology Society

Community/Volunteer Activities
Brown University School of Medicine, Clinical Instructor in Medicine 1990-Present, Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket, RI, Preceptor in Dermatology Clinic 1986 - 2018 (Hospital Closed)
Special interests include travel, gardening, boating, mineral collecting, grandchildren and walking with our golden retriever
Board Member and Volunteer – Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust

Call to schedule an appointment

Justin Besen, M.D. earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He received his medical degree with highest honors from Boston University School of Medicine, where he was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. He completed an internship at Cambridge Health Alliance followed by dermatology residency at Stanford University. He served as Chief Resident in his final year. Dr. Besen's clinical interests include general medical and surgical dermatology in children and adults. He also has a special interest in skin cancer, psoriasis, autoimmune skin diseases, and the management of cutaneous complications of cancer treatments/chemotherapy. Dr. Besen lives in Providence with his wife and their chocolate lab. In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, trying new restaurants/breweries, and watching baseball/football.

Education
2001 Masters of Science in Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston MA
1999 Bachelors of Science Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA
1997 Bachelors of Science in Biology, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth MA

Saint Luke's Hospital, New Bedford MA
Emergency Room Nurse, 2000 – 2002
Med-Surg Nurse, 1998 – 2000

Education
2013 Master Physician Assistant Studies – East Carolina University – Greenville, NC.
2011 Bachelor of Science – East Carolina University – Greenville, NC.
2011 Business Administration concentration in Financial Services East Carolina University – Greenville, NC.
2011 Biology Minor – East Carolina University – Greenville, NC

Professional Experience
Dartmouth Dermatology Associates, Dartmouth, MA – Dermatology Physicians Assistant, 2014 – Present
Reed and Fisher Dermatology, Hickory, NC – General Dermatology, Feb 2014 – December 2014
Bowen's and Urgent Care, Hickory, 2014 – Urgent Care, May 2014 – December 2014

Relevant Skills and Certifications
American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider – Certified
American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider – Certified
Proficient with EMR's including Centricity and Healthspan
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel, Powerpoint, OS X software, and iWork

Activities
Co-Founded “Boy Bandemia” (2011), a constructed musical group to reach adolescents to provide preventative health care and health information. Songs on such topics as smoking, obesity, and ACLS. Musician/Songwriter, Exercising, golfing, fishing, and reading

Maggie Frates earned her undergraduate degree from Elon University in North Carolina. She graduated from Bryant University with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Degree. Her clinical interests include medical dermatology. Maggie lives in Providence, but is from Florida originally. She spends her time painting, eating, or in Barre class!

Professional Education
Bryant University: Clinical Rotation with Brown University in Dermatology
Elon University

Professional Experience
Dartmouth Dermatology Associates, 2018 - Present

Professional Societies
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants
Medical Group Management Association

Alyssa Coogan DCNP was born and raised in Little Compton, RI. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Nursing at the University of Rhode Island. Alyssa went on to complete her Master's degree at Simmons University in Boston, MA. After becoming a Family Nurse Practitioner she joined Aspire Dermatology in 2017 where she practiced for three years. Alyssa obtained her Dermatology Certification through the Dermatology Nurses' Association in 2019. Her clinical interests include medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. In her free time, you can find Alyssa hiking with her husband and two Goldendoodles. She also enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Professional Education
Undergraduate: University of Rhode Island. Kingston, RI 2012

Graduate: Simmons University. Boston, MA 2017

Profession Experience 

Aspire Dermatology, Rhode Island. 2017-2020 Dartmouth Dermatology Associates, Dartmouth MA. 2020- Present

Professional Societies and Certifications

- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- Dermatology Nurses Association
- Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner
- Certified in Botulinum Toxin/ Dermal Filler by Aesthetic Medical Educators Training, Inc

Susan Bordonaro, DCNP is a Board Certified Dermatology  Nurse Practitioner with 20+ years of experience in medical and surgical dermatology, in addition to 10 years of nursing in a variety of patient care settings.  Susan aims to provide excellent patient care, develop individualized treatment plans and educate patients and families.  Susan has been a clinical preceptor and advocate of dermatology nurse practitioners .  She lives in Rhode Island and enjoys flower gardening, cooking and eating different types of food and especially spending time with her family and friends.

Professional education:

Saint Anselm College BSN 1990
Northeastern University MSN 1999

Professional experience:

Dermatology Nurse Practitioner several private practices in RI since 1999 ,including 15 years with Dr Lydia L Klufas and most recently, 8 years with Aspire Dermatology

Registered Nurse in hospital, oncology outpatient clinic and home care 1990-1999

Professional Certifications and Societies:

American Nurses Credentialing Center : Adult/Gerontologic Nurse Practioner 1999

Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Certification Board : Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner DCNP 2009

Society of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (SDNP) member

Volunteer Activities:

Board member of Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Certification Board since 2018

Clinical Nurse Practitioner Preceptor for  Boston College, Simmons University, Regis College and Bryant University since 2017

Dan Leary earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Global Nutrition with a minor in Studio Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he graduated with honors. He went on to achieve a Master's of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Bryant University. Following completion of his PA studies, he has worked in a variety of fields including Emergency Medicine, Interventional Radiology and Dermatology.

Dan is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and a Diplomate Fellow of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. He resides on Cape Cod with his wife and pomsky, Kona where he enjoys outdoor activities, exercising, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Education

2019 Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Bryant University, Smithfield RI
2014 Bachelors of Science in Global Nutrition, Minor: Studio Arts, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Professional Experience

Dermatology
New England Dermatology & Laser Center, Springfield MA

Emergency Medicine
Fatima Hospital, North Providence RI
South County Hospital, Wakefield RI

Interventional Radiology
Rhode Island Medical Imaging

Professional Societies

American Academy of Physician Assistants
Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants

Education
1998 Graduate of Elizabeth Grady School of Aesthetics
1999 International Congress Of Aesthetics and Spa – Philadelphia, PA and Orlando, FL
– Mark Lees Skin Care, Inc. – Advanced Extraction Techniques
– Physiodermie (Methode)/EuropeLab, Inc – Enviornmental Toxins and Detoxification Methods
– Expansion in the newest products and skin treatments available.

National Certifications
2009 Candela – VBeam, GentleLase and YAG Therapeutic Lasers
2001 Aesthetic Technologies – Certification – Medical Micrdermabrasion – Parisian Peel

Professional Experience
2002 – Present – Licensed Aesthetician – Dartmouth Dermatology Associates