When you visit the office, you will discover a friendly, competent staff that is dedicated to you and will ensure your quality of care. We are committed to excellence, thoughtfulness, compassion, and attention to detail for all of our patients. We understand that your experience begins when you enter the door and will continue after your appointment as we tend to you individual needs with medication refill, referrals and preauthorization of procedures and medicines.
About the Doctor
Dr. Susan Woods grew up in the San Francisco area and completed her undergraduate work at UC Berkeley graduating Summa cum Laude. She is a 1991 graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston Mass, where she was ranked in the top ten of her class and received the Zarren Family Award for clinical excellence. After graduation, she completed an internal medicine internship at Harbor UCLA. Her training then took her to Cleveland, Ohio where she completed a three year dermatology residency at Case Western Reserve University in 1995 serving as chief resident.
During her dermatology residency at Case Western University, Dr. Woods published journal articles, did bench research as well as externships in wound healing at the University of Pittsburgh , contact dermatitis at the University of Oregon, and sclerotherapy of leg veins at Johns Hopkins University.
After finishing her dermatology residency, she was recruited by Northside Medical Center to practice general dermatology as well as start the first multidisciplinary wound care center in Northeast Ohio. As the director of the wound care center for five years, she was one of the first pioneers in the country to formulate platelet derived growth factor or PRP, using the hospital lab ,and to use it on successfully patients for wound healing. At the hospital, Dr. Woods also played an active role in resident teaching and gave more than 50 grand round lecture symposiums on dermatology for continuing medical to her colleges in medicine, surgery and pediatrics.
In 2005, Dr. Woods opened her own private practice in Austintown, Ohio. Through word of mouth, her practice has grown to be one of the most well respected and successful dermatology practices in the area. Dr. Woods is dedicated to bringing innovation as well as scientifically tested medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatologic care to our area. Her excellent results and compassionate care are second to none.
Dr. Woods is married to Dr. Lawrence Schmetterer, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and soon they will be celebrating their 25 wedding anniversary. They are very grateful to be able to raise their two sons in such a warm and family oriented community, where in their spare time, they enjoy can outdoor adventures such as hiking and biking. Dr. Woods is pleased to have provided continuous support to the advancement of the arts and education in her community. She was proud to have served for five years as an executive board member of the PTA of as well as serve as PTA president while her children were attending high school.
Certification and Membership
- Dr. Woods was certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1992.
- She is a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology and was certified in 1995.
- She has passed American Board of Dermatology recertification exams 2005 and 2015.
- She has a medical licensure from the Ohio State Medical Board (1994-present)
- Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology
- Fellow of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Member of Cleveland Dermatologic Society
- Member Ohio Dermatologic Society
- Member of Ohio Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Hospital Privileges
- Dr. Woods is currently on staff of all three area hospitals including Forum Health-Northside Hospital , St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and Salem Regional Medical Center.
Affiliated Cardiovascular Surgeon
Over the past 10 years, Dr.Schmetterer and Dr. Woods have shared a mutual interest in venous disease and have collaborated extensively in incorporating new advances into treatment of venous disease for their patients. Dr. Schmetterer is a respected surgeon and has extensive experience with vascular disease. In his career, Dr. Schmetterer has performed over 13,000 surgeries involving the heart, lungs and most every blood vessel in the human body.
For our patients with vein problems, he conveniently performs radiofrequency ablation procedures in our office. He can also offer mini phlebectomy and venous stenting for those patients who need these procedures.
Dr. Lawrence Schmetterer is an experienced, fellowship trained Board Certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon. He received his undergraduate degree from Duke University graduating Summa cum laude in 1974. He graduated medical school from University of Illinois School of Medicine in 1982 where he received the Alpha Omega Alpha award. He then completed a 5 year General Surgery residency at the University of Illinois in Chicago where he served as Chief resident in his last year. Following residency, Dr. Schmetterer completed two years of original research at the National Institutes of Health, Heart Lung and Blood Institute. After, he completed a two year cardiothoracic fellowship at Univ. of Southern California @The Hospital of the Good Samaritan in 1992.
Dr. Schmetterer is certified by the following boards: National Board of Medical Examiners in 1983; Diplomat of American Board of Surgery in 1990; Diplomat of the Board of Thoracic Surgery 1994, recertified in 2004 and 2014
He has held respected leadership positions at all three area hospitals where he is an active staff member. He was Director of Cardiac Surgery Forum Health, Northside Hospital (1994-1997); Chief, Section of Cardiac Surgery Humility of Mary, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Youngstown (1997-1999) Head, Section of Thoracic Surgery Forum Health, Northside Hospital (2004-2008); Chairman, Department of Surgery Salem Community Hospital (2010-2013); Vice Chief of Staff, Salem Regional Medical Center (2013-2015) and Chief of Staff, Salem Regional Medical Center (2016-2018)
WHAT WE DO
Medical Dermatology
An accurate diagnosis is key to determining the appropriate treatment for your condition. Dr. Woods personally will examine your skin. In some cases, the diagnosis can be determined by just looking at your skin or just putting minor dry skin scrapings under a microscope. However, sometimes laboratory blood tests, skin biopsies, or allergy testing of the skin are necessary. We are committed to find the proper diagnosis and will use the most up to date testing available. The training of a Board certified dermatologist makes us uniquely prepared to make complex diagnosis of everything on the skin including rare infections, cancers and conditions. Once the diagnosis is determined, treatment options are offered and patients are encouraged to be part of this decision process so that you can be assured to have the best possible result.
Cosmetic Dermatology
With new advances in technology and research, Dermatologists are able to offer the newest approaches to non-surgical skin rejuvenation. Technologies such as Ultherapy enable us to tightened and lift the skin using ultrasound, and this therapy can lay down a stronger foundation for preventative aging. Other combination therapies with injectable fillers, microneedling and platelet rich plasma (PRP) allow the skin to regenerate collagen to further maintain a natural youthful look to the skin. Chemical peels and anti-aging creams work well to brighten and smooth the surface of the skin. We want to give patients more natural options that enhance and preserve the unique beauty of each face.
Unsightly and painful leg veins are a common problem for men and women; however, every patient circulation is not the same. Dr Woods collaborates with Dr. Schmetterer so that they can offer a comprehensive evaluation as well as ultrasound vein mapping in order to determine if your vein problem is superficial or deep. Treatments can be tailored to meet your cosmetic goals as well to improve your circulatory health. Sclerotherapy is used to treat superficial veins and small varicose veins on the surface of the skin. Patients with larger varicose veins may require surgical removal or ambulatory phlebectomy. Fortunately, Dr Schmetterer can perform ambulatory phlebectomy with very small, practically invisible incisions. To help the overall health of the legs, some patients may require fixing veins that have abnormal valves using a procedure called endovenous ablation. This procedure is done in the office and takes about an hour. If abnormal valves are found on ultrasound these procedures are covered by most commercial insurance plans, including Medicare. During a leg vein evaluation consultation, we can identify the problem as well as the solution.
Skin Surgery
Removing benign growths, such as moles, skin tags, cysts, lipomas, warts, milia, warts and many other kinds, is a necessary service for many. Many of these growths become unsightly or are bothersome. Fortunately, most benign growths can be removed using fast and easy methods such as freezing with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy), electrocautery, pulse dye laser, or shave excisions. We are pleased to be able to remove these benign lesions in a cosmetic fashion with as short a healing time as possible.
