Dr. Susan Poelman, M.Sc., MD, FRCPC, DABD

Dr. Poelman is a Canadian and U.S. board-certified Dermatologist specializing in medical and surgical care of the skin, hair, and nails. She has a special interest in melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Her other interests include acne, rosacea, and psoriasis. Dr. Poelman completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1997.

She subsequently was involved in clinical and translational research in Oncology for 2 years at the University of Chicago and then completed a Master’s degree in Medical Science with a specialization in Cancer Biology at the University of Calgary. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Calgary and then completed a 5 year residency training in dermatology at McGill University and the University of British Columbia’s Department of Dermatology and Skin Science. During residency, she did translational melanoma research at McGill for which she received the McGill Department of Medicine award for research by a subspecialty resident. She also received the Canadian Dermatology Foundation’s Dr. Frederick Kalz Bursary and Women’s Dermatologic Society Mentorship grants to study with world melanoma experts at the Sydney Melanoma Unit and Yale University, respectively.

After residency, she practiced general dermatology in Vancouver as well as serving as a clinical instructor at the University of British Columbia Department of Dermatology and Skin Science before moving back home to Calgary in 2010. With her extensive background and interest in cancer research, she currently has her sights set on establishing a pigmented lesions clinic. This would offer high-risk melanoma patients screening with total body imaging and dermoscopic evaluation (“mole mapping”), and she hopes it will be operational this fall.

Dr. Poelman is currently a clinical lecturer in the Division of Dermatology at the University of Calgary in addition to her work as a general dermatologist at ENT Plus. She has numerous publications and has presented at National and International meetings.

Dr. Poelman is passionate about educating the public regarding the prevention of skin cancer and has given lectures to various groups including Canadian Postal Services on sun safety in outdoor workers, and has volunteered in the Canadian Dermatology Association’s annual sun awareness public screening campaigns in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Calgary. She helped develop the American Academy of Dermatology’s “skincancernet” website, and sits on various committees including the Women’s Dermatology International Affairs Committee and Young Physicians Task Force Committee.

In her spare time, Dr. Poelman enjoys playing the piano and various sports including tennis, rollerblading, and hiking with her husband and 2 children.

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University of Calgary, 2004

McGill University, University of British Columbia, 2009

Clinical Lecturer, University of Calgary Division of Dermatology

LMCC - Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada
FRCPC - Fellow Royal College of Physicians Canada - Dermatology
Canadian Dermatology Foundation's Dr. Frederick Kalz Bursary for Melanoma Research
McGill Department of Medicine award for research by a subspecialty resident
Women's Dermatologic Society Mentorship Awards to study Melanoma/Pigmented lesions with Dr. Jean Bolognia at Yale University &dermoscopy/melanoma/Pigmented lesions with Dr. Scott Menzies

Melanoma and skin cancer
Mole mapping
Psoriasis
Acne
Rosacea
Pigmented lesions