Laura Skellchock passed away unexpectedly on November 10, 2016. She was an extraordinary physician and friend to the many who loved her. She is survived by her father, Leo Skellchock, her brother, Stephen Skellchock and her niece, Christina Singleton Jenkins. Her half-brother, Kenneth Singleton (father of Christina), predeceased her in 2010. Her beloved mother, Elizabeth Chappelle Skellchock, predeceased Laura in 2001.

Dr. Skellchock always felt very blessed to know her path in life - her desire to help others by practicing medicine became evident as a child. Armed with this knowledge, she excelled in school, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Zoology. She then graduated with top Honors from the University of Arizona College of Medicine where she was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.

After completing her categorical Internal Medicine Internship at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, she went to San Diego where she completed her dermatology residency at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. She became a Board Certified Dermatologist and Integrative Physician. Her professional affiliations included: Fellow, American Academy of Dermatology; Member, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Member, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; Member, American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology & Aesthetic Surgery; Member, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery; and Member, American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery.

Oakland, California became Laura's home for the first 13 years of her medical practice, where she was a Senior Partner at The Permanente Medical Group, which is the largest non-profit HMO in the United States. There she took care of patients with advanced, complicated, challenging skin disorders and saw myriads of patients with difficult to diagnose conditions and unusual pathology. While in Oakland, Dr. Skellchock was also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

In the 1990s, Dr. Skellchock served as the medical director for the Vanishing Point Medical Group, leading the direction of the first national laser hair removal company. There she also performed cosmetic dermatology procedures such as BOTOX, collagen, PhotoFacials, and laser vein treatments in addition to laser hair removal. Dr. Skellchock was also the Editor-in-Chief of SKINCARE TODAY, the first nationally distributed patient and physician oriented, dermatology education publication.

Dr. Skellchock knew Dr. Andrew Weil since her days in medical school, and practiced medicine with the caveat that her patients deserve a comprehensive approach to achieve health and wellness. She completed a formal Integrative Medicine Fellowship with Dr. Weil in 2003-2005. She was one of the few dermatologists in the US who completed this training in addition to her Dermatology board certification. Dr. Skellchock wrote the chapter on Atopic Dermatitis for the 2007 edition of Rakel's Textbook of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Skellchock completed her Age-Management Certification Program with Cenegenic Medical Institute in 2003.

Dr. Skellchock moved to South Florida in 2003 with her partner Nick Desica (who predeceased Laura in 2012). She first managed a cosmetic dermatology practice in Coral Springs. In 2006, she founded the Integrative Dermatology of Boca Raton, FL which was an energetically based, sacred healing space.

Laura had an "eye for beauty" which set her apart from other dermatologists. Laura was very adept at diagnosing skin cancers, using a dermatoscope to examine lesions, which allowed her to look "into" the skin and see much more than is possible with the naked eye. Patients flew in from other parts of the country and the world to see her and locals sought her out because of her extraordinary ability to achieve natural results as well as her diagnostic abilities in other medical areas.

When Laura passed away, we all had questions about how this had come to pass. She left us before we were ready and she left an indelible impression on all those who met her and knew her. She had so much left to do and share. She was truly unique and so very much loved.

In 2012 when Nick Desica passed away, Laura wrote about death:

"I've always believed that I am a Spiritual being in a human body, for a relatively brief period, so I have never been the least bit afraid of death. It's the one thing we're all going to experience, and I try to live my life "from the end," keeping everyday experiences in perspective. Is this event really going to be something I think about as I lay on my deathbed? If not, it's probably not worth being too bothered by it.

Deepak Chopra in his book "Life After Death" compares views of death, saying that the Western (Christian) view is a place (heaven), whereas the Eastern or Hindu view is one of a "state of awareness." Unlike the traditional view of heaven, death is what each individual has interpreted in this plane of existence; in other words, what you dream is what you get."

Laura believed in karma and she lived her life as a compassionate, loving, and forgiving being. She was a healer and always put others before herself, knowing that in the end karma would recompense her. Wherever she is now, her soul is free and happy - and she is performing good works and healing actions in her astral plane.

Donations may be made to a charity of your choice in her memory. Suggested charitable donations include: Institute for Functional Medicine (Federal Way, WA), University of Arizona Foundation (Tuscon, AZ), Success for Kids (Los Angeles, CA) or any of the local Florida charities she supported such as the Alzheimer's Association - Southeast Florida Chapter (Fort Lauderdale, FL).

Please share your memories of Dr. Skellchock or express condolences to the family through this online book of memories.