At Apex Dermatology’s newest office in Mentor, this professional team takes the battle against skin cancer to an entirely new level

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Setting the tone in Dr. Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga’s new Mentor Apex Dermatology office are Dr. Alexa Stecker (center) and Kristina Petkovic, CNP. (Photography: Benjamin Margalit)

By Laura Briedis

When Dr. Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga founded Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center in 2011, he had a mission to transform lives through healthy skin. Whether helping a patient to become cancer free, to improve acne or to smooth away wrinkles, Apex has been empowering its patients ever since.

In less than a decade, Apex has grown to nine offices spanning from Ashtabula to Westlake. This month, Apex opened its newest office in Mentor to offer comprehensive skin cancer surgery, medical dermatology and innovative aesthetic services.

“When I founded Apex Dermatology, my vision was to create a complete dermatology center where patients can experience the highest level of care with same-day appointments,” says Dr. Garcia, who specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery. “People should not have to wait a month for skin cancer treatment or sit two hours in the waiting room to be seen.”

It is this patient-centric approach that has catapulted Apex Dermatology to become a leader in skin care.

Setting the tone in the new Mentor office is Dr. Alexa Stecker and Kristina Petkovic, CNP.

A Chagrin Falls native, Dr. Stecker completed her undergraduate training at the University of Miami where she majored in biology and English and then moved back to Ohio to attend the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she graduated with honors.

“Originally I went to college in Florida to study marine biology, but once in school I realized I wanted to be a physician,” says Dr. Stecker, who completed her dermatology residency at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

“I take an osteopathic approach to patient care by treating the whole person,” she says. “For instance, when treating someone for acne, in addition to the medical aspect of the treatment I look at the psychological aspect and how it is affecting his or her life.”

Joining Dr. Stecker in the Mentor office is Kristina Petkovic, who graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2007 and further pursued her education becoming an AANP board-certified family Nurse Practitioner. Originally from Croatia, she moved to the states at a young age and remains passionate about traveling the world. To incorporate her love of traveling into her love of helping others, she became a Travel Registered Nurse in 2010.

“I love helping people take care of their skin because your skin helps you feel good about yourself,” says Kristina.

Both Kristina and Dr. Stecker treat pediatric and adult patients for all skin conditions and stress the importance of annual skin exams.

In less than a decade, Apex Dermatology has grown to nine offices spanning from Ashtabula to Westlake. This month, Apex opened its newest office in Mentor to offer comprehensive skin cancer surgery, medical dermatology and innovative aesthetic services.

They educate their patients on the “ABCDEs of melanoma” to detect potentially dangerous spots and tell them to look for asymmetry, irregular borders with jagged or notched edges, spots with multiple colors, a diameter that exceeds the size of a pencil eraser and any areas that are evolving—either by getting larger, bleeding, shrinking or becoming bumpy.

“I tell my patients to be most concerned by moles that are evolving or changing,” says Dr. Stecker. “And if you see a suspicious spot, be sure to come in for an exam.”

Apex Dermatology has nine locations to serve Northeast Ohio: Mentor, Ashtabula, Concord, Mayfield Heights, Hudson, Solon, Medina, Parma and Westlake. To schedule an appointment in your area, call 833-279-SKIN (7546). Visit ApexSkin.com for office addresses and to schedule an appointment online.