Michael Christopher, MD

Dr. Michael Christopher is a board-certified dermatologist in Arizona whose practice is built around dermoscopy — examining every mole with a magnifying device rather than the naked eye alone. In 2023 he identified 215 melanomas; only four practices in his state identified as many as a group as he did as an individual.

That gap is his argument. More than half of melanomas are brought to a dermatologist's attention by the patient rather than found on exam, and a growing body of evidence shows that visual-only screening has not reduced melanoma deaths. He contends that a skin exam without dermoscopy on every spot misses cancers that are findable, and that dermoscopy on every patient should be the standard of care rather than an option.

He speaks and writes regularly on early detection, what patients should expect from a skin exam, and what has to change in how dermatologists are trained.