Daniel Buchen MD is a dermatologist with an area of expertise in skin cancer screening, total body skin examination, dermoscopy, skin cancer excision, MOHS surgery, melanoma, and rare skin neoplasms. Dr. Buchen’s specific focus is skin cancer detection and treatment, first categorizing patients as low or high risk based on various extrinsic factors: sun exposure, child history, occupational exposure to ultraviolet light, living in states or countries close to the equator, and history of tanning salon use.

Intrinsic factors are also important when it comes to skin cancer risk: family history of melanoma or non-melanoma cancer, family history of pancreatic cancer, Parkinson's disease, large number of moles and nevi, lowered immune system, pale or freckled skin, blonde or red hair and those who burn in the sun. The doctor performs total body skin examinations and then discusses any skin changes with the patient to discuss lesions and frequency of exams needed. If risk factors are high, a patient may need exams every few months; if risk factors are low exams can be every year or two.

Most important during a patient visit is to “perform an unbiased, without patient input, total body skin examination of the patient from head to toe, which is fundamental to diagnosing skin cancer”, he says. In this way, Dr. Buchen can ensure that this thorough exam doesn’t miss any unusual neoplasms on the body.  It is also essential to have bright room lighting together with appropriate magnification and dermoscopy when conducting a total body skin examination, plus a thorough lymph node examination to check for locally advanced or metastatic disease.

Dr. Buchen finds it very gratifying to find cancers at early stages where simple excision alone without more extensive surgery or chemo- or immunotherapy is curative.

He served as Chief of Dermatology at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island. As a service to the community, all Dr. Buchen's consultations in the hospital were done pro bono without charge to the patient nor the hospital or insurance company. He has lectured about skin cancer in national meetings (American Society for MOHS surgery). During his twenty-five years of practice, he has been "fortunate to see nearly all skin cancers, rare and common, and in different ethnicities." He enjoys collaborating with colleagues in oncology, plastic surgery, oncologic surgery and pathology. He is principal author and editor of Skin Flaps in Facial Surgery, published by McGraw Hill.

When not treating patients, he enjoys reading, jazz and classical music, gardening and swimming. Dr. Buchen has a wife and four children, four dogs, two cats and a dwarf hamster. His family are supporters of animal shelters and charities.