DALLAS – Dec. 10, 2025 – Platinum Dermatology Partners has named three distinguished dermatologists to senior leadership roles designed to strengthen the company’s span of clinical operations, expand educational programming, and effectively organize such a large and growing community of physicians and providers.
The appointments, effective immediately, include:
- Kevin Kia, MD, FAAD – Chief Medical Officer
- Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD – Chairman, Platinum Physician Leadership Council
- Mark Nestor, MD, PhD, FAAD – Head of Clinical Education
These new roles expand on Platinum’s differentiation in being a uniquely physician-led organization with an organizational structure thoughtfully built to leverage the combined expertise of management executives and physician leaders to produce superior outcomes.
“We have been thoughtfully evaluating the best way to bolster the team with an additional physician serving in an executive capacity while we work to better organize our physician community and become more strategic in rolling out a curriculum on clinical education,” said Michael Pennington, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Dermatology Partners. “We are fortunate to have such deep expertise across our physician population and leveraging Drs. Kia, Desai, and Nestor to achieve all three objectives.”
“These appointments reflect where we are as an organization and what we need to continue growing. Having physicians in senior leadership roles isn’t just about titles. It’s about making sure clinical expertise drives our decisions, our physicians have a clear voice in shaping direction, and we’re building the educational foundation to keep getting better at what we do. This is how physician-led organizations should operate,” said Dr. Tony Petelin, Platinum’s President.
Kevin Kia, MD, FAAD – Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Kia, a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, completed his dermatology residency at UT Southwestern. Board-certified and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, he will oversee clinical quality, elevate standards of care, and ensure physicians and providers have the support and resources needed to focus on patient care.
Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD – Chairman, Platinum Physician Leadership Council
Dr. Desai, Past President of the American Academy of Dermatology, Skin of Color Society, Texas Dermatological Society, and DFW Dermatological Society and current President of the Global Vitiligo Foundation. He completed his medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine, and his dermatology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. A internationally recognized expert in skin of color and pigmentary disorders, he will lead the Council in shaping organizational direction while keeping physician input at the center of strategic decisions.
Mark Nestor, MD, PhD, FAAD – Head of Clinical Education
Dr. Nestor is a voluntary professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and holds both an MD from UCLA and a PhD in Experimental Pathology and Immunology. He has conducted more than 150 clinical trials, authored over 100 articles and book chapters, and delivered over 900 presentations worldwide. As Head of Clinical Education, he will expand educational programming across the organization to support continuous learning and clinical growth.
The three appointments demonstrate Platinum’s continued dedication to physician-focused leadership and delivering the Platinum Experience: outstanding care fueled by clinical excellence, teamwork, and a commitment to ongoing learning.
About Platinum Dermatology Partners
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Platinum Dermatology Partners exists to empower the practice of exceptional dermatology through its vast resources and differentiated culture. Today, Platinum spans over 120 locations and nearly 400 providers across Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas. Through Platinum’s differentiated, physician-driven model, the company creates a collaborative group practice setting with a focus on partnering with the most reputable physicians and providers seeking to elevate not only the patient care delivered but also benefit the specialty of dermatology at large. For more information about Platinum Dermatology Partners, please visit www.platinumderm.com
