David Buckley - Textbook of Primary Care Dermatology

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A textbook such as this came about as a result of collaboration with many colleagues in general practice (GP), dermatology and plastic surgery over the past 38 years since I qualified in medicine in Dublin, and even before that as an undergraduate studying medicine in UCD. I learnt the meaning of hard work, empathy and passion from my parents and particularly my father, Dr Denis Buckley, who was a GP with an interest in dermatology in our local town for over 50 years. His motto was work hard and play hard which I try to follow.

My mentors in GP training in Dublin including Prof Fergus O Kelly, Dr Manne Berber, Prof Bill Shannon and Prof Andrew Murphy all instilled in me a love of general practice.

I spent 18 months working in hospital-based dermatology in Dublin after qualifying in medicine and received excellent teaching from some of the top Irish dermatologists at the time including Prof Sarah Rogers, Prof Frank Powell and Dr Sean OLoughlin. My 2 years working in a rural mission hospital in the bush in Northern Kenya allowed me a wonderful opportunity to improve my surgical skills and knowledge of tropical medicine that was mostly learnt from my Kenyan doctor and nurse collogues to whom I am eternally grateful.

I spent a year studying for the Diploma in Practical Dermatology in the University of Wales College of Medicine in the early 1990s and got a wonderful, structured education from some of the top UK dermatologists at the time including Prof Ronny Marks and Prof Andrew Finley.

All my colleagues in the Primary Care Dermatology Society of Ireland (PCDSI), the Primary Care Dermatology Society (PCDS, UK), the Primary Care Surgical Association (PCSA) and the Association of Surgeons in Primary Care (ASPC, UK) have been wonderful support and encouragement to me over the years. Many of my colleagues and friends in these organisations (too many to mention individuallyyou know who you are) helped proofread all the chapters in this book. Particular word of thanks to Dr Johnny Loughnane and Dr Hilda Fennell OShea with whom I established the PCDSI and Dr Niall Maguire and Dr Tony OSullivan with whom I established the PCSA. Thanks also to my UK collogues who have encouraged and supported me over the years, especially Dr Laurel Spooner, Mr Vijay Kumar, Dr Jonathan Botting, all from the ASPC, and Mr Christy Chou from the PCDS.

I have made many friends and met wonderfully supportive colleagues through the International Society of Cryosurgery (ISC) including Dr Gloria Graham, Prof Christos C. Zouboulis, Dr Arthur Jackson and Mr Omar Maiwand.

Thanks to all my GP colleagues in Kerry and in the South West Specialist Training Programme in General Practice who have supported me over the years and trusted me to look after many of their patients with difficult dermatology problems.

No man is an island and I could not work without the cooperation and support of my hospital-based colleagues in dermatology, plastic surgery and pathology in both Kerry and Cork.

My patients in GP and primary care dermatology have taught me so much, and their feedback and encouragement have maintained my interest and enthusiasm in these areas of medicine which I hope will continue for many years to come.

Dr Paola Pasquali deserves special mention. She has been a friend and mentor over many years, and I am delighted to have her expert opinions and support in writing this textbook.

A special word of thanks to all at Springer Books, especially Vijayasankara Gomathy Rajagopal, Leo Johnson and Grant Weston who have all been patient and supportive over the past few months in preparing the final manuscript for publication.

Finally, I would like to thank my wife ine and my 3 children who have put up with me over the past number of years with my head stuck in the laptop writing and rewriting draft after draft. ine is my greatest critic and supporter. She has read every line of this textbook, checking for grammar and spelling errors that were all too frequent. I could not have done any of this without her love, support and encouragement.

25 May 2020