What happens when a physician knows a patient still has a chance — but the hospital, the insurance company, and the nursing staff have all decided it's time to let go?

Dr. Anna Chacon, board-certified dermatologist and host of Skin Deep, welcomes a truly singular guest — her father, Dr. Arsenio Chacon. A retired critical care pediatrician with more than thirty years of practice in Miami, Dr. Arsenio trained at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and spent the bulk of his career leading the pediatric critical care unit at Baptist Hospital. What drove three decades in one of medicine's most demanding specialties? A conviction that took root in rural Cuba and never left: that a physician's most important quality, beyond clinical skill, is the courage to act on instinct when every force in the room is telling you to stand down.

From a childhood of coffee trees and cane fields in rural Cuba to the political persecution that forced his family's escape, Dr. Arsenio traces the origins of a resilience that would define his entire career. What does it mean to fight for a patient's life when the insurance company, the hospital administration, and even the nursing staff have already moved on? He's direct about it. He also offers candid views on why physicians must educate themselves in business — or risk being exploited by those who did. "The patient is the one with the disease," he says. That one principle, he explains, protected his family life as much as it shaped his clinical practice. A rare and personal conversation.

Dr. Arsenio Chacon is a retired physician who practiced critical care pediatrics in Miami, Florida for over thirty years. Born in rural Cuba and raised amid political upheaval, he immigrated to the United States as a teenager with his family, overcoming language barriers and cultural displacement to pursue medicine. He completed a pediatrics residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and a fellowship in critical care, ultimately leading the intensive care unit at Baptist Hospital in Miami. Known for his clinical perseverance, ethical integrity, and outspoken advocacy for physician business literacy, Dr. Chacon retired from practice and is the proud father of host Dr. Anna Chacon.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Dr. Anna Chacon welcomes her most personal guest yet to Skin Deep
• (03:30) A father jailed for his politics, a mother who sold coffee on the black market, and the family's escape from Cuba
• (09:36) The one rule Dr. Arsenio never broke — and the advice he gives every doctor who wants a sane life
• (16:47) From Cook County's busiest wards to Miami's ICUs — how a critical care career was built
• (24:31) Why a physician must hold the line when the hospital, the insurance company, and the nurses have all moved on
• (33:40) What living with Opus Dei priests taught a future doctor about discipline, methodology, and never improvising
• (45:55) When administrators outearn the physicians — and why every doctor needs to understand business
• Share with a dermatology pro you know, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the show: Welcome to Skin Deep, a podcast designed for dermatology professionals. Host Dr. Anna Chacon, a distinguished dermatologist and author, shares her unique experiences and offers valuable insights on the future of dermatology, including telemedicine and teledermatology in reaching underserved communities. Dr. Chacon provides actionable recommendations for dermatology practices, emphasizing compassion, patient education, and staying current with advancements in the field.

About the host: Dr. Anna Chacon, board-cer...

• (00:00:00) - Skin Deep
• (00:07:02) - How to transition from dermatology to pediatrics
• (00:16:25) - Inspiring doctors: Dr. J. Janakiraman
• (00:24:27) - Don't Give Up
• (00:29:36) - Cuban doctors on the issues of nationality
• (00:39:00) - How to survive a melanoma in the United States
• (00:46:53) - Cuban doctors learn the business of medicine

Why did a successful solo aesthetics business owner close three locations in two years to join a med spa?

Dr. Chacon welcomes award-winning Miami aesthetician Ornella Lopresti to Skin Deep. Ornella shares her unique journey from graduating Miami Senior High's cosmetology program with her full specialty license at 18 to becoming a competitive esthetician who approaches every treatment with championship-level precision. With over a decade in aesthetics—including three years in med spa settings and work with luxury brands like Clarins and La Prairie—Ornella discusses her evolution from solo entrepreneur to successful med spa professional. Her expertise centers on anti-aging treatments, sensitive skin care, and microneedling, with a refreshing emphasis on setting professional boundaries and maintaining quality standards.

The conversation explores critical topics for both professionals and patients in the aesthetics world. Are there red flags clients should watch for when choosing an esthetician? What's the reality behind trending treatments like salmon DNA and Morpheus? Ornella candidly discusses the financial challenges of solo practice, why she transitioned to a med spa model, and the importance of medical oversight for procedures like microneedling. From social media strategies to firing difficult clients, this episode delivers honest insights into the business of beauty. Plus, discover why a tinted SPF 50 is her desert island product and learn the one facial treatment she believes transforms skin better than any other.

Ornella Lopresti is an award-winning aesthetician based in Miami with over 10 years of experience in the beauty and skincare industry. A graduate of Miami Senior High's cosmetology program, she earned her full specialty license in facials, waxing, and nails before turning 18 and competed at regional and state levels. Her career spans luxury skincare companies including Clarins, La Prairie, and Sisley, culminating in founding Fountain of Youth Beauty before transitioning to med spa settings. Specializing in anti-aging treatments, sensitive skin care, and microneedling, Ornella combines championship-level precision with genuine client care. She also offers pop-up facial services in Orlando and provides complimentary skin consultations to help clients navigate their skincare journeys.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Award-winning aesthetician Ornella Lopresti and her Miami journey
• (02:35) Competitive cosmetology training and the importance of industry standards
• (05:59) Birth of Fountain of Youth Beauty and transitioning from corporate to solo practice
• (10:39) Wearing all the hats: the realities of entrepreneurship versus med spa employment
• (14:25) Trending treatments explained: salmon DNA, exosomes, and what's worth the investment
• (17:45) Red flags in aesthetics: why medical oversight and licensing matter
• (22:05) Professional boundaries and when to fire a client
• Share with a dermatology pro you know, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!

About the show: Welcome to Skin Deep, a podcast designed for dermatology professionals. Host Dr. Anna Chacon, a distinguished dermatologist and author, shares her unique experiences and offers valuable insights on the future of dermatology, including telemedicine and teledermatology in reaching underserved communities. Dr. Chacon provides actionable recommendations for dermatology practices, emphasizing compassion, patient education, and staying current with advancements in the field.

About the host: Dr. Anna Chacon, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Indigenous Dermatology, spec...

• (00:00:00) - Esthetician on Entrepreneurship
• (00:01:32) - Miami Senior High Cosmetology Student
• (00:03:10) - How Fontaine of Youth Beauty started
• (00:06:27) - Florence Fountain of Youth Beauty
• (00:07:39) - How to manage a med spa business effectively
• (00:11:12) - What kind of certifications or training is required? How long is
• (00:16:06) - Red Flags in the Esthetics Industry
• (00:18:00) - Morphenes for the Face
• (00:20:29) - What would you say is your favorite facial treatment?