About Dr. Bhandari
Ruchi Bhandari, MD, PhD
Board-certified dermatologist, physician-scientist, aesthetic dermatology speaker, clinical research investigator, educator, and founder of Mindful Skin Dermatology.
Her story
A rare blend of science, artistry, and lived compassion.
Dr. Ruchi Bhandari is a board-certified dermatologist and MD/PhD-trained physician who built Mindful Skin Dermatology around a simple belief: dermatology should be rigorous, beautiful, and deeply human.
Her path to dermatology began in research. She earned her MD and PhD in Neuroscience from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where her doctoral work explored mechanisms involved in memory maintenance and synaptic structure. That scientific foundation still shapes the way she practices: careful diagnosis, thoughtful treatment planning, and an emphasis on long-term skin health.
Dr. Bhandari’s personal experience as a breast cancer survivor also informs her care. She understands that skin, hair, scars, aging, and appearance can be tied to identity, confidence, and healing. Patients can expect medical expertise paired with warmth, honesty, and respect for the person behind the concern.
Why patients choose her
Smart care that still feels personal.
- Board-certified dermatology expertise
- MD/PhD training and translational research background
- Medical, cosmetic, and procedural dermatology experience
- Natural-looking aesthetic philosophy
- Compassion shaped by real lived experience
Credentials
The kind of background that builds trust.
Evidence-based care. Refined results. A human touch.
Clinical philosophy
Dermatology that respects both health and confidence.
Dr. Bhandari cares for acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, hair loss, pigmentation, rashes, changing lesions, skin cancer screenings, and preventive skin health. She also offers cosmetic dermatology with a conservative, anatomy-aware approach to injectables, fillers, lasers, peels, microneedling, hair restoration, and skin rejuvenation.
Her aesthetic style is intentionally understated: refreshed, balanced, and natural. Her medical style is equally intentional: listen carefully, explain clearly, and build a plan patients can actually follow.
Training & professional experience
From research lab to dermatology practice.
Mindful Skin Dermatology
Founder, owner, and board-certified dermatologist.
Bucay Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics
Board-certified dermatologist with extensive medical and cosmetic dermatology experience.
University of the Incarnate Word
Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor.
University of North Carolina
Dermatology residency training.
SUNY University at Buffalo
Dermatology residency training.
Staten Island University Hospital – Northwell Health
Internal medicine internship.
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
MD, PhD in Neuroscience.
CUNY College of Staten Island Honors College
BS in Biochemistry and Chemistry.
Honors & memberships
- Top Doctors of San Antonio, 2026
- William Montagna, MD Award for Excellence in Dermatological Research
- Salk Honorary Scholar
- American Academy of Dermatology
- Women’s Dermatologic Society
- Society for Pediatric Dermatology
- American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Academic contributions
Research-minded dermatology.
Dr. Bhandari’s academic work includes dermatology publications and neuroscience research, with contributions spanning cosmetic neuromodulator education, pediatric dermatology, emergency dermatology, complex dermatologic disease, and synaptic neuroscience.
This background supports the practice’s core identity: modern dermatology that is thoughtful, evidence-based, and attentive to the details that matter.
Selected publications
Representative academic work.
Grunebaum L, Hoosien G, Raymond M, Bhandari R, et al. A Survey of Resident Education in Injectable Neuromodulators for Facial Cosmetics.
Bhandari R, Morrell D. Chapter 247: Disorders of the Hands, Feet, and Extremities. Tintinalli’s Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 8e.
Wu S, Bhandari R, Burkhart C. Thread Epilation: A Less Traumatic Technique for Patients Undergoing Isotretinoin Therapy. Pediatric Dermatology.
Bhandari R. Resident Rounds Part III: Calciphylaxis in the Setting of Non-Hemodialysis, Rapid Weight Loss, and Mixed Hyperparathyroidism. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.