Finding a doctor who’s actually been in the trenches for decades is getting harder. You know how it is—you walk into a clinic and feel like just another number on a spreadsheet. Honestly, that’s why so many people in Central Florida keep track of Joseph A. Shirer MD.
He isn't some new kid on the block. He's a dermatologist based in Ocoee who has been dealing with the Florida sun’s aftermath since the 80s. When you live in a state where the UV index is basically "extreme" for half the year, you don't just want a doctor; you want someone who has seen every possible variation of a suspicious mole.
The Reality of Seeing Joseph A. Shirer MD in Ocoee
If you’re looking for Dr. Shirer, you’ll find him at his practice on South Clarke Road. It’s right there in Ocoee, a spot that serves a huge chunk of the Orlando metro area. People come in for the usual stuff—acne that won't quit, weird rashes, or those annoying skin tags—but the heavy lifting he does is in skin cancer and surgical dermatology.
He’s affiliated with some big names like AdventHealth Orlando and Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital. That matters. It means if something goes sideways or you need more intense care, he’s plugged into the local hospital systems.
Joseph A. Shirer MD graduated from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans back in 1983. Think about that for a second. He’s been practicing medicine for over 40 years. He finished his dermatology residency at the LSU Charity Hospital in 1987. He’s been a "Castle Connolly Top Doctor" for roughly 25 years. That’s not a participation trophy; it’s a peer-nominated recognition that speaks to a pretty long-standing reputation in the medical community.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Dermatology Visits
A lot of folks think a derm visit is just about getting a prescription for a fancy cream. Kinda, but not really. With someone like Dr. Shirer, the focus is often on high-stakes procedures.
- Excision and Shaving: He does a ton of these. If a spot looks "off," he’s the one taking it off and getting it to a lab.
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery: While he treats a lot of skin cancers, this specific surgical technique is the gold standard for removing basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas while saving as much healthy skin as possible.
- Keloid Management: This is actually a specialty of his. Keloids are those thick, raised scars that can be super painful or itchy. They're notoriously hard to treat because they like to grow back, but he’s noted for handling these "much more often" than your average provider.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: It’s basically specialized dandruff or scaly patches, and apparently, he sees a high volume of these cases too.
Why the "System" Matters
You’ve probably seen reviews where patients mention his office is a "system." In the world of modern medicine, that’s a double-edged sword. Some people love it because it’s efficient. Others feel like they’re moving through a conveyor belt.
But here’s the thing: in Florida, skin cancer is an epidemic.
Doctors who are good at what they do are usually slammed. One patient who had been seeing him for over 20 years noted that while the office gets booked up, he’s a "consummate professional" who knows his field inside and out. He tells you exactly what the diagnosis is and what he’s going to do about it. No fluff.
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Credentials and Professional Background
It’s easy to get lost in the alphabet soup of medical titles. Let’s break down what actually counts for Joseph A. Shirer MD:
- Board Certification: He is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. This is the big one. It means he passed the rigorous exams and keeps up with the continuing education required to stay "current."
- Education: LSU Health Sciences Center (MD, 1983).
- Residency: Charity Hospital in New Orleans. If you know anything about medical history, Charity was one of the toughest, highest-volume training grounds in the country before Katrina.
- Longevity: He has been a licensed physician in Florida (License #ME53557) for decades.
The Florida Factor: When to Actually Call Him
Don't wait until a mole is bleeding. Seriously.
If you’ve got a spot that’s changing color, has irregular borders, or just feels "itchy" for no reason, that’s your cue. People in Ocoee and Windermere often use him for routine skin checks, which is basically a head-to-toe scan for anything that might turn into a problem later.
He treats a lot of Actinic Keratosis—those crusty, scaly patches caused by years of sun damage. They aren't cancer yet, but they’re "precancerous." Catching those early saves you from much nastier surgeries down the road.
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Making an Appointment
His main office is located at 1067 S Clarke Rd, Ocoee, FL 34761.
He takes a wide range of insurance, including Aetna, Cigna, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. But a word of advice: call and verify first. Insurance lists are notoriously out of date, and you don't want to get hit with an out-of-network bill because a website hasn't been updated since 2023.
Actionable Steps for Your Skin Health
If you're considering a visit or just worried about your skin, here is what you should actually do:
- Do a "Spot Check" tonight: Use a mirror. Look for the "Ugly Duckling"—the one mole that looks nothing like the others on your body.
- Check your insurance portal: Search specifically for "Joseph A. Shirer" to see if he's currently in your tier.
- Gather your history: If you’ve had weird spots removed in the past, try to remember (or find) the pathology reports. It helps a dermatologist like Dr. Shirer understand your risk profile immediately.
- Prepare for a wait: Because he’s a specialist with a long history in the area, the waiting room might be busy. Bring a book.
Skin health in the subtropics isn't something you can ignore. Whether it's a nagging case of rosacea or a spot that's been bothering you for months, getting an expert eyes-on evaluation is the only way to get peace of mind. Dr. Shirer's decades of experience in the Florida climate make him a very specific kind of expert for a very specific kind of environment.