Kissimmee’s Dr. Lober awarded National Gold Medal

Citing his dedication and leadership as both a practitioner of and advocate for the specialty of dermatology, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has awarded their 2024 Gold Medal to Kissimmee Dr. Clifford Lober. The award, the AAD’s highest, is presented to a single individual each year at its national conference, held recently in San Diego.

In presenting the Award, the AAD especially noted Dr. Lober’s advocacy for his patients’ rights to proper coverage and appropriate reimbursement for care.

“The biggest problem we have with medicine right now is insurance companies,” said Dr. Lober in an interview in his Kissimmee office. “They’re not the patient’s insurance company and they’re not the doctor’s insurance company. They’re a third party and they obviously make money by charging premiums and paying out as little as they can on the other end. And the difficulty is sometimes they will have rules and regulations that are not necessarily in the patient’s best interest. The patient should receive what’s in the patient’s best medical interest — period. And that should be determined by their dermatologists and themselves, not by an insurance company.”

Originally from Virginia, Dr. Lober graduated from Duke University School of Medicine and served as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Public Health Service in Tampa. It was there he found that, “My wife and I both wanted to be Floridians. When we looked around, Kissimmee was at that time an excellent opportunity. I was one of the first dermatologists in Osceola County. That was 1982.”

Dr. Lober has now practiced in Kissimmee for 42 years. He is a solo practitioner. “I see all my patients personally. I have a nurse who’s been with me—it’ll be 40 years this summer—but I see them all myself. If I’m responsible I want to see them because dermatology is visual medical specialty. This way if I see them, that’s fine.”

Dr. Lober notes that an estimated 1 out of 5 people will get a skin cancer in their lifetime, due primarily to sun exposure when they were younger.

“It’s not a rare condition that we’re treating,“ he said. “The vast majority of skin cancers are curable if found early and I get a lot of satisfaction out of treating patients. I really do. I feel I really can help. If we find a melanoma skin cancer we can save someone’s life.”

Lober and his wife have two grown children, as well as “three canine children” and indeed his office is full of pictures of his small dogs. “I love dogs. I love people, I love dogs.”

“I love what I do. I get a great deal of enjoyment out of it. I could retire if I wanted to. I’ve been in practice 42 years. But I intend to stay here for a while, as long as my health holds out. I enjoy what I’m doing. I can’t see retiring because I don’t know what I’d do all day, to be honest.”