Meet the Downtown Chicago Mohs Surgery Team

Murad Alam, MD, MSCI

Murad Alam, MD

Murad Alam, MD

Primary Specialty: Mohs Surgery

Murad Alam, MD, MSCI, specializes in skin cancer treatment, as well as cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. A member of the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), he has performed more than 25,000 Mohs procedures during his career. At Northwestern Medicine, he holds the following positions:

  • Vice chair of Dermatology
  • Professor of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Organ Transplantation, and Medical Social Science
  • Chief of the Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery Department
  • Director of Northwestern University’s ACGME-approved fellowship training program in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology and the ASDS-approved fellowship training program in Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery

An author of more than 250 scientific publications, Dr. Alam's research addresses the effectiveness, side effects and patient acceptance of different surgical and laser treatments. He is particularly interested in furthering evidence-based medicine, including the selection and measurement of outcomes. Under his direction, Northwestern Medicine has been the coordinating site of DermBASE, a multicenter database for gathering data to improve skin cancer treatment.

Dr. Alam received his medical degree from Yale University, completed an internship in internal medicine at University of Michigan and obtained residency training in dermatology at Columbia University. He then pursued fellowship training in laser and cosmetic surgery in Boston, and in Mohs micrographic surgery in Houston.

Dr. Alam is the current vice president of the Blade and Light Society, an organization of volunteer dermatologic surgeons who perform work at no cost to treat skin cancers and train surgical dermatologists in countries with limited access to dermatologic care. Additionally, Dr. Alam is currently serving in a variety of leadership roles in the following organizations:

  • President Elect of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
  • Vice president of the Illinois Dermatologic Society
  • Past President of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
  • Chair of the U.S.-based IMPROVED group
  • Director of CISTERN Research Group

He is also a current member of the Board of Directors of the following organizations:

  • American Academy of Dermatology
  • Association of Professors of Dermatology
  • American Dermatological Association

Simon Yoo, MD

Simon S. Yoo, MD

Simon S. Yoo, MD

Primary Specialty: Mohs Surgery

Simon Yoo, MD, specializes in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction. His clinical interests are in skin cancer surgery and complex reconstruction. He directs the high-risk skin cancer clinic, following patients who are at particular risk for skin cancer due to organ transplantation, immunosuppression, or personal or family history of skin cancer. Dr. Yoo is also interested in nail surgery and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures, including lasers for scar improvement and sclerotherapy for leg veins.

Dr. Yoo is an associate professor of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Organ Transplantation at Northwestern Medicine. He is also the director of Resident Surgical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Dr. Yoo is a member of the following organizations:

  • American College of Mohs Surgery
  • American Society of Dermatologic Surgery
  • International immunosuppression and Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative
  • American Society for Lasers Medicine and Surgery
  • American Academy of Dermatology

He earned his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine and completed an internship in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital with Harvard Medical School. Then, Dr. Yoo completed his residency in dermatology at Johns Hopkins Hospital before going on to a fellowship in Mohs microscopic surgery at University of California – San Francisco Medical Center.