One of Us

Sarah Ferrer-Bruker

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Sarah Ferrer-Bruker is the owner of Bold City Dermatology in St. Augustine, where she gets to feed her passion of helping others to look and feel better while getting to the root of their skin issues. She was part of a military family that moved around a lot when she was growing up until they finally settled in Northeast Florida when she was in high school, and the area has felt like home ever since.

Can you please tell us a little about your background? 

I have three kids, I am a Jacksonville native, and a first-generation Filipino American born to a mom who was the best registered nurse on the planet and a dad who was in the Navy.

I moved every four years of my life, so I went to a lot of different schools. I’ve lived in California, Texas, Florida and Guam. I feel so lucky to have landed in Jacksonville.

During my freshman and sophomore year of high school my parents decided for my dad’s last station to be in Jacksonville, so I started sophomore year at Bishop Kenny (High School) and graduated from there and then went to Florida State (University) where I did four years before going to Nova Southeastern for med school. I stayed in South Florida for my residency and did my training at a hospital in West Palm Beach County, so after med school I did six years straight of training.

What made it the right time to start Bold City Dermatology?

I came out of my dermatology residency and took a job with Park Avenue dermatology and was there up until very recently.

I have no professional regrets and am still super friendly with everybody at my last practice. I believe that each part of your life is meant to teach you something and we are always changing.

You’ve got to know yourself and know what you love to do. It was the right time for me to go out on my own and start this venture.

When did you realize that dermatology was the ideal field for you?

 

I always knew I wanted to be doctor because I just love medicine in general. Dermatology is unique because it is one of the specialties where you collaborate with so many other specialties.

Whenever you have something wrong with your skin, many times it can be from an internal problem, and you must be aware and awake to all the potential problems that could be manifesting on the outside but really be brewing on the inside.

It married all my interests because I get to do procedures as well as a creative and precise portion with cosmetics.

What are the most rewarding parts of the job?

 

It’s all very fascinating and it humbles me every day. I just love my job, and how many people can say that? I think that comes through to the patients.

People are scared when they come in knowing that a procedure might be needed, but myself and the team around me project a calmness that the patients pick up on.

Everyone leaves here happy, and sometimes even laughing after their biopsies.


What are some of the challenges that you face with your job?

I think that there is too much information out there that is not 100% applicable to them. A good example is acne, because sometimes it is not related to products or the food you’re eating but it is just truly a combination of genetics, inflammation and bacteria and can be just a little bit unlucky sometimes.

Although there are things you could fix by going on the internet, someone who has very serious acne is not the same as someone who has mild acne.

You see someone struggle for so long because of the misinformation or misdiagnosis.

What do you enjoy most about living in the Northeast Florida area?

 

I think we live in the best place because for me South Florida was a little too busy. I feel like the area has a lot to offer and I find it diverse and with lots of offerings.

One of my favorite things to do is going out to eat and we have plenty to choose from.

There are only a few places in the country where you can pretty much eat outdoors all year long if you wanted.

What do you like to do in your free time?

 

I like to play tennis. I’m not good at it, but you can play all year.

I have three kids, so they keep me pretty busy, and I want to be an involved mom.

My husband Zac owns a local business himself called Prime Carwash, which he partners with one of his best friends that he grew up with.