Hema Sundaram, M.D. is a Board Certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon with offices in suburban Washington, D.C. She began her medical training as a teenager, graduating with honors from the University of Cambridge in England with a bachelor's degree in genetics, a masters degree and her medical degree. Dr. Hema completed her dermatology residency at the University of Chicago and a Medical Staff fellowship at the National Institutes of Health where she served as a Lieutenant Commander in The U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Hema maintains an active involvement in medical research and teaching, serving as a Principal Investigator for FDA studies, on Advisory Boards for acne and rosacea therapy and as an Advisor and Physician Trainer for several cosmetic surgery and laser technologies. She also serves as an Advisor to the Dermatology Education Initiative (http://www.thederm.org/) and on the editorial boards of the journals, "Practical Dermatology" and "Medesthetics".

Dr. Hema is the author of a book, Face Value: "The Truth About Beauty - and a Guilt-Free Guide To Finding It" [Rodale] which was honored by the National Press Club. She appears on national television and radio, including regular appearances on NBC TV affiliates and XM Radio, and she is quoted in publications ranging from The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune and The Boston Globe to Prevention magazine, Good Housekeeping, Allure and Cosmopolitan. Dr. Hema strives for expert patient care in a compassionate and emotionally intelligent environment. Her patients visit her from throughout the country and from overseas. Her dermatology practice is noted for its regular donations to charitable and patient support organizations including the Skin Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Awareness, KEEN and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Dr. Hema lives in Maryland with her husband, a cardiologist, and their two children. Besides writing, her interests include vinyasa yoga (of which she is a daily practitioner), biking, vedantic studies and Indian classical singing.