Our Physicians
About Our Physicians
Dr. Lawrence Wang joined Dermatological Care in 2005. He was born in Boston, MA, and moved to Columbia, MO, at a young age where he grew up a fan of the Missouri Tigers. He attended Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude as a biochemistry major in 1993. Dr. Wang earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Washington University School of Medicine in 2001. His Ph.D. thesis studied the role of inhibitory receptors on natural killer cells. He then completed his dermatology residency at Washington University and Barnes Hospital before joining Dermatological Care.
Dr. Wang is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. He has previously served as a clinical instructor in the Division of Dermatology at Washington University and is section head of dermatology at Mercy Hospital South. Dr. Wang practices general dermatology and treats all dermatological conditions in adults and children. He surgically removes benign skin lesions and skin cancers. When he is not treating skin, Dr. Wang spends time with his wife and three boys and enjoys watching and playing all kinds of sports. He is an avid runner and has completed all of the world majors including the Boston Marathon. More recently, Dr. Wang has become an avid Pickleball player.
Dr. Brooke Shadel, M.D./Ph.D
Dr. Shadel joined Dermatological Care in 2012 after completing her Dermatology residency training as Chief Resident at Saint Louis University. A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, she earned her Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Kansas before joining the faculty after completing her PhD at the Saint Louis School of Public Health. She was inducted in the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health that recognizes outstanding achievement in the field. She later attended medical school at Saint Louis University, where she was inducted into the national Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and earned her MD in 2007. Dr. Shadel has been voted by her peers as a Castle Connely St. Louis Top Doctor yearly since 2022.
Dr. Shadel is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology, and is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is also a member of the St. Louis Dermatological Society and was elected and served as a previous board member of the Missouri Dermatological Society. She enjoys teaching medical students as a member of the Washington University Volunteer Faculty. Dr. Shadel practices general dermatology for patients of all ages. In clinical practice, Dr. Shadel evaluates and treats a broad spectrum of dermatologic conditions, including acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and other skin disorders. She performs comprehensive skin examinations and skin cancer treatments. Dr. Shadel is committed to patient education, preventive care, and delivering individualized care for every patient.
Dr. Gina Bowers, M.D.
Dr. Bowers joined Dermatological Care in 2007. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She completed her residency training in Dermatology through Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University School of Medicine. She completed her intern year St. John’s Mercy Medical Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. Bowers graduated Magna Cum Laude earning her medical degree from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine in 2000, where she became a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.
Dr. Bowers has been board certified with the American Board of Dermatology since 2007 and is a fellow of the American Academy Dermatology. She welcomes both adult and pediatric patients. Dr. Bowers’ services include general dermatological care, skin cancer surveillance and treatment. When she is not working, Dr. Bowers enjoys spending time with her husband, their four children and their 2 very spoiled dogs. As a family, they greatly enjoy all things outdoors.
Dr. Jessica Gruber M.D.
Dr. Jessica Gruber is joining Dermatological Care in summer of 2021. She is a St. Louis native and attended high school at Cor Jesu Academy just down the street (Go Chargers!). She attended University of Missouri Columbia for her undergraduate degree and then returned to her hometown where she completed her medical school training and dermatology residency at Saint Louis University where she was awarded the position of Chief Resident.
Dr. Gruber is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Her practice includes the treatment of all dermatologic conditions of the skin, hair, and nails in adults and children. Her professional areas of interest include acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and detection and treatment of skin cancer. When she is not working, Dr. Gruber likes spending time with her fiancée and her family. She enjoys the outdoors and likes running, golfing, and swimming.
Dr. Omar Jassim, MD PhD
Dr. Jassim is board-certified in Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Mohs Micrographic
Surgery, with more than 15 years of experience caring for patients throughout the St. Louis
region. He specializes in the detection and treatment of skin cancer and is recognized for
combining meticulous diagnostic expertise with a thoughtful, patient-centered approach to care.
He also practices general dermatology and welcomes patients of all ages.
Throughout his career, Dr. Jassim has remained actively involved in academic medicine and
physician education. He serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pathology at Saint Louis
University School of Medicine and has taught dermatology and pathology residents at both Saint
Louis University and Washington University.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Jassim has a longstanding interest in beekeeping and honey bee
biology, inspired by his father and further developed through undergraduate research in
entomology at the University of Illinois. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife
and four children.
Dr. Ian Hornstra, MD PhD ***Starting August 2026***
Dr. Hornstra grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He received his BA in Chemistry and his MD from
the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He received a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology from the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Upon completing his residency in dermatology at Washington University Medical School in St.
Louis, Dr. Hornstra established a research lab where, among other things, he developed a
genetically engineered mouse models that have been used in research labs throughout the
country. He has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles.
In 2008, Dr. Hornstra shifted his focus from the lab to clinical care and education. In his role as
Section Chief of Dermatology at the VA, he oversaw the expansion of dermatology services
available to veterans in Missouri and Illinois while continuing research focused on clinical care
and outcomes. At the VA, he especially enjoyed the challenge of complex cases as well as
interacting with patients from diverse and unique backgrounds.
For nearly 30 years, Dr. Hornstra served as Associate Professor of Medicine at Washington
University helping to train hundreds of dermatology residents. While at Washington University,
he had hospital privileges at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Barnes Jewish Hospital.
Dr. Hornstra is board certified in Dermatology with the American Board of Dermatology and a
member of the American Academy of Dermatology. He sees both adult and pediatric patients
and has a special interest in fungal diseases, skin cancer and complex medical dermatology
conditions like psoriasis, eczema, seborrhea and acne. In his free time, Dr. Hornstra enjoys
photography, anything involving water, tinkering with general electronics and spending time
with his wife, son and water dog (who does not like water). He is a certified SCUBA diver, grew
up sailing and is a huge football fan. He looks forward to bringing his years of experience to
Derm Care patients.
Dr. Nikoleta Brankov, MD, FAAD
Dr. Nikoleta Brankov, MD, FAAD, is a double board-certified dermatologist and
dermatopathologist, with expertise in general medical dermatology, surgical
dermatology, cosmetics, and pediatric dermatology. A Cleveland, Ohio native, she
graduated Summa Cum Laude from Youngstown State University, earning a double
major in Combined Sciences and Biology. She was honored with the Clarence P. Gould
Society Award, which recognizes the top 1% of graduating seniors.
Dr. Brankov went on to complete her medical degree at Loma Linda University School
of Medicine in Loma Linda, CA, and her dermatology residency at Eastern Virginia
Medical School in Norfolk, VA, where she served as chief resident. She further
advanced her training with a fellowship in dermatopathology at the University of Texas
Medical Branch in Galveston, TX.
Deeply passionate about dermatology, Dr. Brankov enjoys debunking skincare myths
and educating the public through her podcast and online platforms. She is a Fellow of
the American Academy of Dermatology and has published twenty peer-reviewed
articles in respected dermatology journals, in addition to co-authoring two peer-reviewed
dermatology book chapters.
Dr. Brankov is committed to delivering optimal patient care, focusing on building strong,
trusting relationships with her patients. She is excited to be providing care in St.
Louis. She is multi-lingual in English, Serbian, Spanish, Croatian, and Bosnian. Outside
of her professional work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and playing sports with her
husband and their two sons, David and Mateo.