Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeannette Olazagasti, MD, MS.
Hi Jeannette, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Viva Dermatology was created out of a desire to remove barriers to high-quality skin care and to make the experience more transparent, personal, and accessible. As a board-certified dermatologist, I saw firsthand how often patients delayed or avoided care, not because they didn’t need it, but because they were unsure about costs, insurance coverage, or how complicated the process would be. I wanted to create something different.
Viva Dermatology is one of the first dermatology practices in the area to operate as a direct care clinic, meaning we do not contract with insurance companies. This allows us to offer clear, upfront pricing and focus entirely on patient care rather than paperwork and limitations set by third parties. Patients know exactly what to expect, which removes a lot of fear and uncertainty from the healthcare experience.
I’m originally from Puerto Rico, and being bilingual in Texas has been a deeply meaningful part of my work. Language should never be a barrier to medical care, yet for many Spanish-speaking patients, it often is. At Viva Dermatology, patients can communicate comfortably in English or Spanish, which helps build trust and ensures they feel truly understood. I’m especially proud to serve members of the community who may have avoided seeing a doctor in the past due to language barriers or concerns about unexpected medical bills.
Our practice serves a wide range of patients, including many who are self-employed, between jobs, or younger and navigating gaps in insurance coverage. Transparency and flexibility matter to them, and we’ve built our clinic around those values. We also offer virtual dermatology visits for appropriate conditions such as acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, eczema, hair loss, vitiligo, and other chronic skin concerns. Our teledermatology platform is easy to use, simple to schedule, and designed to fit into busy lives while still delivering thoughtful, thorough care.
Because Viva Dermatology is a small, woman-owned practice, we’re able to offer a very personalized experience. Patients can reach us easily, appointments feel unrushed, and the environment is welcoming and family-oriented. Often, we see one patient and then go on to care for their family members and friends as well. That sense of trust and continuity is incredibly rewarding and reminds me why I chose this path.
Looking ahead, we hope to expand our teledermatology services to reach more remote and underserved areas, particularly communities where Spanish-language care is essential. Viva Dermatology continues to grow, but our mission remains the same: to provide high-quality, transparent, and compassionate dermatologic care without barriers. Being able to serve our community in this way has been both humbling and deeply fulfilling.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most small businesses, the journey has not been completely smooth. Choosing to open a direct care dermatology clinic came with unique challenges, especially in a healthcare system where insurance-based models are the norm. Early on, a big part of the work was simply educating patients about what direct care means and helping them understand that high-quality medical care can exist outside traditional insurance contracts.
Starting a practice from the ground up also meant wearing many hats at once: physician, business owner, operations manager, and problem-solver. Building workflows, learning the business side of medicine, and creating systems that were both efficient and patient-centered required constant adjustment and a willingness to learn along the way.
As a small, woman-owned practice, growth had to be intentional. Balancing personalized care with sustainability took time, and there were moments when choosing quality over volume felt risky. However, those decisions ultimately shaped Viva Dermatology into the practice it is today, one that prioritizes meaningful patient relationships over speed or scale.
Another ongoing challenge has been addressing access to care, particularly for underserved and Spanish-speaking communities. While being bilingual has allowed me to connect deeply with many patients, it has also highlighted how much unmet need still exists. That awareness continues to motivate our efforts to expand teledermatology services and reach patients who may otherwise go without care.
Each challenge has strengthened the practice and clarified our mission. The obstacles pushed us to innovate, refine our processes, and stay grounded in why Viva Dermatology was created in the first place, to provide transparent, compassionate, and accessible dermatologic care. Looking back, those challenges were essential in building a practice that truly serves its community.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Viva Dermatology, care is intentionally personal, thoughtful, and unrushed. Our visits are longer and more relaxed, which allows us to truly listen and look beyond surface-level symptoms. Rather than focusing only on what is visible on the skin, we take an integrative approach, considering the whole person, their medical history, lifestyle, and overall health. Many skin conditions are reflections of deeper processes, and taking the time to understand those connections often leads to better, longer-lasting outcomes.
We place a strong emphasis on medical dermatology and complex skin disease, particularly conditions that patients may have been told are untreatable or “something they just have to live with.” These are often the patients who feel unheard or discouraged. By slowing down and digging deeper, we are frequently able to identify contributing factors or treatment paths that may have been previously missed. When needed, we collaborate closely with other specialists to ensure truly comprehensive care.
Personalization is central to everything we do. Because we are a small, physician-owned practice, care is never one-size-fits-all. We tailor treatment plans to each individual and often care for multiple members of the same family over time. Being able to follow patients through different stages of life, and adapt care as their skin and needs change, is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work.
Our brand philosophy is also deeply intentional. The name Viva Dermatology comes from the word viva, meaning life. To us, it represents vitality, well-being, and embracing a full, healthy life. Skin changes over time, and that is normal. Our role is not to “fix” people, but to support them, helping patients care for their skin at every stage of life with knowledge, compassion, and confidence.
In a world where cosmetic trends and aesthetics often dominate the conversation, we strive to champion something different. We believe that everyone is beautiful exactly as they are, and that uniqueness should be celebrated, not corrected. Our goal is to help patients feel comfortable in their own skin, healthy, informed, and empowered, rather than pressured to meet unrealistic standards.
What we want readers to know is that Viva Dermatology is a place where patients are seen as whole people, not just diagnoses. It’s a space rooted in care, respect, and the belief that good medicine begins with listening.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One of the things we appreciate most about being located in Euless is how central it is within the DFW area. This location allows us to care for patients from many different cities and suburbs across the region, each with its own personality and community. One of DFW’s greatest strengths is its diversity, culturally, professionally, and generationally, and we value being able to serve such a wide and varied patient population.
We also love how much the Dallas–Fort Worth area has to offer, from great dining to family-friendly activities and spaces to enjoy at every stage of life. It is a dynamic region where people come to build careers, families, and long-term roots.
What we like least is simply how spread out everything can be. Distance and traffic can make access to care more challenging for some patients, especially those balancing work, family, and busy schedules. That reality is one of the reasons we have invested in a platform that allows us to easily offer teledermatology and virtual consultations. This has enabled us to reach patients not only throughout DFW, but also in more distant parts of Texas. Finding ways to meet patients where they are continues to shape how we care for our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vivadermatology.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/vivadermatology
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/vivadermatology
