Our Difference
Our practices have deep-seated roots within their communities, and our patients are our top priority. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding customized care.
Dr. Shelley J. Halper opened her practice on the La Grange Hospital campus in 1991 with two exam rooms and one employee. As her practice grew, she began attracting top university-trained doctors and professionals adding more providers and support staff to her practice. Previously operating as ‘Shelley Halper, MD,’ she went on to name the practice Dermatology Associates of La Grange, to draw awareness to her mission and goal of becoming deeply seated within the community – which is exactly what happened.
Over the years, Dermatology Associates of La Grange grew into a robust community-based practice offering patients the best in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology from top university-trained physicians, all the while staying true to its patients by preserving the fundamentals and benefits of private practice. In the best interest of further serving the community, Dr. Halper eventually brought on additional physicians, advanced practice providers, cosmetic providers, a Mohs surgeon, a board-certified dermatopathologist, and opened an on-site pathology lab.
Dr. Halper’s desire to collaborate with other private practice doctors and friends became her next focus, which allowed Dermatology Associates of La Grange to combine forces with like-minded friends and colleagues around the Chicagoland area. GoldinSkin Dermatology in Skokie (founded in 1990), and North Suburban Dermatology Associates in Gurnee (founded in 1952) both joined the group sharing the same principles– to preserve the relationships between their practices and communities, while establishing a larger network. By 2019, this group consisted of four individual practices, and ‘Dermatology Affiliate Locations’, was introduced as the group’s name, banding the practices together while keeping each unique practice name front and center.
In 2021 Dr. Halper reached a milestone. Dermatology Associates of La Grange celebrated 30 years of service. Dr. Halper’s long-term goal of staying independent evolved even further, and in conjunction with the celebration of 30 years in private practice, she introduced SJH Derm – a physician driven & employee-owned organization.
“The relationship between a patient and a doctor is a privilege and must always remain the foundation of our practice. By moving forward with an employee-owned business model, we are still independent, and the physicians will remain the drivers of patient care and decision making, and all SJH Derm employees by virtue will share in the rewards of this type of care. I am thrilled to be at the forefront of this new model for medical practice ownership.”
–Dr. Shelley J. Halper
Our Board Certified Team
