Windsor Dermatology Welcomes New Pediatric Dermatologist

Jessica Simon’s hair began to thin when she was in high school.

Her mother, a hairdresser, was the first to notice. Was her daughter not eating enough vegetables, she wondered. Or was it caused by Jessica pulling her hair back into a ponytail to run cross country? It was neither, but finding an exact diagnosis wasn’t easy.

A dermatologist finally diagnosed Simon, who grew up in Lyndhurst N.J., with alopecia areata, an auto-immune disease that manifests in hair loss.

“It only affects the hair, so sometimes when you go to a doctor, it’s not appreciated how much it affects your daily life,” Dr. Simon noted. “It can really affect your confidence and self-esteem.”

A dozen years later, Jessica Simon is now Dr. Simon.

On Oct. 5, she will add her pediatric dermatology expertise to Windsor Dermatology’s practice. A practice that has a pediatric dermatologist on staff is uncommon and another way that Windsor Dermatology offers comprehensive care.

“We are so excited to have Jessica join us,” said Dr. Jerry Bagel, medical director and founder of Windsor Dermatology. “Her passion and extensive research into issues facing our youngest patients, combined with her personal experience, will be invaluable to our community.”

Simon will treat both adults and children, and hopes to be a role model for children who are dealing with issues similar to those she faced. She always dreamed of being a pediatrician, but after she was diagnosed she became fascinated in the study of alopecia and similar disorders.

“I’ve found a way to incorporate my love for working with kids and my love for dermatology into being a pediatric dermatologist,” Simon said. “I like the fact that there’s never a dull moment. It’s the energy they have when you walk into the room. Kids give you hugs at the end and you give them a sticker. There’s something about working with them that just brightens my day.”

Simon earned her B.S in biological sciences from Rutgers University and her M.D. from New Jersey Medical School (now Rutgers Medical School). She interned in pediatrics at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, followed by a three-year dermatology residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami and a one-year fellowship in pediatric dermatology at Emory University.

While in Florida, Dr. Simon worked with Dr. Brian Keegan, a doctor at Windsor Dermatology and a fellow University of Miami alumnus.

“I reached out to Dr. Keegan and he got me excited enough to visit and explore the area,” she said. “I met Dr. Bagel and everyone was super nice and warm, like a close-knit family and I really like that. I felt that I could really see myself working there every day.”

Simon and her husband, Pedro Rodriguez, moved back to New Jersey in August. The couple lives in West Windsor with four-month-old son, Aiden.

In June, Windsor Dermatology celebrated its 30th anniversary. The practice’s doctors provide comprehensive medical care for common skin conditions, such as acne, warts and skin tags and offers the latest therapeutic advancements for psoriasis, eczema, skin cancer, alopecia, vitiligo and skin allergies.

For more information about Windsor Dermatology, visit www.windsordermatology.com.