Surgical Resident, Master’s Student Builds for Her Future at UToledo

Surgical Resident, Master's Student Builds for Her Future at UToledo

Finding the right path sometimes requires first making a wrong turn.

After earning an undergraduate degree in neuroscience from Georgia State University and completing medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Dr. Alexandra-Elise Dakaud Patterson was excited to return to Atlanta and begin her surgical residency training at Morehouse School of Medicine.

However, working at one of the nation's busiest trauma centers and the constant exposure to tragedy was starting to wear her down.

"It was a good program, but I came to realize this pace doesn't really fit me. I was a general surgery resident, but I was primarily doing trauma cases," she said. "I wanted to explore more aspects of general surgery, and I started looking for a space where I could safely do that."

As she investigated other programs, Toledo caught her eye. Though she'd never set foot in the Glass City, the name was familiar from regional weather maps she remembered seeing as a young child in Pittsburgh and she found herself impressed by the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences' residency program.

"I just knew this place would mean something to me," she said.

After three years in UToledo's residency program, Dakaud Patterson has no doubt she's in the right spot. Not only has Toledo given her the breadth of experience she wanted, but it's also helped her zero in on cosmetic surgery as her preferred specialty - and provided her a unique opportunity to pursue her master's degree in cosmetic science and formulation design.

"It's going to be the cornerstone of my branding of a cosmetic surgeon to say I've mastered cosmetics inside and outside the operating room," she said. "The manifestation of the wildest version of my dreams is happening in Toledo. I couldn't be happier."

UToledo's fully online Master of Science in Cosmetic Science and Formulation Design Program launched in 2023, not long after Dakaud Patterson arrived on campus. While the program is designed to be completed in five semesters, Dakaud Patterson is taking an accelerated path that will allow her to complete the 30-credit-hour program in just one year, matching up with her residency program's research year.

"It's a different approach and it's a lot for her to balance, but I think it speaks to her dedication and her ambition," said Alison Wery, an associate lecturer and director of the cosmetic science and formulation design graduate program.
She and her fellow faculty members are always eager to see what their students end up doing post-graduation, but Wery said Dakaud Patterson's first-of-its-kind pairing of surgery and cosmetic science is particularly inspiring.

"I see her love for both the cosmetic industry and her residency program, and I really am excited to see what she ends up developing and creating," she said. "She's really breaking the mold and she's been amazing to work with."

Part of Dakaud Patterson's decision to pursue cosmetic surgery came out of a desire to bring beauty to a world that can be quite dark - something she saw firsthand during her preliminary residency training.

She's also driven by her own experiences. As a youngster, she underwent a trio of spinal surgeries that forced her to relearn how to walk and left her with a sizable scar she carries to this day.

"I want to heal other people's scars because I know what it's like to have one," she said. "It allows me to connect with my patients on an even deeper level. There are different reasons why people become surgeons, and I think being able to help someone able to feel at home in their own body is something that's unique in cosmetic surgery and I'm excited to explore that."

Having the professional development year at UToledo also allowed Dakaud Patterson to dip her toe into journalism through a five-week externship with the ABC News medical unit in New York City.

She first learned about the externship six years earlier as a medical student, when she came across a social media post about the program. She made a mental note to apply if she ever had the chance.

As she began planning for her year away from the operating room, Dakaud Patterson recalled that post and sent out a hopeful application to ABC. By mid-July, she was working in Manhattan, reviewing embargoed medical studies alongside Emmy-winning journalist and executive producer Eric Strauss, veteran medical journalist Liz Neporent and medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton - gaining exposure to the highest levels of medical journalism.

Her first national byline came from a study on GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic, looking at weight regain after the medication was stopped. The article was published on the ABC News website, featured on "Good Morning America" and rose to the number one trending story on Google News.

"It was so cool. I was able to see my language, the way that I interpreted and explained complex studies, blasted verbatim on millions of TVs," she said. "It was an awesome experience."

Now back in Toledo, Dakaud Patterson is completing her master's degree, contributing to research in cosmetic surgery and wound care, and developing her expertise in cosmetic injectables and permanent makeup, while also growing her entrepreneurial interests.

She is excited to return to the operating room in July for her final two years of residency training at UToledo. During her fourth year, she plans to apply for a cosmetic surgery fellowship position, with the goal of transitioning directly into fellowship training after graduation.

"I really appreciate this residency program for the opportunities I've had and the encouragement I've received to take advantage of them," she said. "I think people should know we have something special here. They say, 'You'll do better in Toledo.' They were right."