From Medical Assistant to Future Dermatologist: Sophia Nem’s Story

Some of the most meaningful work happening at The Skin Company isn’t a treatment at all — it’s mentorship. That’s the story behind Sophia Nem, a third-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM), who is now completing her dermatology elective rotation right here in Castle Rock under Dr. Sheila Boyle.

A Six-Year Mentorship That Changed a Career Path

Sophia met Dr. Boyle in September 2016, shortly after graduating from CU Boulder with a B.A. in Integrative Physiology. She was chasing a childhood dream of becoming a doctor, but after two dermatology offices turned her away — one telling her she wasn’t a candidate who would “ever get into medical school” — she nearly gave up.

Dr. Boyle gave her a chance instead. Over the next six years, Sophia worked as a medical assistant alongside Dr. Boyle and physician assistant Kelly, describing the experience as working alongside “a physician who not only embodied everything I could only hope to become someday, but who also believed in my intelligence and capabilities.”

That belief translated into real encouragement: Dr. Boyle’s husband, Kevin, pushed Sophia to take classes at MSU Denver, where she earned a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Even after two degrees and hands-on clinical experience, medical school didn’t happen on the first try — so Sophia pursued a master’s program instead, determined to prove she could excel under academic rigor.

From Setback to Rocky Vista University

Sophia was accepted into five master’s programs and interviewed at two more before choosing Rocky Vista University’s Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences program in 2022. She graduated at the top of her class in May 2023, was accepted into medical school, and started just two months later.

Today, as a third-year medical student, her accomplishments include:

• Former president of RVUCOM’s Dermatology & Pathology Club
• Acceptance into the Urban Underserved Medicine Track
• One of only 10 pre-doctoral research fellowship positions awarded across RVUCOM’s Colorado, Utah, and Montana campuses

Now, she’s back where it started — rotating with Dr. Boyle at The Skin Company for her dermatology elective, with her sights set on a dermatology residency and a career focused on caring for underserved communities, with particular attention to skin of color.

“I am the first person in my family to go into medicine, and I will be the first person in the history of my family to become a doctor,” Sophia says. “I truly could not have done any of this without the support of Dr. Boyle.”

Sophia’s Skincare Q&A

As part of her rotation, we asked Sophia to share some of what she’s learned — both from Dr. Boyle and from her own clinical training.

Q: What’s the number one skincare myth you wish would go away?
A: That only people with fair skin need sunscreen. While melanin offers some natural protection against UV damage, it isn’t fully protective. Sunscreen matters for every skin tone — not just for preventing premature aging, but for reducing skin cancer risk.

Q: What question do patients ask you most?
A: “What specialty do you want to go into?” Dermatology has always had her heart, but she kept an open mind during her core rotations — and every time, her passion circled back to skin.

Q: What’s your favorite skincare tip?
A: Apply moisturizer to damp skin, especially right after a shower. Skin naturally loses water through a process called transepidermal water loss (TEWL); moisturizing while skin is still damp helps lock in hydration rather than letting it evaporate.

Why This Story Matters to Castle Rock

Sophia’s journey is a reminder of what The Skin Company has always stood for: skin health, mentorship, and access — not just for our clients across Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, and Highlands Ranch, but for the next generation of providers who will care for them. Dr. Boyle’s dual certification in Dermatology and Obesity Medicine, paired with her commitment to mentoring future physicians like Sophia, is part of what sets our Castle Rock practice apart.

If Sophia’s sunscreen and moisturizer tips resonated, our team can help build a skincare routine — and a treatment plan — suited to your skin. Explore our full range of dermatology and skin health services, or check our current specials.

For more on sunscreen and skin of color, the Skin of Color Society offers excellent patient education resources.

The Skin Company is located at 20 Wilcox St, Ste 119, Castle Rock, CO 80104.

This blog post is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for a one-on-one consultation with a licensed medical provider. Schedule a consultation with The Skin Company to discuss what’s right for you.