Two medical schools had accepted Austin Cope, MD, MBA, (Medicine ’15), but he began to doubt his career choice following a newfound desire to become an entrepreneur. In favor of starting his own business, Cope withdrew his applications. Ironically, amidst it all, he received acceptance to the TTUHSC School of Medicine MD/MBA program.

“The offer felt like a divine intervention,” Cope said. He and his wife, Laura, with their two children moved to Lubbock within 48 hours so he could start the program.

Cope is grateful for how it all turned out, opening his private practice, Cope Cosmetic Dermatology, this spring in Highland, Utah. “We loved our time in Lubbock and at TTUHSC, and I fell in love with dermatology.”

Cope completed a dermatology residency at the University of Utah followed by an on-the-job fellowship in cosmetic dermatology in Tucson, Arizona. He developed his skills while working and learning from several world-renowned dermatologists specializing in rejuvenating skin treatments, including advanced skin lasers and injections.

When the pandemic closed the clinic for two months, Cope took the opportunity to write his book, “Sun Proof: A Practical Guide for Sun-Damaged Skin. How-to Maximize Prevention and Repair the Damage.”

Following COVID, the family moved back to their native town of St. George, Utah, and Cope was on a fast track to becoming a partner at a successful dermatology practice. But the entrepreneurial spirit hit Cope once again, and that, coupled with an opportunity for his wife to finish her degree at Brigham Young University, moved the family — now six children strong — north for the new practice, located between Provo and Salt Lake City.

“Cosmetic dermatology is misunderstood,” Cope said. “Our philosophy, is to help you feel like you. We want your skin to be the healthiest it’s ever been, so we focus on restoration. That’s what our patients are looking for. It’s a philosophy we couldn’t find at any other clinic, so we created it, and it’s resonating with a lot of people.”