Dr. Michael Pelster, a native of Brentwood, Tennessee, joined Nashville Skin in September of 2021.  He is an expert in Mohs micrographic & reconstructive surgery, cosmetic dermatology, & general dermatology for both adults and children.

Dr. Pelster received his Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in Spanish and Music (Piano) from Vanderbilt University, where he was named Banner Bearer as the salutatorian of the College of Arts and Science. He then attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where he received his Doctor of Medicine and was elected by his peers into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Dr. Pelster completed his internship in internal medicine and a three-year residency in dermatology at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, training at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.  He served as a chief resident at Northwestern during the final two years of his residency.  Following residency, Dr. Pelster completed a Mohs micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology fellowship at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO, with extensive training in Mohs surgery, complex reconstructive surgery, and minimally-invasive cosmetic dermatologic modalities including Botox, fillers, and laser and energy-based devices.  This fellowship was completed under the mentorship of Dr. Ian Maher, who is regarded as one of the premier reconstructive dermatologic surgeons in the country.

Dr. Pelster is a board-certified dermatologist and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD).  He is also board-certified in (Mohs) micrographic dermatologic surgery and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.  He has authored numerous articles in national peer-reviewed journals as well as several book chapters, primarily on high-risk skin cancer and surgical reconstruction.  He also serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) and as a Contributing Editor for the journal Dermatologic Surgery.  In addition, Dr. Pelster has served as a presenter at the annual meetings of the American College of Mohs Surgery and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.  He is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), the International Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative (ITSCC), and the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS).

Prior to joining Nashville Skin, Dr. Pelster practiced Mohs surgery and cosmetic and general dermatology for three years in private practice in the suburbs of Houston, TX.  He has performed more than 7,000 skin surgeries, including approximately 4,000 Mohs procedures.  In 2021, he was recognized as a Rising Star in Texas Super Doctors by his peers. Dr. Pelster returned to Middle Tennessee to be closer to family and friends.