07/28/2026
How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. 🩷
To my dear patients,
After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision that August 26th will be my final day at Black Hills Dermatology.
There are moments in life when your heart tells you it is time to step toward a new chapter. This decision has not been easy, but I know it is the right one.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Thank you for trusting me with your health, your stories, your fears, and your triumphs. Being invited into your lives has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and I will carry each of you with me.
Nearly 30 years ago, I entered healthcare not in search of a job, but in answer to a calling. That calling has never changed.
As I have grown as a clinician, I have realized that while caring for one patient at a time has been an extraordinary privilege, I also feel called to help improve healthcare on a broader scale. I hope to contribute to the future of medicine through innovation, biomedical research, artificial intelligence, and health policy—bringing the voice of patients into the rooms where important decisions are made.
My mission has always been to see people cared for with dignity, compassion, and humanity. That mission remains unchanged. If anything, it has only grown stronger.
Please know that I leave with nothing but respect and gratitude for Dr. Young and the entire team. I have full confidence that you will continue to be in excellent hands.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives.
This is not the end of my calling—only the beginning of a new chapter within it.
With all my gratitude,
Ericka
BlackHillsDermatology HealthcareInnovation BiomedicalResearch ArtificialIntelligenceInHealthcare HealthPolicy PatientAdvocacy CalledToCare
