Dafnis Carranza, M.D., FAAD, FACMS

About Dr. Dafnis Carranza

Dr. Carranza moved to Jackson, TN from Los Angeles, CA in 2008 and became the first fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic skin cancer surgeon to practice in this area. She has years of dermatologic surgical experience and has performed thousands of Mohs and reconstructive cases. Dr. Carranza takes pride in providing excellent service and dermatologic care to her patients. She treats patients for all skin-related conditions and specializes in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Carranza also has extensive experience with various cosmetic and anti-aging procedures, like BOTOX® Cosmetic, JUVÉDERM®, and Kybella. Dr. Carranza brings an important perspective to cosmetic dermatology as a woman and physician. She only offers treatments that have worked for her, and she continually reviews breaking research and undergoes training to expand her expertise. She received the “Bella Diamond” award in 2015 for her expert skill and her achievements in the aesthetic field.

Dr. Carranza is married to Michael McGillen, and when she is not working, she enjoys watching movies, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family and their dog Knox. She strives to give back through philanthropic work in the Jackson community and its nonprofit organizations, as well as through her dedication to melanoma research.

Work Experience, Training, and Education

Work Experience

Dermatology & Skin Cancer Consultants, PLLC, Humboldt, TN Medical Director, 8/2011 – 2021

The Jackson Clinic P.A., Jackson, TN Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Surgery, 8/2008 – 8/2011

Training

University of California, Los Angeles Mohs Micrographic Surgery & Procedural Dermatology Fellow, 2007 – 2008

• Trained in Mohs micrographic surgery, surgical reconstruction, lasers, and various cosmetic procedures, including BOTOX, fillers, peels, and sclerotherapy

Dermatology Residency, 2004 – 2007

• Chief Resident, 2006 – 2007
• UCLA Health Care STAR Recognition Award, 2006

White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles Internal Medicine Internship, 2003 – 2004

Education

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles M.D., 2003

• UCLA SOM Deans Scholar, 1998 – 2003
• Edith and Carl Lasky Memorial Award for Excellence in Research, 2003
• American Dermatological Association Student Research Fellowship Recipient, 2002
• National Hispanic Medical Association NIH/Student Initiative Fellow, 2002
• The Minority Trainee Research Forum National Abstract Competition Winner, 2002
• UCLA SOM Latino Medical Student Association Service Award, 2001
• UCLA SOM, Letter of Distinction, Foundations in Clinical Medicine, 2000

University of California, Los Angeles B.S. Physiological Sciences, 1997

• UCLA Chancellors Service Award, 1997
• Golden Key National Honor Society Lifetime Member, 1994

Society Memberships and Committees

Society Memberships

• American Academy of Dermatology
• American College of Mohs Surgery
• Tennessee Dermatology Society
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Women’s Dermatologic Society
• National Hispanic Medical Association
• UCLA Medical Alumni Association
• National Association of Professional Women
• Humboldt Chamber of Commerce
• Jackson Chamber of Commerce

Committees

• UCLA SOM High School Prep Advisory Committee, Member, 2001 – 2003
• UCLA Chicano/Latino Medical Student Association, MCAT Scholarship Chair, 2000 – 2001
• UCLA SOM Admissions Committee, Medical Student Representative, 1999 – 2004
• UCLA 6th Annual Talent Show & Canned Food Drive, Fundraising Committee Member, 1999
• UCLA Chicano/Latino Medical Student Association, Statewide Representative, 1998 – 2000
• UCLA CMSA Hurricane Mitch Relief Fund, Fundraising Committee Member, 1998
• UCLA Unicamp; Member of Board of Directors, Program Committee Chair, 1994 – 1997

 

Research and Publications

Research

UCLA Department of Internal Medicine Division of Dermatology, Michael S. Kolodney, M.D., Ph.D. Medical Student Research Scholar, 2001 – 2003

• Investigated potential mechanisms by which RhoGTPases stimulate melanoma cell metastasis

UCLA Department of Family Medicine and Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture, Michael Wada, M.D., M.P.H., David Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D. Researcher, 1999

• Needs assessment research to determine barriers in obtaining healthcare services for the medically underserved community of Central City Garment District and Pico Union

Publications

• Grossberg A., Carranza D., Chiu M., Lee C, Craft N. Dermatologic Care in Homeless and Underserved Populations: Observations from the Venice Family Clinic. Cutis 2012; 89:25-32.
• Custis T, Beynet D, Carranza D, Greco J, Lask GP, Kim J. Treatment of Melomental Fold Rhytides with Hylacross Hyaluronic Acid Combined with Botulinum Toxin A Compared with Hylacross Hyaluronic Acid Alone. Dermatologic Surgery. 2010 Nov;36 Suppl 3:1852-8.
• Ke M., Moul D., Camouse M., Avram M., Carranza D., Soriano T., Lask G. Where Is It? The Utility of Biopsy-Site Photography. Dermatologic Surgery. 2010;36:198-202.
• Carranza D., Young L. Successful Treatment of Metastatic Chron’s Disease with Cyclosporine. J Drugs Dermatol, 2008 Aug;7(8):789-91.
• Carranza D., Chiu M., Haley J. Facial Porokeratosis. SKINMed 2008 Jan-Feb;7(1):51-52.
• Soriano T., Beynet D., Carranza D. Laser Hair Removal in Darker Racial Ethnic Groups, in Grimes PE et al. Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types, Philadelphia: Lippincott;2008:303-309.
• Carranza D. Warts: New Solutions to an Old Problem. The Dermatology Report Summer 2007;1(1):26-29.
• Iyer S., Carranza D., Kolodney M., Macgregor D., Chipps L., Soriano T. Evaluation of Procollagen I Deposition After Intense Pulsed Light Treatments at Varying Parameters in a Porcine Model. Journal of Cosmetic Laser Therapy 2007 Jun;9(2):75-8.
• Collison E.A., Carranza D., Chen I.Y., Kolodney M.S. Isoprenylation is Necessary for the Full Invasive Potential of RhoA Over Expression in Human Melanoma Cells. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 2002 Nov;119(5):1172-6.
• Davis K., Carranza D., Cotliar J., Soriano T. Clinical Improvement of Cutaneous Sarcoidosis with Intralesional 5-Fluorouracil. Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Submitted for publication.

Medical Licensure and Clinical Trials

Medical Licensure

Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology, 2007

Clinical Trials

• A Phase 3b Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Active Controlled Study Comparing the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib to Dupilumab in Adult Subjects with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis, AbbVie, M16-046, Principal Investigator
• A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- and Active Comparator-Controlled Phase 3 Study with Randomized Withdrawal and Retreatment to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of BMS-986165 in Subjects with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, IM011047, Principal Investigator
• An Open-Label, Multi-Center Extension Study to Characterize the Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of BMS-986165 in Subjects with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis, BristolMyers Squibb, IM011075, Principal Investigator
• A Phase 2A, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, 16-Week Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of PF-06650833, PF-06700841, and PF06826647 in Adults with Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Pfizer, C2501007, Principal Investigator
• A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Bermekimab in Patients with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis, XBiotech, 2019-PT046, Principal Investigator
• A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Bermekimab in Patients with Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa, XBiotech, 2019-PT047, Principal Investigator
• A Phase 3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study to Evaluate Upadacitinib in Adolescent and Adult Subjects with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis. Abbvie Inc, M18-891. Principal Investigator
• A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Vehicle Controlled Study of the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of B244 Topical Spray for the Treatment of Pruritus in Adults with a History of Atopic Dermatitis. AOBiome Therapeutics, PRB244-01. Principal Investigator
• A Phase 2A, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, 16-Week Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of PF-06650833, PF-06700841, and PF06826647 in Adults with Moderate to Severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Pfizer, C2501007. Principal Investigator
• A Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study to Evaluate Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of MT-7117 in Subjects with Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, MT-7117-G02. Principal Investigator

Lectures, Presentations, and Teaching Experiences

Lectures and Presentations

• Mohs Surgery Indications and Contraindications. Jackson-Madison County General Hospital
• Update in Dermatology for the General Practitioner. Jackson, Tennessee. March 2012.
• The Most Common Cancer. Jackson-Madison County General Hospital Grand Rounds. Jackson,
• Tennessee. May 2009.
• Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Papillomata Seen in Costello Syndrome. American
• Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. February 2008.
• Fractional Photothermolysis For Melasma In Women with Skin Types IV-VI. 21st World Congress of
• Dermatology. Buenos Aires, Argentina. October 2007.
• Where Is It? The Utility of Biopsy-Site Photography. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL. October 2007.
• Multiple Hereditary Glomangiomas. California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery
• Annual Meeting. Monterey, CA. September 2007; The LA Metropolitan Dermatological Society
• University Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. May 2007.
• Introduction to Dermatology. UCLA School of Dentistry. Los Angeles, CA. April 2007.
• Vulvar Neoplasms. UCLA Dermatology Grand Rounds. Los Angeles, CA. February 2007.
• Facial Porokeratosis. American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C.
• February 2007; California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting.
• San Diego, CA. September 2006.
• Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.
• Washington, D.C February 2007.
• Autologous Platelet Concentrate in Granulating Defects of the Lower Extremities Following Mohs
• Micrographic Surgery. American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. Washington, D.C.
• February 2007; ACMMSCO Annual Meeting. Scottsdale, AZ. April 2006.
• Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy and Disseminated MAC Infection. American Academy of
• Dermatology Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. March 2006.
• Costello Syndrome. The Los Angeles Metropolitan Dermatological Society University Meeting.
• Los Angeles, CA. February 2006.
• Primary Cicatricial Alopecias. UCLA Dermatology Grand Rounds. LA, CA. September 2005.
• Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Infancy. Pacific Dermatologic Association Annual Meeting.
• Vancouver, BC, Canada. August 2005.
• Parasitic Infections in Dermatology. UCLA Dermatology Grand Rounds. LA, CA. May 2005.
• Diffuse Epidermolytic Palmoplantar Keratoderma. The Los Angeles Metropolitan
• Dermatological Society University Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. November 2004.
• Signaling Through Rho GTPases Mediates Spongiotic Change. The Society for Investigative
• Dermatology. Los Angeles, CA. May 2002.
• A Comparison of RhoA and RhoC on the Melanoma Cell Cytoskeleton. The Minority Trainee
• Research Forum. San Diego, CA. March 2002.
• The Effect of RhoA on the Melanoma Cell Cytoskeleton. Mt. Sinai School of Medicine Advances
• in Medical and Surgical Dermatology Symposium. New York, NY. December 2001.
• Treatment of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome with IV IgG. The Los Angeles Metropolitan
• Dermatological Society University Meeting. Los Angeles, CA. October 2001.

Teaching Experiences

• The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Family Medicine Clinical Assistant Professor, 7/2016 – 12/2022
• University of California, Los Angeles Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology Clinical Instructor, 2007 – 2008
• UCSD SOM Hugh Greenway’s 24th Annual Superficial Anatomy & Cutaneous Surgery Course Anatomy Lab Instructor, 2007
• UCLA SOM Problem Based Learning Dermatology Module Instructor, 2005 & 2006
• UCLA SOM Primary Care College Foundations Week Instructor, 2006
• UCLA SOM Reapplicant Program. Teaching Assistant, 2002 – 2003
• California State University, Los Angeles Health Careers Opportunity Program Instructor, 1999
• National Hispanic Youth Initiative in Health, Biochemical Research and Policy Development Student Advisor, 1999
• UCLA SOM Prime/Prologue to Medical School Program Teaching Assistant, 1999
• UCLA SOM Partnership for Progress, Mentor, 1998 – 2000
• UCLA Student Health Advocates Educator, 1993 – 1994