Catherine Harrison Balestra, MD is a Miami native who earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton University. She completed medical school at the University of Miami and received multiple accolades including the Alpha Omega Alpha (medical honor society) honors and the “Best Student in Dermatology” award.
Dr. Balestra received her Dermatology residency training also at the University of Miami and completed her specialization in Mohs surgery in 2008. Dr. Balestra is a board-certified Dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Society for Mohs Surgery. She is voluntary faculty of the University of Miami Department of Dermatology where she teaches and lectures to residents.
EDUCATION:
- PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, B.A. in Molecular Biology, GPA 3.5 Princeton, NJ Varsity Volleyball 1990-1994. Academic All-Ivy Honoree 1990. 9/1990 – 6/1994
- UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Miami, FL Doctor of Medicine
- UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI/JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Miami, FL Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Residency
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS:
- AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY (since 2007) and MICROGRAPHIC DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY SUBSPECIALTY (since 2021)
SERVICE:
- Volunteer Attending, Jackson Memorial Hospital Resident Surgery Clinic, University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. Supervising and teaching surgical skills to dermatology residents. Miami, FL 8/2007-present
- International Esperanza Project. Provided dermatologic care to underserved patients as well as stove/water purification infrastructure projects in rural Guatemala for an entire week. Tecpan, Guatemala 6/2025 & 6/2024
- Volunteer Attending, East African Training Center, Moshi, Tanzania. Performed the first Mohs surgery in Tanzania. Trained 18 residents in general and surgical dermatology. Created and supervised Mohs and Pathology lab. Moshi, Tanzania 1/2014 – 6/2014
- Camillus Health Concern, Dermatology Clinic. Delivered dermatologic care to indigent patients as a voluntary student and resident. Miami, FL(10/1999 – 5/2005)
AWARDS / HONORS:
- Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical Honor Society (selected junior year). Secretary, 7/2001 – 6/2002.
- Best Student in Dermatology Award, 5/2003.
- 1st Place Winner (as co-investigator). South Florida Dermatology Society Residents and Fellows Research Day, Miami, FL, May 2002 for Oral Presentation: 585 nm Pulsed Dye Laser in the Treatment of Surgical Scars Starting on the Suture Removal Day.
- 2nd Place Winner (presenter and co-investigator). South Florida Dermatology Society Residents and Fellows Research Day, Miami, FL May 2007 for Oral Presentation. Tolerability and efficacy in the treatment of keloid scars post-shave excision with imiquimod 5% cream.
- 2nd Place Winner (as co-investigator). Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, Las Vegas, NV May 2001 for Oral Presentation in Laboratory Research: Lifestyles of Bacteria in Wounds: Presence of Biofilms? 4
SCHOLARSHIP
Lectures:
- Review of skin conditions seen in gynecology: Diagnosis and management. Given to faculty and residents at the University of Miami Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2008 and 2009, Miami FL.
- The Sun and your skin: 10 common questions answered. Given to parents and faculty at St. Christophers-by-the-Sea Montessori School on January 24, 2008, Key Biscayne, FL.
- Dermatology Boards Review. Given to residents at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery on August 17, 2007 Miami, FL.
Publications:
- C Harrison-Balestra, WH Eaglstein, AF Falabella, RS Kirsner. Recombinant Human Platelet-Derived Growth Factor for Refractory Non-Diabetic Ulcers: a Retrospective Series. Dermatologic Surgery. Vol. 28, No. 8: 755-60. Aug 2002
- VW Serralta, C Harrison-Balestra, AL Cazzaniga, SC Davis, PM Mertz. Lifestyles of Bacteria in Wounds: Presence of Biofilms? Wounds. Vol 13, No. 1: 29-34. Jan/Feb 2001.
- K Nouri, GP Jimenez, C Harrison-Balestra, GW Elgart. 585 nm Pulsed Dye Laser in the Treatment of Surgical Scars Starting on the Suture Removal Day. Dermatologic Surgery, 2003 Jan;29(1):65-73; discussion 73.
- C Harrison-Balestra, AL Cazzaniga, SC Davis, PM Mertz. A Wound-isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa Grows a Biofilm In-Vitro Within 10 Hours and is Visualized by Light Microscopy. Dermatologic Surgery. Vol 29 (6):631-5. Jun 2003.
- Harrison-Balestra C, Gugic D, Vincek V. Clinically distinct form of acquired dermal melanocytosis with review of published work. J Dermatol. 34(3):178-82. Mar 2007.
- L Martinez, C Harrison-Balestra, JP Caeiro and CH Nousari. The role of QuantiFERON TB-Gold Test as screening prior to administration of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors. Archives of Dermatology. 2007 Jun;143(6):809-10.
- B Berman, C Harrison-Balestra, O Perez, M Viera, A Villa, D Zell, C Ramirez. Treatment of keloid scars post-shave excision with imiquimod 5% cream: a prospective, double-blinded placebo-controlled study. J Drugs Dermatol, Vol 8(5):455-8. May 2009.
