Dr. McGovern grew up in Escanaba in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and obtained a degree in biology from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. He proceeded to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where he completed medical school on a US Army scholarship. His transitional internship was performed at Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, GA. He next served two years doing defensive biological warfare research (vaccine development) at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, MD. His training resumed with a three-year dermatology residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, CO, and he finished his US Army obligation by running the dermatology clinic at Fort Riley, KS for two years. Following an Honorable Discharge from the US Army, he moved to Connecticut where he completed a one year fellowship in Mohs and Advanced Dermatologic Surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven. He has performed Mohs Surgery at Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants since January 2000.

Mohs surgeons act as surgeons who both cuts out cancer and repairs defects – and as pathologists who examines microscope slides of the skin to see if the cancer is removed or not. Because of its tissue-sparing nature and its unparalleled cure rates, Mohs surgery is the preferred treatment for skin cancer on cosmetically sensitive areas, large or recurrent cancers, or cancers that demonstrate an aggressive pattern under the microscope. In August 2021, he added the treatment of shallow melanomas with the Mohs procedure which has helped to save a great deal of normal facial skin that would normally have been sacrificed in the name of ’standard margins’.

With the assistance of his reliable team of compassionate, experienced, and talented surgical assistants and histotechnologists, he has removed over 42,000 skin cancers (as of January 2026) – the vast majority on the face – with the Mohs technique. Of those defects, 55% were sutured side-to-side, 25% healed on their own, 15% were reconstructed with local flaps or grafts, and 5% were referred to local plastic surgeons for repair. In October 2025, Ascension-Saint Vincent Hospital of Indianapolis appointed him the assistant director of the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatology Oncology fellowship, which means he gets to have fun helping to train new Mohs surgeons.

Dr. McGovern has published numerous book chapters, articles, and editorials, given over 100 oral presentations at international, national, regional, and local meetings on various aspects of skin disease and medicine, and has done many interviews for television, radio, podcasts, print, and online media. He received the Gold Triangle Award from the American Academy of Dermatology for excellence in public education for skin disease. He previously served on the Catholic Medical Association national board, chaired their leadership training meeting for four years, and was the founding chair of the Novus Medicus CMA community of pre-medical and medical students and physicians-in-training. In 2022 at an international conference in Rome, he received the Gold Medal of FIAMC (the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations) for excellence and creativity in effectively serving the needs of Catholic medical students and young physicians.

He co-hosted the multiple award-winning weekly radio show and podcast Doctor, Doctor from January 2018 through December 2023. In 2023, it received the award for Best Overall Podcast (English) from the Catholic MEDIA Association. His first book What Christ Suffered: A Doctor’s Journey Through the Passion received a 2022 award from the Catholic MEDIA Association as the Best Book written about Jesus and has been an Amazon #1 Best Seller in its category of Christian Historical Theology just before Easter in 2021 and 2022. The revised and expanded second edition of What Christ Suffered was released in January 2026. He is a Grand Knight (KC*HS) of the over 900-year-old Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Dr. McGovern and his wife Sally live in Fort Wayne and have raised seven home-schooled children to adulthood.

Dr. Veerkamp is a board certified cosmetic & medical dermatologist at Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants. After graduating from the Indiana University School of Medicine, completing residency at Wright State University & gaining experience from clinical trials, the Fort Wayne native moved back & started practicing at Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants in 2021. Dr. Veerkamp’s areas of interest include medical, surgical & cosmetic dermatology, and neurotoxin injections.

Pamela Shoda is a Nurse Practitioner at Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants. She accredited her nursing degree from Purdue University, has provided nursing care in various health care settings & has been with Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants since 2004. Pamela Shoda is certified in Family Practice through the American Nurses Credentialing Center with additional training in dermatology & specializes in general medical dermatology for all ages.

Laura Baker is a Nurse Practitioner at Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants. She graduated with her Master of Science degree in the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program from Purdue University & went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in nursing from IPFW. With certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner, additional training in dermatology, & being a member of the National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners, Laura is more than equipped to help with all your skin care needs.

Duane Wampler is a Physician Assistant at Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants. Duane has a long history as a PA providing patients with general health & dermatology practices. With over 26 years as a Physician’s Assistant, Duane became the head of our Warsaw location in 2021. He looks forward to treating his patients for all their future skin care needs.