Community Highlights: Meet Clive Persaud of Cosmesis by Persaud

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Clive Persaud.

Hi Dr. Persaud, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
There is no doubt in my mind that I am lucky. I was born to loving parents who supported my aspirations which included becoming an astronaut, running for President of the United States, and striving for a professional basketball career at 5ft 6in tall. My older brother and I were as competitive as siblings could be which I resented for a long time, however as time progressed, I realized he was teaching me to never back down and to work tirelessly to achieve my goals. I am truly lucky for my family.

The etiology of my professional story began decades ago. My grandfather, who was my best friend growing up, did not have healthy kidneys and required hemodialysis to filter his blood multiple times per week. I would go to the dialysis sessions with him, lasting multiple hours; we would play card games, talk about school, and he always loved telling me stories of growing up in our family’s home country of Guyana. After spending so much time with him in dialysis, I saw how the many doctors and nurses cared for my grandfather and impacted our lives by keeping him as healthy as possible for a long time. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away in 2002. At that time, there were no medical doctors in my family and I knew I wanted to help others the way the incredible doctors and nurses helped my grandfather, thus generating my interest in medicine and my goal of becoming a physician.

I graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a B.S. degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. My journey continued to Kansas City University where I received an M.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences. In a full circle moment, paying homage to my grandfather, I became a physician by completing my D.O. degree, also at Kansas City University. During my time in medical school, I completed the highly sought-after Clinical Anatomy Fellowship where I taught both surgical and clinical anatomy in a professional setting. I quickly discovered my inclination for human anatomy and affinity for surgery. I completed my residency in General Surgery at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ. I furthered my surgical training and medical knowledge by completing a General Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship at Castellano Cosmetic Surgery Center in Tampa, FL accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Kansas City, Missouri will always have my heart. In addition to housing my professional education, my arteries will forever bleed Chiefs red and veins Royals blue. True to form, my barbecue grill is fired up every weekend as I attempt to recreate Arthur Bryant’s perfection. For all the friends, family, and mentors I have interacted with and learned from on this journey, I am truly lucky.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Simply put, no portion of my professional development thus far has been easy. I have never been able to read the textbook once and be competent. For years on end, I would read the book, then reread, then annotate, then recite, then read again, in order to have a chance against the litany of exams a professional education requires. Even after such an effort, there would still be many failures. I found ways to not allow each failure to bring me down, then adjusted my study strategy and kept pushing forward. The time such effort required came with sacrifices, however, I always made it a point to exercise every day and eat a balanced diet to maintain personal health. While enduring hardships, I kept my goals in mind which was the motivation that allowed me to persevere.

Residency training presented different challenges. For five years, I arrived at the hospital well before sunrise and would not leave until after sunset, or even after sunrise the next day, while also working most weekends. Rounding on patients, operating all day, then studying all night is the plight of every general surgery resident. Finding a work-life balance was difficult but essential to remaining healthy both physically and mentally. I am truly grateful to my mentors during residency for teaching me the surgical craft and the art of patient care.

We’ve been impressed with Cosmesis by Persaud, PLLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a double board-certified, fellowship-trained Cosmetic Surgeon performing cosmetic surgery and aesthetic injectable procedures in Tampa, FL. I specialize in surgical procedures of the breast, body, and face. I believe in an all-encompassing approach to patient care in which I personally see each patient for consultation, perform all operations, and evaluate every patient multiple times in the postoperative period.

Each patient is given 24-hour access to me for any questions or concerns during their recovery. If a patient is from outside of the Tampa area, I offer virtual consults to decrease their travel burden. My goal is to help each patient achieve the look they desire while providing optimal medical care.

How do you define success?
Trust from a patient allows me to perform an evaluation and any surgical or injectable procedure. I consider success the retention of that trust after each patient encounter. As I look back on my achievements, I do not consider them by an individual but rather by a collaborative effort made possible by family, mentors, and colleagues.

My education and training have prepared me to interact with patients and provide them with the best care possible.

Without each and every patient, I would not have the privilege of practicing medicine and surgery.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.castellanocosmeticsurgery.com/about-us/meet-dr-clive-persaud/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drclivepersaud/
• E-Mail: [email protected]

Image Credits
Jane Gustin, Ieshia Jones, Stephanie Ye,e Ahmad Hlayhel, and Wayne Peterson