About James T. Highsmith, MD

James Highsmith, MD, MS is a true Floridian born right here in Tampa! He wrestled for Brandon High School and later graduated from the University of South Florida. At USF he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and became a certified Hillsborough County school teacher in 1998. He moved to Gainesville in 1999 and graduated from the Physician Assistant program in 2002 where he served as Vice President. After earning a Master’s Degree from the University of Florida, he returned back to Tampa to practice internal medicine as a Physician Assistant. However, he found his true calling in 2003 at the dermatology section of the James Haley VA hospital. He has been pursuing, learning, teaching and involved with dermatology ever since. Doctor Highsmith loves to learn and was infatuated with dermatology and caring for our nation’s heroes. Working at the VA allowed him the opportunity to publish medical articles as well as teach medical students, PA students, and ultimately inspired him to become a physician. Doctor Highsmith remained at USF for medical school and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society graduating near the top of his class. He moved his family to the big apple for his dermatology residency. There he lived on Roosevelt Island in New York City which was an amazing experience. After residency, he began moving south but first settled in Birmingham, Alabama where he completed a coveted fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Procedural Dermatology with one of the most renowned Mohs surgeons and respected dermatologists in the world, Doctor Gary Monheit. During fellowship, Dr Highsmith was able to assist in clinical trials for new neurotoxins, fillers, and even ATX-101. ATX-101 was eventually re-named to Kybella and received FDA approval in May of 2015 for double chin neck fat. Apart from the initial investigators, Doctor Highsmith was among the very first physicians trained to use and administer Kybella in the United States. As a subinvestigator for Allergan and Evolus, he was also fortunate to work in clinical trials and extensively use as well as study neurotoxins. Additionally, he is considered an expert in the field as he has published in peer reviewed journals, wrote book chapters and lectured at national meetings. Medical dermatology, Mohs micrographic surgery, surgical reconstruction, volume fillers, neurotoxins, neck contouring, and skin resurfacing are his areas of specialization. He is board certified in dermatology and fellowship trained in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Procedural Dermatology.