Dr. Mona Mofid, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in melanoma, skin cancer, and medical dermatology, was named one of San Diego's Top Doctors for 2026, marking her ninth recognition by the San Diego County Medical Society and San Diego Magazine. The distinction, known as Physicians of Exceptional Excellence, recognizes approximately the top 5% of San Diego physicians and is determined by fellow doctors based on whom they would trust to care for their own family and friends.
The peer recognition matters because it reflects professional confidence in a physician's clinical judgment, not popularity or marketing. For patients, such validation can inform decisions about specialized care, particularly in a field like dermatology where early detection of melanoma and skin cancer is critical. Dr. Mofid's practice focuses exclusively on medical dermatology, including melanoma, skin cancer screening, prevention and treatment, and managing complex dermatologic conditions.
In addition to the Top Doctor honor, Dr. Mofid received the 2026 Top Specialist Award from Sharp Community Medical Group (SCMG) for outstanding patient satisfaction, while maintaining a perfect 5.0-star patient rating on Sharp HealthCare's official physician website. She was also recognized among the Three Best Rated Dermatologists in San Diego for 2026 by ThreeBestRated, which evaluates physicians based on reputation, patient reviews, experience, and other quality measures. These awards indicate that her recognition extends beyond peers to patients and independent rating organizations.
The patient perspective illustrates why such honors can matter. One patient, who endured more than 15 years of complications following cancer treatment despite consulting numerous physicians, described Dr. Mofid on Healthgrades as "The embodiment of the medical trifecta: heart, soul and smarts." The patient credited Dr. Mofid's compassion and creative treatment approach with dramatically improving their quality of life. That account highlights the impact of personalized care for complex cases, where standard approaches may have fallen short.
The honors also extend to Dr. Mofid's physician assistants, Juan Kojima, PA-C, and Natalie Lennon, PA-C, both of whom received Sharp Community Medical Group's 2026 Top Advanced Care Practitioner Awards for outstanding patient care. The team recognition suggests that clinical excellence and compassion are distributed across the practice, which can be important for patients who may interact with multiple providers during screening, treatment, and follow-up.
Dr. Mofid is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed her medical training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she subsequently served as Clinic Director of Dermatology and Co-Director of the Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Clinic. For more than 20 years, she has served as Medical Director of the American Melanoma Foundation, promoting melanoma prevention, early detection, and public education. Her sustained leadership in melanoma prevention and education is significant given the importance of early detection in skin cancer outcomes.
For readers in San Diego and beyond, the announcement signals a continued emphasis on peer-reviewed excellence and patient satisfaction in dermatologic care. It also underscores the role of independent recognition in helping patients identify specialists with demonstrated experience in melanoma and complex skin conditions. More information is available at www.drmonamofid.com.
