Fernando R. Puente, M.D
Dr. Fernando R. Puente, M.D., a native of Central America, moved to Raleigh from New York City at the age of 17 and graduated from Broughton High School in 1971. He is board-certified in dermatology and family practice.
Dr. Puente established Raleigh Dermatology Associates, P.A., in 1990 and began practicing general and cosmetic dermatology at that time. He received his B.A., Master of Science and M.D. from East Carolina University, then completed a family practice residency at the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine and a dermatology residency at King-Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he served as chief resident.
Dr. Puente’s expanding and diversified practice afforded him the opportunity to research and design a skin rejuvenation center during the 1990s. He opened Skin Solutions in the spring of 1995, and later renamed it Skin & Cosmetic Solutions. Dr. Puente continues to enrich his medical education by attending American Academy of Dermatology conferences and meetings, and training other physicians in the Tumescent Liposuction technique.
Dr. Puente enjoys photography, hiking, cycling, swimming, distance running and triathlons. Since September 1994, he and his wife, Carol, Associate Director of Skin & Cosmetic Solutions, cycle 150 to 200 miles in the MS 150 Bike Tour, a two-day cycling event in New Bern that raises money for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.
Dr. Puente has been running in marathons since 1976. In 1979 he began competing in the New York City, Los Angeles and Boston Marathons, which he competed in almost every year since then. He has completed over 59 marathons. Carol completed her first marathon in 2004. She has completed 15 marathons and is trying to catch him. In November 2005, the Puentes finished the New York City Marathon together. Dr. Puente recently added another hobby to his list of interests: triathlons. He has completed 10 full Ironman events, finishing his first full Iron Man Triathlon in July 2005 in Lake Placid, New York.
Dr. Puente recently added another hobby to his list of interests: ultramarathoning. He and his wife, Carol completed a 56 mile race, Comrades, in South Africa last June, where Carol did indeed, catch him.
The Puentes have been married since 1977 and have three children: Lauren, 30, Eric, 26 and Alex, 20.
