About the Author

How BorelliScopie started

I will be honest: I always found dermatology difficult. Most GPs do. The sheer volume of possible diagnoses, the subtlety of the visual differences, the nagging worry that you might be missing something serious — it is one of the areas of medicine where primary care clinicians feel least confident, and I was no exception.

That discomfort is what led me to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology. I wanted to confront the gap in my knowledge rather than work around it. During that training, I was introduced to structured dermoscopic methods — systematic ways of looking at skin lesions that turned a vague sense of unease into a clear, reasoned assessment. It was a revelation. But I did not own a dermatoscope, and I had no idea where to start.

So I contacted a dermatologist in the United States and asked a simple question: which dermatoscope should I buy?

I bought one, and I started looking.

That single decision changed the shape of my career. Having the instrument in my hand opened doors I had not expected. I was invited to sit in on outpatient dermatology clinics at Barts Health NHS Trust, where I learned from consultant dermatologists in both general dermatology and two-week-wait suspected skin cancer clinics. I saw first-hand how structured dermoscopic methods worked in practice — how the screening question does this lesion need further evaluation? could move from an anxious guess to a confident, reasoned answer.

Back in general practice, the impact was immediate. I could reassure patients more confidently. I could identify concerning features earlier. I could reduce unnecessary referrals while catching the ones that mattered. And I had learned enough to do this with a relatively modest amount of structured training — not years of subspecialisation, just a systematic approach and deliberate practice.

That was the moment BorelliScopie began to take shape. If I could learn this as a jobbing GP — fitting study around a busy partnership, urgent care shifts, and teaching commitments — then other primary care clinicians could too. The skill was not as inaccessible as it appeared. What was missing was not talent or aptitude in the workforce. What was missing was the education.

I initially set out to build something small for GP trainees in the UK. But as the project developed — and as I combined my clinical background with a growing interest in technology, design, and how people learn online — the ambition grew. The need for accessible dermoscopy education is not a British problem. It is a global one. Primary care clinicians everywhere are being encouraged to use dermoscopy with limited access to structured training at an appropriate level.

BorelliScopie is my attempt to close that gap.

---

About me

Dr Talat Ahmed MBBS, MRCGP, PGDip Clinical Dermatology (Distinction)

I am a GP Partner in Tower Hamlets, East London, where I work with a diverse and underserved community. I qualified from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed my GP training through the Wales Deanery and the East of England programme. I hold membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners and completed my Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology with Distinction at Queen Mary University of London.

My dermatology experience includes time spent in secondary care at the Royal London Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital, where I worked alongside consultant dermatologists in general dermatology clinics and two-week-wait suspected skin cancer clinics. I have performed dermatological procedures, assisted with biologic prescribing and monitoring, and managed suspected malignancy lists.

In my day-to-day work as a GP, I use dermoscopy routinely. I am not a dermatologist. I am not a subspecialist. I am a general practitioner who found dermatology genuinely hard, pursued structured training to address that, and discovered that a small, affordable instrument and a systematic way of looking at skin made a meaningful difference to the care I could offer my patients. That perspective — a GP who struggled with the same uncertainty you might be feeling, speaking honestly about what helped — is the foundation of everything on this platform.

I have led teaching in my practice for allied healthcare professionals — advanced nurse practitioners, independent prescribers, practice pharmacists, and physician associates — and previously supervised first-year medical students. Building BorelliScopie brings together the things I care about most: clinical education, thoughtful design, and the belief that practical skills should not be hoarded by the few.

Conflicts of interest: None declared.

---

How content is developed

All clinical content on BorelliScopie is:

• Evidence-informed — developed with reference to peer-reviewed literature and established dermoscopy education standards
• Scope-appropriate — written for primary care screening, not specialist diagnosis
• Progressively structured — following the ORAR framework (Observe, Recognise, Apply, Reflect) to build competence in a logical sequence
• Regularly reviewed — content is version-controlled and subject to ongoing review as evidence evolves

The TADA algorithm, which forms the core methodology, was selected for its demonstrated teachability to non-expert clinicians and its suitability for the screening question central to primary care: does this lesion need further evaluation?

---

What one person can and cannot do

BorelliScopie is currently a solo project. I think that is worth saying plainly rather than dressing it up.

A solo author can ensure consistency of voice, clarity of structure, and a coherent educational vision built from direct experience at the intersection of primary care and dermatology. Every module, every quiz question, and every piece of feedback reflects a single clinical perspective — and that perspective is grounded in the realities of general practice, not the abstractions of a committee.

A solo author cannot replicate the breadth of peer review that a multi-editor team provides. This is a known limitation, and it is managed through transparency about the editorial process, clear educational-only positioning throughout the platform, explicit encouragement for learners to follow their local clinical guidelines, and a commitment to expanding the editorial team as the project grows.

BorelliScopie does not claim to replace specialist training. It teaches fundamentals — and it is honest about its scope.

---

Clinical images

All dermoscopic images used in BorelliScopie are:

• Appropriately sourced — from educational collections with documented consent for public educational use
• Fully anonymised — no patient-identifiable information, metadata stripped, distinguishing features excluded
• Educationally selected — chosen to illustrate specific learning points, not to represent epidemiological frequency

BorelliScopie does not collect, store, or process patient images or data of any kind.

---

Future editorial team

As BorelliScopie grows, the intention is to build a small editorial team with expertise across dermoscopy, primary care education, and medical curriculum design. Contributors will be named on this page with their roles, qualifications, and declared conflicts of interest.

If you are a clinician or educator who shares this mission, expressions of interest are welcome. Contact details will be published here when available.

---

Standards and approach

BorelliScopie's content development is informed by:

• Evidence-based medicine principles — clinical claims are traceable to peer-reviewed sources
• Adult learning theory — curriculum design follows established principles of skill acquisition and progressive complexity
• Accessibility standards — content is designed to be usable by learners with diverse needs
• Plain language principles — medical terminology is introduced progressively, with clear explanations at every stage

The platform aligns with internationally recognised dermoscopy education standards while acknowledging that specific referral pathways and clinical guidelines vary by jurisdiction. Where guidelines differ, BorelliScopie teaches underlying principles and encourages learners to follow their local protocols.