Dr. Harold F. Farber, MD

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Get to know Dermatologist Dr. Harold Farber, who serves patients in Philadelphia and Narberth, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Farber is a compassionate and highly skilled dermatologist, renowned in his profession and often sought out for his expertise in the treatment of the most difficult cases. Medically challenging cases are continuously referred to him by primary care physicians and other dermatologists alike. 

The Founder of The Center for Dermatology, Laser and Cosmetic Surgery, he has offices in both the Main Line and Northeast Philadelphia areas. There, he serves a broad-based population and offers services to the most diverse patient demographic that he can possibly reach. 

He is often described by his patients as having a soft, sure, and relaxed bed-side manner. He carefully selects only the safest, most comfortable, and effective cosmetic, medical and laser procedures for his patients. Relying on his extensive career, knowledge, and years of unbeatable experience, he helps every patient understand what will be happening during and after their visit to the office.

Serving parallel functionalities as a renowned practitioner treating various dermatologic conditions such as skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, acne, warts, etc..and as a skilled cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Farber is able to ensure optimum health and enhance the beauty of women and men while slowing the signs of the aging process and maintaining healthy skin. Patients have described his technique as “artful poetry in motion with a pair of golden hands.” 

Using state-of-the-art equipment, he is able to speedily assess and deftly correct numerous effects of skin that have been flawed in manner, thereby restoring health, beauty, and confidence while making the patient totally comfortable, with the sense of well-being in a caring and relaxing atmosphere. Teenagers are another demographic who are particularly pleased with his ability to treat acne and restore clean and clear skin. His practice is open to any age from children to geriatrics. 

In addition to his busy private practice, Dr. Farber treats many patients who are unable to afford care, and volunteers for numerous clinics and skin-cancer screening events. He is also on staff at both Lankenau and Hahnemann hospitals.

Prestigious professional organizations of which he is a member of include the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Philadelphia County Medical Society, the American Academy of Dermatology (Fellow), the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the Council for Nail Disorders, the Medical Mycological Society of the Americas, the Photo Medicine Society, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons, the Golden Slipper Club, and the Phi Beta Kappa Association.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Dr. Farber graduated in the top 5% of his class from George Washington High School. He then went on to receive his bachelor’s degree  in General Arts and Sciences from Penn State University. His goal was to obtain a well-rounded education that was centered around both the art and science of medicine and treating patients. He was active in many extracurricular activities and was part of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He remains an active student mentor for college students seeking a career in medicine.

On his journey into medicine, Dr. Farber attended medical school at Albany Medical College where he was involved in multiple special activities such as patient advocate, clinical correlations instructor, as well as a freshman advisor. He excelled in multiple areas, receiving grades of academic excellence particularly in dermatology, plastic surgery, internal medicine, infectious disease, and obstetrics and gynecology. 

Upon graduating with his medical degree in 1983, he remained in New York, completing an internship in internal medicine prior to returning to Philadelphia at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. At Jefferson University, he returned to his hometown roots and began his residency training at the nationally acclaimed Jefferson Hospital where he ultimately decided to practice medicine in the specialty of dermatology. He excelled in his residency and was promoted to the chief resident in the discipline of dermatology.

Helping his patients achieve maximum skin health, the doctor is board-certified in dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology (ABD). The ABD is a voluntary, non-profit, private, autonomous organization formed for the primary purpose of protecting the public interest by establishing and maintaining high standards of training, education, and qualifications of physicians rendering care in dermatology.

A highly sought after speaker who is the ultimate authority on an array of topics, Dr. Farber has been invited as a guest lecturer for various dermatological organizations, including the Philadelphia Dermatological Society and the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology, as well as various other state and local medical societies. He is on several advisory boards and has, in the past, participated in clinical research to advance the science and study of dermatology. He has participated in multiple physician educational events and has received numerous nominations for “Best Physician” from local as well as national sources. 

Awarded numerous distinctive honors and recognized as a leader among his peers, Dr. Farber has been named Main Line Top Doc and Top Doc American Council four years in a row. He has also been named one of Philly’s fittest physicians, one of Philly’s Top Docs by Philadelphia Magazine, and one of the country’s Top Doctors by US News and World Report, an honor bestowed upon him by his peers. 

To this day, he continues to serve as a mentor and physician resource for medical students. He is considered a key opinion leader and regarded as one of the foremost dermatologic authorities, nationally and internationally. Beyond this, he is a doctor’s doctor devoted to patient care, enhancing the quality and quantity of the lives he touches.

Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin, the largest organ of the body; a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist doctor who manages skin diseases and deals with both internal and external causes and some cosmetic concerns involving the skin. Dermatological duties include taking consultations, providing screening tests, and undertaking non-invasive surgical procedures.

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