Dr Bower graduated from Edinburgh University. He spent time training in both medicine and surgery at Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, and the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane. He completed dermatology training at the Bristol Dermatology Centre before taking up the post of Consultant Dermatologist in Exeter in 2001.
His key clinical interests lie in the prevention, and surgical and non-surgical treatment of skin cancer. He performs over 1000 skin surgery procedures per year, including Mohs micrographic surgery. He has been clinical lead for the dermatology unit in Exeter on 2 separate occasions. National roles include membership of the Dermatology Specialist Advisory Committee, UK lead for Dermatology specialty trainee recruitment and co-opted member of the British Society of Dermatological Surgery executive committee.
He has recently been in the 2-year role of Clinical Vice-President of the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), where he chaired numerous groups, including the MHRA Isotretinoin Impact Working Party Group, NICE Skin Cancer Service Standards Working Party Group, BAD Referral Management Guidelines Working Party Group, BAD Service Improvement Committee, BAD phototherapy Working Party Group.
He has also been involved in the following BAD working party groups (WPG) and committees - RCP Expert Advisory Group Commissioning, BAD National Audit Sub-committee, NHS Skin Cancer Clinical Reference Group, BAD Teledermatology WPG, BAD Artificial Intelligence WPG, NHSE/BAD Joint WPG, GIRFT Dermatology Further Faster Specialty Group, NHSE Personal Stratified Follow-up Guidance WPG.
Medical education is a key interest, and Dr Bower is co-organiser of the annual Dermatology Specialty Certificate Examination revision course, having previously co-organised the annual UK Dermatology Clinical Assistants Meeting for 8 years. He has given over 200 regional, national and international lectures, and has been made an honorary lifetime member of the Primary Care Dermatology Society. He regularly teaches on skin surgery courses in UK and Europe (EADV).
He is a lecturer at University of Exeter Medical School where his roles include lead for undergraduate teaching in Dermatology and tutor for Medical Licensing Assessment. His previous roles included facilitator for training in advanced communication for medical practitioners, and small group facilitator for student reflection. He was awarded the ‘Excellence and Innovation in Clinical Teaching Team Award for Hospital Teams’ in 2020 for work setting up remote teaching during the Covid pandemic.
Dr Bower has recently completed a Leadership Development Initiative through the European Association of Dermatovenereology (EADV) based around training in emotional intelligence.