David Elliot Kent, a native Georgian, received his M.D. degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1982. After completing his internship at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital, he completed a dermatology residency at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in 1986 where he served as chief resident during his final year. Following his dermatology residency, he completed a fellowship in Mohs Micrographic Surgery, lasers, and dermatologic surgery under the tutelage of Dr. Hugh Greenway at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla California in 1987.