Dr. Holly Kanavy completed a B.S. in Biochemistry with Departmental Honors in Neuroscience at Stony Brook University and a medical degree at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she received the A.T. Still Memorial Scholarship Award and was a member of the Psi Sigma Alpha National Osteopathic Scholastic Honor Society. Following an internship at North Shore/LIJ Plainview Hospital, Dr. Kanavy completed two fellowships, one in Melanoma Translational Research at NYU Langone Medical Center, and another in Dermatopharmacology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. She then completed a dermatology residency at Saint Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, serving as chief resident.

Dr. Kanavy is currently active in the study of dermoscopic patterns of acral nevi. She has received several awards and grants, including the A.P. Ublrich Research Award for her work in the study of acral nevi and the Bayer Healthcare Writing Grant Competition for her study of skin cancer chemoprevention.  She has contributed to numerous dermatology journals and textbooks, including Archives in Dermatology, Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, Journal of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, and Cancer of the Skin.