2007 Annual UTMB Dermatopathology Review Course

This year the review will be held on the weekend of May 19 and 20. Currently enrolled UTMB medical students may register at no charge with Kimberly Cooper (772-1911). This course has received excellent reviews in the past, and is geared toward dermatopathology differential diagnosis and recognizing diagnostic criteria (correct diagnosis of unknown dermatopathology cases based on histopathologic features). The course offers an excellent cd of dermatopathology images to study.

Students who are available on Friday afternoon, May 18th and want to help set up microscopes for the conference in the School of Allied Health Sciences Building, please contact the Dermatology Chief Residents, Drs. Becky Kelso and Jason Weaver.

Miles for Melanoma Walk

Hi everyone. Courtney Freasier, our DIG volunteer/fundraiser chair, is organizing a Miles for Melanoma walk planned for SaturdayMay 5th. Please email Ashley Group, Courtney Freasier, or myself for information regarding advertising and registration for the walk. We had a good turnout last year and raised a significant amount of money for the fight against melanoma. We are all hoping to have an even better turnout this year. More information will be passed out in subsequent DIG meetings as we approach the date. I would GREATLY appreciate help with getting the word out about the walk. Also, if anyone knows of someone who has a tent/canopy that could be used for the walk please let me know. The DJ needs a small shaded area to cover his computer.

Thanks,
Fadi Constantine

Congratulations to Julie Cummings!

Congratulations to Julie Cummings, a current 3rd year medical student at UTMB, for having a case report published in this month's edition of Cutis. Julie's article was entitled "Drug-Induced Linear Immunoglobulin A Bullous Dermatosis Mimicking Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: A Case Report." Her co-authors were Dr. Renee Snyder (UTMB Department of Dermatology), Dr. Erica Kelly (UTMB Department of Dermatology), and Dr. Sharon Raimer (UTMB Department of Dermatology).

UTMB Dermatology Department Honors Research Project Approved

Julie Cummings, a current third year UTMB medical student, has received approval from the UTMB Honors Committee to conduct her original Honors Research Project, "The Correlation of Biopsy Margins in Non-melanoma Skin Cancers with Corresponding Excisions." Her UTMB faculty advisor on this research is Richard Wagner, MD.

There are currently junior 4 medical students conducting Honors Research Projects in Dermatology, a new record for the UTMB Dermatology Department. The other three medical students participating this year are:

Neil Amar: Measuring quality of life in psoriasis patients compared to their spouses using the SF-36: a comparative study(UTMB faculty advisor: Dayna Diven, MD)

Conner Chan: Positive margins in surgical excisions of nonmelanoma skin cancers (UTMB faculty advisor: Richard Wagner, MD)

Christine Kwan: Relationship between depressive symptoms and patients using botulinum toxin type A to treat glabellar frown lines (UTMB faculty advisor: Dayna Diven, MD)

DIG Meeting Recap (3-21-07)

We had a great meeting last Wednesday! Dr. Wagner came to speak with our group and he gave us some statistics on the 18 non-UTMB Dermatology applicants that were interviewed here this interview season. The average Step 1 score was 244, the average Step 2 score was 246, and 15/18 were members of AOA. A number of the applicants also had publications. The UTMB applicants accepted interviews at a total of 7 different programs. A number of our questions regarding scheduling next year were also answered. As of now, there are 5 periods during which an AI in Dermatology is offered at UTMB. Currently, only 1 AI position is allowed per month. Dr. Wagner is going to speak with Dr. Raimer regarding the possibility of increasing this number to 2 positions per month, since there are so many students interested in this rotation for next year. An AI is also offered in Austin. For away rotations, it's recommened to pick programs that you are interested in going to or in which you would like to get a letter of recommendation from. Also, take off January for interviews next year! For our upcoming volunteer activities, we are still working on finalizing dates for the High School out reach program this spring. The Miles for Melanoma walk will be on Saturday, May 5. PLEASE print off flyers and post them around town and campus. We want to have a great turnout and raise as much money as possible!!

Austin Dermatology Electives

For the upcoming 2007-2008 academic year, UTMB is offering a 4 week Clinical Dermatology (DERO-4014 ) elective in Austin for all 13 periods, as well as a Dermatology Acting Internship (AI), DERO-4013. UTMB dermatology faculty, Dr. Jason Reichenberg is the director of both courses. To register for these courses, contact Adriane Thompson, telephone 512-324-7860. Application forms for Austin rotations are available at http://meded.utmb.edu/orme/Austininformation.htm

2008-2009 UTMB Dermatopathology Fellows Announced

Alma C. Berlingeri-Ramos, MD
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
San Juan, PR

Cecilia M. Rosales, MD
University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dr. Berlingeri-Ramos is currently completing Dermatology Residency at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, while Dr. Rosales finished training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2002 and subsequently completed fellowships in Forensic Pathology at the University of South Florida, Tampa and Pediatric Pathology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Please join the UTMB DIG in congratulating our two newest fellows. We look forward to working with you next year!

2007 UTMB Dermatology National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Results

Congratulations to the to the following applicants for matching into the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program:

Mika Izutsu: University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine

Matthew Petitt, DO: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

David Raimer: The University of Texas Medical Branch

They will begin dermatology residency at UTMB in July 2008 following internship.

The combined 5-year dermatology and pediatric residency program matched with:

John Stephens: Indiana University School of Medicine

He will begin combined residency training at UTMB in July 2007.

DIG Meeting

Hi Everyone!
The next DIG meeting will be on Wednesday, March 21, at 5:00 pm in the Dermatology Conference Room. Dr. Wagner will be speaking with us about how to select an away rotation at the various Dermatology programs, electives UTMB has to offer, what to expect on your AI, etc. Since all of us are currently trying to create our schedules for next year, his advice will be very helpful! He is also planning on sharing with us some statistics about non-UTMB Dermatology applicants from this year. Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Thanks and see you next week!

Ashley Group