Difficult Questions at Dermatology Residency Interviews

Although still the exception, some dermatology faculty ask applicants difficult questions at interviews for residency. How many of us are still able to do calculus? One interviewer on the trail is well known for asking this type of question. Others like to see how quickly applicants can reassemble a pen. Another program asks that applicants teach staff something new, and gets a performance report back that is part of the interview evaluation. One procedural fellowship director requested that applicants send him a video of themselves performing surgery during their dermatology residency. Don't worry, UTMB does not do any of this! We know of no studies that link dermatology residency or fellowship performance to these types of questions (not even getting the calculus question correct). An article by William Poundstone about hiring at Google in December 24-25, 2011 issue of The Wall Street Journal (pages C1 and C2) provides some insight into the motivation behind these out of the ordinary questions. However, what seems to be working for Google hiring ("How would you escape from a blender?") may not work for other companies (or dermatology residency programs). Poundstone is the author of a new book, Are you Smart Enough to Work at Google? Google reportedly only hires 1 person per 130 applicants.

UTMB Dermatology Residency Alum, Andy Perri MD, Featured in “Top Docs of Houston” Video

Click here to see the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Ff9HcIP5A&feature=youtu.be.

Elective Version of Novels/Film Class Now Available (DERU-4017)

Good news for students interested in dermatology and the impact of written and visual media on public perceptions of skin diseases. Dr. Richard Wagner’s newest course, Skin Diseases in Novels/Films, is available as an elective (DERU-4017) starting this Monday, December 12th (Period 13). There is currently a maximum enrollment of 3 elective students each Period. This class meets with the selective section of the course, DERU-4402. The course requirements are identical for elective and selective students, but only the selective will count toward UTMB’s BSHS MS4 writing requirement for graduation. The UTMB Electives Committee will not permit students enrolled in the elective to switch into the selective once the course starts, even if the class is required for graduation.

DIG Meeting Recap: 12/6/11

We had a great DIG meeting on Tuesday and were excited to welcome several new first and second year medical students to our group!

Thank you to the UTMB Dermatology residents for providing a very informative Q&A panel at the meeting. The residents covered many topics, including their reasons for going into Dermatology, a description of the field and what they do during a typical day, types of surgeries performed by Dermatologists, a description of Dermatopathology, research advice, and ways to get involved with the UTMB Dermatology department as a medical student. Remember, the UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty are available to help!

Dr. Raimer Receives "Texas Super Doctor" Distinction by Texas Monthly magazine

Dr. Sharon Raimer, the UTMB Department of Dermatology Chair, is one of 23 UTMB physicians recently named Texas Super Doctors® by Texas Monthly magazine. Congratulations, Dr. Raimer!

Click here to see the ad featured in the December 2011 issue of Texas Monthly magazine.

Reminder: DIG Meeting Tomorrow!

Our next Dermatology Interest Group meeting is tomorrow!

Tuesday, December 6th at 5PM
4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

We will be having a Q&A panel with some of the UTMB Dermatology residents.

See you then!

Zaemon Inducted into Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

Zaemon fans were thrilled to learn that Zaemon (UTMB's Dr. Brent Kelly, far left of the photo) was recently inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Zaemon released two cd's and was a key club band in the live music scene in Baton Rouge during the early 90's. Watch for upcoming concerts starring Zaemon and other Hall of Fame bands.

Next UTMB DIG Meeting on 12/6/11

Join us for the next UTMB Dermatology Interest Group meeting!

When: Tuesday, December 6th at 5PM
Where: 4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

We are excited to have a panel of UTMB Dermatology residents to answer questions about getting involved in Dermatology and what it's like being a Dermatology resident. We will also discuss upcoming DIG events.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Dr. Brandon Goodwin Accepts UTMB Dermatology Residency Position for July 2012

Congratulations to Dr. Brandon Goodwin, a 2011 medical graduate of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, and a current PGY1 (Preliminary Medicine) at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Goodwin will begin dermatology residency at UTMB in July 2012. UTMB Dermatology’s proposal for a permanent resident complement increase from 9 to 10 was approved by the Dermatology Residency Review Committee in September 2011. UTMB will still be offering three advanced dermatology residency positions for July 2013 in the upcoming NRMP.

Film Class Helps UTMB MS4 Diagnose Patient in the Emergency Room

Medical students who have taken Dr. Richard Wagner's film class (DERU-4051 or DERU-4007) gain exposure to a broad spectrum of common and uncommon skin diseases. Most students taking this course have not seen patients with many of the skin diseases studied in this class. A previous film class student recently wrote Dr. Wagner with the following comment:

"I just thought you would like to hear that I saw a case of delusional parasitosis yesterday during an ER shift. It was a textbook case and she even brought a "sample" in for us to look at. Thanks to your class I was able to recognize it!"

The film class currently studied the film Bug and its depiction of the skin disease, delusions of parasitosis.

UTMB MS4 Donnie Warren Presents Dermatology Poster

UTMB MS4 Donnie Warren presented his research about ultraviolet radiation hand injury prevention at UTMB's 15th Forum on Aging Poster Session. His UTMB coauthors were MS4 Ryan Riahi, MS3 Jason Hobbs, Dr. Daniel Freedman (Office of Biostatistics), and Dr. Richard Wagner (UTMB Department of Dermatology). Their poster was titled, “Preventing ultraviolet radiation hand injury: hand cancer awareness and protective behaviors.” The research presented is part of Donnie Warren’s UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Program. This meeting, sponsored by The Sealy Center on Aging and Research Services each fall, is a major research event on the UTMB campus. Through 2010, there have been 915 poster presentations given at this conference (249 by students).

Two Former UTMB Dermatology Medical Students and Residents Publish Case Report

Drs. Julie Fridlington and Dayna Diven, two former UTMB medical students and dermatology residents (Dr. Diven was also UTMB Dermatology Faculty before becoming the UT Southwestern (Austin) Dermatology Program Director), have published a case report in the November 2011 issue of Dermatology Online Journal (Fridlington JL, Tripple JW, Reichenberg JS, Hall CS, Diven DG. Acute methotrexate toxicity seen as plaque psoriasis ulceration and necrosis: A diagnostic clue. Dermatology Online Journal 2011; 17(11):2 http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1711/2_csr/2_11-00218/article.html. Dr. Fridlington is in private dermatology practice (Austin).

Dr. Julie Jackson Publishes UTMB Dermatology Honors Research in JAAD

The UTMB DIG has learned that Dr. Julie Jackson, a current Chief Dermatology Resident at UCLA (and Dermatopathology Fellow there during the next academic year), has published the results of her UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Thesis. Her research was published in the November 15, 2011 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (“JAAD”) online. The print version will be published at a later date. The citation is: Jackson JE, Kelly B, Petitt M, Uchida T, Wagner RF Jr. Predictive value of margins in diagnostic biopsies of nonmelanoma skin cancers. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2011.09.027. Dr. Petitt completed dermatology residency at UTMB in June 2011 and had previously completed pathology residency (New Mexico) and dermatopathology fellowship (UTMB). Mr. Uchida is with the UTMB Office of Biostatistics, and Drs. B. Kelly and Richard Wagner are UTMB Dermatology Department faculty.

DIG Members Present Dermatology Research at Annual UTMB Geriatrics Conference

Several of our DIG members are presenting their epidemiologic research poster at the Annual UTMB Geriatrics Conference this week (Warren D, Riahi R, Hobbs J, Freedman D, Wagner R. Preventing ultraviolet radiation hand injury: hand cancer awareness and protective behaviors). This research is part of UTMB MS4 Donnie Warren’s dermatology honors research program. The meeting is being held from 5 pm to 7 pm in Levin Hall on Thursday, November 17th. Please stop by to see the posters and enjoy the refreshments!

UTMB Dermatology Resident Invited to 2012 Dermatology Foundation Clinical Symposia

Dr. Ashley Group, a PGY4 dermatology resident at UTMB, has been awarded an educational grant by the Dermatology Foundation to attend their annual Clinical Symposia (“Advances in Dermatology”). The meeting will be held in Naples, Florida during February 2012. Congratulations, Dr. Group!

10/25/11 DIG Meeting Recap

We had a great turnout for Tuesday’s meeting! The DIG would like to thank Dr. Wagner for his very informative talk about getting into a Dermatology residency. Below is a summary of the items Dr. Wagner discussed, followed by a meeting summary.

Summary of Dr. Wagner's Talk:

1.) Dermatology is an extremely competitive field. Applicants who match into dermatology often have many publications, research experiences, volunteer activities, superior USMLE Step 1 scores, and approximately 50% belong to the AOA Medical Honor Society.

2.) Research is highly encouraged for dermatology applicants and there are many opportunities to get involved in research at UTMB, both within and outside of the dermatology department. The key is to develop a project that matches your interests. There are diverse interests represented in the UTMB dermatology department that you can pursue, such as topics in general adult and pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, dermatologic surgery and cosmetic dermatology. Alternatively, you could develop a project with a basic science faculty or in a different department and apply your research to skin disease!

3.) It is never too early to start a research project – you can even start during your first year. The UTMB School of Medicine allows you to participate in a summer research elective between 1st and 2nd year. This is a good way to gain a research mentor, compete for various research awards, and perhaps even have the opportunity to get published. You can also participate in the Honors Research Program in Dermatology. The official deadline for the Honors Proposal is 12/31 of the third year, but extensions may be possible with permission from Dr. Simon Lewis. This research is typically completed and presented by April of the fourth year.

4.) If you don't match the first year, don’t give up! It is very possible to match into Dermatology the second or third time around. There are a number of Dermatology research fellowships in the country that you can pursue after your intern year. Productive research with publications and the opportunity to become an expert on a particular topic of interest will add to your application. There are also alternative routes to becoming a dermatologist. For example, a pathologist who has completed a dermatopathology fellowship or a pediatrician may be attractive applicants to certain programs.

5.) The American Board of Dermatology requires a total of four years of postgraduate training. The first year must include 12 months of clinical training in a broad-based program, such as internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, emergency medicine, or a transitional year. The next three years include full-time training as a resident in a dermatology residency program. Some dermatology programs have a combined intern year and residency; however, most dermatology training programs are unattached to the intern year and therefore require a separate application process.

6.) There are a number of fellowships that you can pursue after a dermatology residency, such as Pediatric Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Procedural Dermatology and Immunodermatology.

7.) Remember, the Dermatology faculty and residents are here to help!

UTMB DIG Meeting Summary:

1.) Meet the 2011-2012 Officers!
President: Rebecca Philips
Vice President: Chelsea Altinger
Community Outreach Chairs: André Pitt and Ryan Riahi
Aim for a Cure Melanoma Walk Chairs: Karan Patel and Donnie Warren
Contact Dermatitis Chair: Sheila Jalalat
Fundraising Chair: Ryan Riahi
Second Year Representative: Will Tausend

2.) The DIG blog (http://digutmb.blogspot.com) is a great resource for medical students interested in Dermatology. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive individual blog posts to your email, contact Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

3.) The DIG has a Facebook Group! Search for us: “UTMB Dermatology Interest Group.”

4.) We look forward to community outreach projects, fundraising events and our annual AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk this year. Follow our blog to learn about upcoming events that you can participate in.

5.) Want to help with DIG events this year? E-mail the officers to join a committee or find out how you can help:
a.) AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Committee - contact Donnie (dbwarren@utmb.edu) or Karan (kaapatel@utmb.edu).
b.) Stay Shady! (Sun Protection/Skin Cancer Awareness) Committee - contact Ryan (rrriahi@utmb.edu) or Andre (rapitt@utmb.edu).
c.) Contact Dermatitis Outreach Committee - contact Sheila (szjalala@utmb.edu).
d.) Fundraising Committee – contact Ryan (rrriahi@utmb.edu).

6.) The National Dermatology Interest Group Association has a number of resources for medical students who hope to pursue a career in Dermatology. Visit their website (www.derminterest.org) and join their Facebook Group “Dermatology Interest Group Association” for more information.

UTMB Dermatology Residency Application Deadline Looming

The last day for dermatology applicants to submit their application for a categorical dermatology residency position at UTMB that starts in July 2013, is on Tuesday, November 1st. The UTMB Department of Dermatology plans on offering three residency positions in the current NRMP. Only complete applications submitted through ERAS will be considered. In previous years, UTMB MS4 applicants and current UTMB house staff automatically received interview invitations. The remaining applicants usually are notified in early December about interviews that are scheduled for February 2nd and 3rd of next year.

Reminder: DIG Meeting Tomorrow!

Join us for the first UTMB DIG meeting of the year tomorrow evening, October 25th, at 5:00 PM in the dermatology conference room (4.112 McCullough Building). Our guest speaker will be Dr. Richard Wagner, the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program Director. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Please email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

USC Medical Student Publishes Dermatology Handbook

Congratulations to Misha Heller, a medical student at Keck School of Medicine (University of Southern California), for her new book, Contemporary Diagnosis and Management in Psychodermatology, that was published by Handbooks in Health Care Company this year. Her co-author is Dr. John Koo, an acknowledged expert in psychodermatology at UCSF.

2010-2011 UTMB Dermatopathology Fellows Pass Boards

Congratulations to Drs. Ryan Matherne and John Cangelosi for passing their recent board certification examination in dermatopathology!

Are MD/PhD Applicants Favored for Dermatology Residencies?

According to the October 2011 issue of Skin and Allergy News (Volume 42, Number 10), U.S. dermatology residencies during 2004-2007 had the greatest percentage (5.8%) of MD/PhD residents(page 10). This was more than three times higher than the average percentage of MD/PhDs in other residency probrams.

First DIG Meeting of the Year!

Join us for a Q&A Session with Dr. Richard Wagner, the UTMB Department of Dermatology Residency Program Director.

Where: Dermatology conference room, 4.112 McCullough Building

When: Tuesday, October 25th at 5PM

Questions? Contact Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

Predictors of Resident Performance

It would be nice to predict which dermatology applicants will excel in residency and make selections on that basis. The authors of a recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Harfmann KL, Zirwas MJ. Can performance in medical school predict performance in residency? A compilation and review of correlative studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011;65:1010-1022) reviewed the literature and concluded that no one factor is predictive. Of course, examinations taken in residency had strongest correlation with exams taken during medical school, clinical performance and membership in AOA. Resident evaluations by supervisors correlated most strongly with medical school, interview, and clinical grades.

Dr. Richard Wagner Lectures to UTMB Plastic Surgeons about Media

Dr. Wagner, the UTMB Edgar B. Smith Professor of Dermatology, was invited to give the UTMB Division of Plastic Surgery a lecture this week about Media and Perceptions of Appearance. The lecture was attended by the UTMB Plastic Surgery Faculty and Residents. Dr. Wagner teaches several popular didactic courses at UTMB about media depictions of skin diseases. UTMB PGY3 Plastic Surgery Residents have a required one month clinical rotation on the Mohs Service with Dr. Wagner and the rotating Dermatology Resident each year.

New Dermatology BSHS Selective Offered: “Skin Diseases In Novel/Films”

Dermatology's new BSHS Selective, DERU 4402 (specific topic: "Skin Diseases in Novels/Films"), will offer 3 students each Period the opportunity to study 4 primary novels: Dear John (melanoma), The Da Vinci Code (albinism), The First Wives Club (aging skin), The English Patient (burn), and their derivative films. This sounds like a very interesting class!

American Board of Dermatology 2011 Certification Examination Pass Rates

The American Board of Dermatology reported that of the 391 first time examinees for the 2011 Certifying Examination, 6.2% failed.

Where do Dermatology Residents Practice?

A study from the September 2011 issue of Archives of Dermatology addresses this question (Resneck JS Jr, Kostecki J. An analysis of dermatologist migration patterns after residency training. Arch Dermatol 2011;147:1065-1070). UTMB is specifically cited (page 1067) as one of only 4 US dermatology residency programs (along with Mayo Clinic, Texas Tech and the University of Iowa) that had less than 15% of their residents practicing within a 100 mile radius. This compares to 43% of dermatologists nationally who practice within 100 miles of their residency training program.

Dr. Mara Dacso Publishes Research on Leprosy

Congratulations to UTMB PGY3 dermatology resident, Mara Dacso MD, MS, for her publication in the October 2011 issue of the Southern Medical Journal (Dacso MM, Jacobson RR, Scollard DM, Stryjewska BM, Prestigiacoma JF. Evaluation of multi-drug therapy for leprosy in the United States using daily rifampin. Southern Med J 2011;101(10):689-694). Dr. Dacso collaborated with researchers at The National Hansen’s Disease Program in Baton Rouge, LA for her Dermatology Research Honors Program thesis while she was a medical student at UTMB.

Dr. Erica Kelly on Cover of Coast Magazine

The October 2011 issue of Coast Magazine (Galveston Daily News) features Dr. Erica Kelly. Dr. Kelly completed dermatology residency at UTMB in 2002 and has been on the dermatology faculty since that time. She is the Director of Cosmetic Dermatology and has extensive expertise in the use of fillers, neurotoxins and lasers. She has won numerous teaching awards from UTMB medical students (DIG) and the dermatology residents. She has also mentored UTMB medical students in their Dermatology Honors Research Projects, and dermatology residents in their required Scholarly Project.

Dr. Brent Kelly Promoted to Associate Professor of Dermatology

Congratulations to Dr. Brent Kelly! The UTMB Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure (APT) Committee, as well as the UTMB Executive Committee recently voted to promote Dr. Kelly to Associate Professor of Dermatology in the tenure track. Dr. Kelly completed dermatology residency at UTMB in 2006 that was followed by a dermatopathology fellowship in 2007, at which time he became a full-time dermatology faculty at UTMB. He has over 30 peer-reviewed publications and is very active in helping medical students, dermatology residents, and dermatopathology fellows conduct and publish their research. Dr. Kelly has also been awarded numerous annual teaching awards by UTMB’s Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) and the dermatology residents. He is board-certified in internal medicine, dermatology, and dermatopathology, and is the Director of Dermatopathology at UTMB.

Bees Be Gone

Swarming honeybees around UTMB's Basic Science Building may be a thing of the past, according to Saturday's Galveston Daily News (please see http://galvestondailynes.com/story/260002 ). Our medical school plans to re-locate the bees to another location over the weekend.

UTMB Dermatology Residency Initiates Dermatology Research Elective for PGY4s

This month the UTMB Dermatology Residency will begin to offer its PGY4 dermatology residents the option of a 2 week dermatology research elective. The goal of this elective in dermatology research is to assist PGY4 residents in the completion of their Scholarly Project, a dermatology program requirement at UTMB. This elective will provide residents with time to analyze their data and present it in scientific format. Residents taking this elective are expected to produce a submission-ready abstract, poster, or manuscript based on the Scholarly Project that they initiated during their PGY2 year.

Dr. Richard Wagner Lecture

Dr. Wagner, the UTMB Edgar B. Smith Professor of Dermatology, was invited to give the UTMB Division of Plastic Surgery a lecture this week about Skin Cancer and Mohs Surgery. The lecture was attended by the UTMB Plastic Surgery Faculty and Residents. UTMB PGY3 Plastic Surgery Residents have a required one month clinical rotation on the Mohs Service with Dr. Wagner and the rotating Dermatology Resident each year.

Article about Porcine Xenograft use in Mohs Surgery Published by UTMB Dermatologists

The September 2011 issue of Dermatology Online Journal contains an original multidisciplinary article about the use of porcine xenografts following Mohs surgery (Raimer DW, Group AR, Petitt MS, Nosrati N, Yamazaki ML, Davis NA, Kelly BC, Gibson BR, Montilla RD, Wagner RF Jr. Porcine xenografts biosynthetic wound dressings for the management of postoperative Mohs wounds. Dermatology Online Journal 17 (9):1. This study was part of Dr. David Raimer’s Scholarly Project, a program requirement of the UTMB dermatology residency. All of his co-authors are from the UTMB Department of Dermatology, with the exception of Dr. Montilla who was with the UTMB Division of Plastic Surgery. The online article is available at:
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1709/1_org/1_11-00189/article.html

UTMB Dermatology Residency Program Completes Site Visit

This week the UTMB Department of Dermatology had its site visit. The last visit was in 2006, when it received a 5 year cycle. Dr. William McKinney, the ACGME Accreditation Field Representative, met with the Program Director, Program Coordinator, Chair, DIO, all of the dermatology residents, and all of the dermatology faculty. The Dermatology RRC will review the Program Information Form (PIF) and Dr. McKinney’s report, and determine the next program cycle.

Congratulations to 2011 UTMB Dermatology Residents

The UTMB DIG is happy to learn that 3 UTMB Dermatology Residents who completed training this June have passed the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) Certification Examination, and are now board certified in dermatology. Congratulations to Drs. Matt Petitt, John Stephens, and Mika Yamazaki for this excellent academic achievement.

Residency Applicant Knowledge of the Six ACGME Core Competencies

Resident applicants (anesthesiology) knowledge of the six ACGME Core Competencies was very poor according to a recent study published last year in Academic Medicine (see http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2010/05000/Do_Residency_Applicants_Know_What_the_ACGME_Core.19.aspx ) Only 3 of 193 (2%) applicants knew all six competencies. The six competencies are: medical knowlege, patient care, professionalism, communications, systems-based practice, and practice-based learning and improvement.

UTMB Welcome Weekend

The UTMB Welcome Weekend Community Fair was a huge success. Many student organizations and local businesses were present to meet and greet incoming UTMB students. The UTMB Dermatology Interest Group is excited to welcome nearly 50 new blog subscribers who signed up during the event!


Thank you to the UTMB DIG Community Service Chairs, Ryan Riahi (Left) and André Pitt (Right), and Second Year Rep, Will Tausend (Middle), for recruiting new members at this event!

UTMB Family Medicine Teaching Dermatology Procedures at Primary Care Pavillion

Please see link for the upcoming teaching session for medical students on primary care procedures at the Primary Care Pavillion on September 15, 2011. http://fammed.utmb.edu/home/pcp2.aspx

DIG Poison Ivy Community Education Project Unfunded

The UTMB DIG has received news that the UTMB President’s Cabinet was unable to provide funding for their “Elusive Ivy” proposal. A number of positive comments were received, including, “Liked the student initiated program.” Thanks to our proposal author, Chelsea Altinger and Drs. Lindsey Hunter and Richard Wagner for their help.

UTMB Dermatologist, Dr. Erica Kelly, Gives Advice in Fitness Magazine

UTMB's Dr. Erica Kelly gives advice in the September 2011 Fitness Magazine article "beat-the-clock beauty". She recommends keeping a face powder with SPF in your bag to dust over your skin when it's time to reapply sunscreen.

See the full article here: beat-the-clock beauty.

UTMB’s New Hospital

UTMB President David Callender announced today the University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved a new Jennie Sealy Hospital in Galveston that is scheduled to open in 2016. The new hospital will cost $438 million. The Sealy & Smith Foundation has pledged $170 million. The Texas Legislature has approved a $150 million Tuition Revenue Bond for this purpose. UTMB will fund $118 million for construction costs, and plans to raise $100 million through philanthropy. For additional information, please see http://www.utmb.edu/president/messages/.

UTMB Dermatology Residency Alum Publishes Paper

Congratulations to Dr. Renée Y. Cobos for publishing a paper entitled “Prevalence of nasal staphylococcus aureus colonization in a dermatology practice and implications for care” in the August 2011 (Volume 8) issue of Practical Dermatology (pages 32-4, 36). The study reported that 14% of her study patients had nasal cultures that were positive for S. aureus. Topical mupirocin therapy and oral antibiotic treatment were offered to subjects with positive nasal cultures. Dr. Cobos completed her dermatology residency at UTMB in 1989. She is in private dermatology practice in Fullerton, California.

New Melanoma Drug Approved by the FDA

The FDA approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib) today for the treatment of metastatic or unresectable melanoma. The drug specifically targets tumors that express BRAF V600E gene mutation, seen in a number of patients with late-stage melanoma. This has been an exciting year in the treatment of late-stage melanoma as Zelboraf is the second of the newly approved drugs to show improvement in overall survival.

For more information see the FDA News Release.

UTMB Dermatopathology Adopts Intellipath

Intellipath is a software system designed specifically for dermatopathology. This system allows us to improve reporting of biopsies, excisions, etc. by decreasing turnaround time, creating accurate and easy to read reports, and delivery of these reports back to the clinician in a customizable, user-friendly format. For example, reports can be delivered to a referring dermatologist via e-mail, secure fax, downloading from the internet (secured site) or interfacing with electronic medical records. The system also allows the lab to keep track of specimen bottles, blocks and slides using a bar code system. It helps reduce time entering data from lab and clerical personnel. Referring physicians notice a decreased turnaround time (time from when the biopsy is received in the lab to the time the report is delivered to them). In fact, turnaround time for routine cases is 1 day!!

Don’t Miss This

Dr. Brent Kelly (left rocker in picture) and his band Zaemon will be performing at their 20^th Anniversary Reunion at The Varsity Theatre on Friday at 9 pm on September 2nd in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to kick off Labor Day Weekend. For more information, please see the band’s facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zaemon/170248179699665?sk=app_178091127385
All are welcome!

Thanks Ms. Keeswood!

Ms. Marianne Keeswood is the “go to” person in the UTMB Dermatology Department when a UTMB medical student wants to take a dermatology selective or elective course. She will check to see if there is still availability in the course, now that there is a new maximum enrollment of three students in UTMB didactic dermatology selective and elective courses. She will also be able to help students find another dermatology course to take if there is no longer availability for the student’s first choice class. Students interested in adding or dropping dermatology electives or selectives should email her with their C-Form.

Meet the 2011-2012 UTMB Dermatology Residents

http://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/residents_fellows/current_residents.html

BSHS Selective “Narratives of Skin Diseases” DERU-4012 Now Available All Periods

Dr. Wagner’s popular BSHS Selective, “Narratives of Skin Diseases” (DERU-4012) is now available during all Periods, starting with Period 3 that begins on August 22, 2011. Due to budgetary cutbacks at UTMB, the maximum student enrollment for each Period is limited to 3. For the past two years, this class was only available during Period 13.

UTMB Dermatology Increases Maximum Enrollment in History of Dermatology Class (DERU-4008)

It did not take long for the UTMB Dermatology Department to increase its maximum student enrollment from 2 to 3 students in the History of Dermatology elective (DERU-4008) for all Periods starting Period 3, which begins on August 22, 2011. However, it is unlikely that further class size increases will occur due to current budgetary issues.

The Turner Syndrome Society Houston Chapter learns how to "Stay Shady!"

The UTMB DIG would like to thank the Turner Syndrome Society Houston Chapter for inviting us to present "Stay Shady!" at their summer gathering at Moody Gardens last weekend. Families with children ages 2 to 16-years-old learned about the importance of sun protection and helpful tips to reduce skin cancer risk. After the presentation, audience members took our message to heart for a safe and fun day in the sun at Palm Beach.

UTMB DIG Officers Rebecca Philips (MS4, left), Ryan Riahi (MS4, middle) and Chelsea Altinger (MS3, right) present “Stay Shady!”

For more information about the Turner Syndrome Society Houston Chapter, visit their website: http://www.turnersupport.org/.

New UTMB Elective and Selective Changes Announced

Due to state cuts in funding for medical student education, UTMB has recently made changes in the way departments earn teaching credits for nonclinical electives and selectives during the MS3 and MS4 years. This change will have a big impact on didactic courses offered by the UTMB Department of Dermatology. Fortunately, students already registered in these courses for the current 2011-2011 academic year are not impacted by these new guidelines. However, students still hoping to add or drop some of these electives may potentially be.

The first big change that students will notice during the current academic year is that they will not be able to add any dermatology didactic electives if there are already three students enrolled in the class. That is because according to UTMB’s new guidelines, departments will only receive teaching credit for up to 3 students per course. In the future when Ms. Keeswood receives a C Form request to add a dermatology selective or elective, she will first check to see if the there are already three or more students in the class. If there are already three or more students in the class, she will not be able to approve the C Form request. In addition, students requiring C Form permission for a late drop of a class where there are 3 or less students will not be given permission to drop unless there is another student on the class waiting list who still wants to take the class.

During the next academic year, this change will probably have a greater impact on students. The maximum class enrollment for didactic dermatology electives and selectives will be limited to 3 students for each class. This will have the biggest impact on the two popular dermatology film classes (elective DERU-4007 and selective DERU-4051). About 150 students took these two classes during the past 2009-2010 academic year. Next year only 6 students per Period (3 in each section) will be permitted to register for these classes, for a maximum annual enrollment of 78 students. Students interested in taking either of these courses during the next academic year are advised to pre-register for them during the spring enrollment period. Sadly, over-enrollments will not be permitted for any elective or selective beyond the maximum enrollment permitted.

The UTMB Dermatology Department hopes to create additional courses to address anticipated medical student demand for the next academic year. The UTMB Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) blog plans to keep everyone posted as these updates become available.

Dr. Garland Anderson, UTMB Executive Vice President, Provost, and SOM Dean Resigns

Dr. Garland Anderson has announced his resignation as UTMB’s Executive Vice President, Provost and SOM Dean effective August 31, 2011. UTMB President David Callender has appointed Dr. Cary Cooper, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences as the Interim Executive Vice President and Provost, and Dr. Don Prough, Chair of Anesthesiology, as the Interim Dean for the School of Medicine. Dr. Cooper and Ms. Donna Sollenberger, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of UTMB’s Health System will co-chair the search for a new SOM Dean. For additional information, please see http://gsbs.utmb.edu/_pdf/announcementAug04.pdf

ACGME Gravely Concerned About Proposed Medicare Cuts In Graduate Medical Education

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has published a letter detailing their grave concerns about the future of graduate medical education in the United States and its possible consequences if the proposed drastic cuts in educational funding for residents become a reality. For additional information, please see http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/home/ACGME_Statement_on_Medicare_GME_Reimbursement.pdf

Texas Legislature Slashes $114 Million from UTMB's 2012 Budget

According to the Houston Chronicle, UTMB will be forced to let 250 employees go, including about 120 from the academic enterprise.

See the article for more information: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7661858.html.

UTMB dermatologist Dr. Erica Kelly on UV Safety Month and new sunscreen rules

July is UV safety month. UTMB's Dr. Erica Kelly comments on the FDA's new sunscreen rules and provides helpful tips to keep your skin safe this summer.


Please visit the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIRso-rMsW0

The Unpublished Applicant

The unpublished dermatology applicant is becoming scarce. Many dermatology applicants now have several publications on their ERAS application. What should those with a career interest in dermatology but no publications do? Certainly there are still applicants who successfully match into dermatology programs without publications. However, if there is interest in publishing, one rewarding approach is to contact dermatology faculty and residents about writing an case report about one of the interesting patients they have seen. Writing and publishing a case report is an excellent introduction to medical writing. Successful case reports involve researching the disease and distinguishing aspects about the case that make its presentation unique. Just because it was an interesting case in clinic does not mean that journals will be interested in publishing it. Critical thinking is important at this stage of selecting a case that will be of interest to journals, and faculty input is very important here. Some faculty have authored numerous case reports and have acquired a good understanding about what the journals prefer. Published case reports are ideally the first description of a new disease, but this is a rare event. More likely it will have to deal with a very rare disease that journal readers want to know more about, an uncommon presentation of a common disease, or some new drug or device that was useful to successfully treat skin disease. Recently introduced drugs may also have unreported adverse reactions on the skin, mucosa, nails or hair, and this observation could also make an interesting case report.

Once the topic is selected, student authors should collect all of the related materials such as clinical photos and dermatopathologic images, and do a literature review on the topic, creating a reference list. A journal should be selected and the case report should be written in the same style according to its authorship guidelines. Several revisions are typically needed before journal submission, with input from all of the co-authors. The student submits the article to the journal and begins the editorial review process. Often times manuscript revision is needed as advised by the reviewers and editor. Be sure to communicate with all of the co-authors to get their input at this point in the process. If the article is rejected from the first journal, the article should be submitted to another journal. An article may be rejected several times for many different reasons, but chances are if your case report has merit, the article will probably be published if you are persistent and find the right journal for it. Dermatology programs generally understand that first author publications by medical students are great professional accomplishments that take enormous talent and effort, and having publications on your ERAS application certainly may result in more invitations to interview for a dermatology residency position.

UTMB Dermatology Preparing for Dermatology RRC Site Visit

While the Dermatology Residency Review Committee (RRC) is not scheduled until September 14, there is lots of work needed to prepare for the visit. Here Ms. Kimberly Cooper, UTMB Dermatology Program Coordinator, is preparing some of the required paperwork for the upcoming site visit. During the last UTMB Dermatology RRC site visit in 2006, the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program was given a 5 year cycle, the maximum permitted.

Dermatology Fellowship Trends Following Dermatology Residency

According to the recently published July 2011 American Board of Dermatology Newsletter for Program Directors, postgraduate fellowship training in dermatology continues to grow. Currently there are 54 dermatopathology fellowships, 45 procedural fellowships, and 23 pediatric dermatology fellowships. Last year, 93/379 dermatology graduates took an American Board of Dermatology or ACGME approved fellowships (24%). Five years ago, only 31 took this type of postgraduate dermatology fellowship training.

Dermatology Night at St. Vincent's Free Health Clinic

Join UTMB Dermatology faculty and residents for Dermatology night at St. Vincent's Clinic!

When: This Tuesday, July 26th, 4:30-8PM
Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Vincent's House offers a student-run free health clinic serving the Galveston uninsured and underserved population. St. Vincent's is an important part of the UTMB community, providing free health services to the public, while teaching medical, PA, and nursing students how to manage common health issues. UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty can be found volunteering at St. Vincent's Clinic each month, where they aid medical students in providing free skin cancer screenings, biopsies, excisions, and routine dermatologic care.

For more information about St. Vincent's Clinic, please visit their website at: http://www.stvsc.org/.

Congratulations to Dr. Megan Moody-Neill

PGY2 UTMB dermatology resident, Dr. Moody-Neill, has published another paper related to work done in her fellowship with Dr. Leonard Goldberg in Houston. The citation is: Moody MN, Landau JM, Goldberg LH, Marquez D, Vergilis-Kalner IJ. 595 nm long pulsed dye laser with a hydrocolloid dressing for the treatment of hypergranulation tissue on the scalp in postsurgical defects. Dermatology Online J 17(7):2. The entire paper can be read at: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1707/2_csr/2_11-00132/article.html.

Proposed Federal Cuts Would Hurt Texas Residency Programs

First, state cuts decreased future resident postgraduate education funding in Texas. Now, according to the Houston Chronicle, the federal government is planning to do the same. Stay informed by reading this link to the Houston Chronicle article: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7665665.html
Will residents eventually have to pay tuition for postgraduate training? Or will dermatology residency positions eventually be reduced in number due to lack of funding?

Indoor Tanning Bed Fire

Yes, in a local news story, an indoor tanning bed in League City started a fire earlier this week http://galvestondailynews.com/blog/6230 .
There is also a news video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XMkI_tbwFaE .
Fortunately, unlike in Final Destination 3, no one was hurt.

Exam Coaching

Keck (USC) medical student, Joshua Tompkins takes issue with test preparation companies in the July 14, 2011 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine (Tompkins J. Money for nothing? The problem of the board-exam coaching industry. NEJM 2011;365:104-105). He highlights the use of the MCAT as an important factor in admission to medical school. Students accepted by US medical schools have higher grade point averages (3.67 vs 3.53) and MCAT scores (31.1 vs 28.3) than students who are not accepted. According to the author’s research, commercial preparation courses are costly and do little to improve student scores. However, this viewpoint is contrary to the anecdotal experience of many students who think this type of test preparation has benefited them. Certainly it is easier to see if test preparation improves a student’s subsequent MCAT score, because this test may be taken more than once.

For medical students, Step 1 cutoff scores are being used in competitive specialties. However, unless a medical student fails Step 1, retesting is not permitted. Perhaps the most unfair aspect about Step 1 is that most students only have one chance to take it.

Approval Notification of House Staff Salary Increase

A notice was sent out from the Office of Graduate Medical Education concerning House Staff salary. Effective September 1, 2011, an approval was made to increase House Staff salaries. However, this increase is subject to further approval of UTMB's final budget for FY 2012 by the UT System of Board of Regents.

Derm Swag

UTMB dermatology residents are a fortunate group. Our department provides every resident with a dermatology camera and 4 gig memory card, a dermatoscope, the required textbooks used in each academic year (dermatopathology and general texts), paid dermatology conference expenses each year (generally the annual AAD meeting and the Texas Dermatology Meetings), the annual weekend UTMB dermatopathology board review course, white clinic coats, and 5 days of administrative leave that can be rolled over into subsequent years (used to attend conferences, review courses, and interviews) that does not count toward vacation leave.

Dr. John Stephens Publishes Article About UTMB’s New Dermatology Acting Internship

Dr. John Stephens, who completed his dermatology residency at UTMB last month, is the first author on an article in the July 2011 issue of Dermatology Online Journal, entitled “The Dermatology Acting Internship,” that reviewed his experience with our dermatology AI and the new curriculum and evaluation methods that he helped to create as part of his dermatology scholarly project program graduation requirement. His two coauthors on the publication are Dr. Sharon Raimer, Dermatology Chair, and Dr. Richard Wagner, Dermatology Program Director. The full citation for this article is: Stephens JB, Raimer SS, Wagner RF Jr. The dermatology acting internship. Dermatology Online J 2011(7):9. It is available online at: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1707/4_cmt/9_11-00160/article.html

Period 4 Opening for UTMB’s Dermatology Acting Internship (AI)

A UTMB MS4 or visiting medical student may want to take advantage of an unusual opening in UTMB's Dermatology 4 week long AI (DERU-4006) for Period 4, which starts on Monday, September 19 through October 14. Additional information about this elective is available at http://ar.utmb.edu/04-05review/bdisplay.asp?rec=499. This new elective received accolades from 5 of our UTMB medical students during the last academic year, all of whom matched into a dermatology residency. For further information, please contact the UTMB Registrar.

Period 1 Opening for UTMB’s Dermatology Acting Internship (AI)

A UTMB MS4 or a visiting medical student may want to take advantage of an unusual opening in UTMB’s Dermatology AI (DERU-4006) for Period 1, which starts on Monday, June 27th. Additional information about this elective is available at http://ar.utmb.edu/04-05review/bdisplay.asp?rec=499 . This new elective received accolades from 5 of our UTMB medical students during the last academic year, all of whom matched into a dermatology residency. For further information, please contact the UTMB Registrar.

2011 UTMB Dermatology PGY4s Graduate

Congratulations (from left to right) to Drs. Mika Yamazaki, David Raimer, John Stephens and Matt Petitt! Dr. Yamazaki will practice in Honolulu, Dr. Raimer will take a Procedural Dermatology Fellowship in Birmingham (UAB), Dr. Stephens will practice in Indianapolis, and Dr. Petitt will join a practice in Pasadena, TX that combines clinical dermatology with dermatopathology. Thanks for contributing so much to our dermatology program over the past three years! Y'all will be greatly missed!

Dr. John Stephens’ Championship Seasons at UTMB

Congratulations to Dr. John Stephens for his excellent year in UTMB Intramurals. He was on the championship teams in both the Basketball and Flag Football Intramural Leagues, with a combined record of 25-1. Prior to this year, Dr. Stephens had made it to the championship in Flag football the past two years and had won the Basketball Intramural League for the past two years. He earned varsity letters in two sports (football and baseball) while an undergraduate student at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Dr. Stephens will be returning to Indiana for private dermatology practice soon.

Dr. Audra Clos Publishes JAAD Paper about Amyloidosis

Congratulations to Dr. Clos and her coauthors (Christian Lasagna-Reeves and Drs. Brent Kelly, Richard Wagner, Michael Wilkerson, George Jackson, and Rakez Kayed) for their JAAD paper, “Role of oligomers in the amyloidogenesis of primary cutaneous amyloidosis.” The citation for this research is doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.09.735 . Dr. Clos will begin dermatology residency at UTMB in July 2012 following a dermatology research fellowship at MD Anderson.

Dr. Matt Petitt Recognized by UTMB Dermatology Faculty for Best Research by a PGY4 Dermatology Resident

Congratulations to Dr. Petitt! Thanks for all of the research support and expertise that you provided to DIG members during your dermatopathology fellowship and dermatology residency at UTMB.

UTMB SOM Class of 2011 MS4 Awards

Four UTMB MS4s were recognized for their academic excellence in dermatology at the weekly journal club. This year’s awardees were Brett Blakeway (Beiersdorf History of Dermatology Award), Auris Huen (Best Original Essay Award for Skin Diseases Depicted in Cinema Course), Michaela Marek (Thomas B. Freese Award for Overall Excellence in Dermatology, missing from photos), and Lindsey Hunter (Edgar B. Smith Endowed Scholarship Award for Excellent Dermatology Research by a Medical Student). Auris, Michaela, and Lindsey will begin dermatology residencies following completion of their PGY1 year. Brett will begin residency in anesthesiology at the University of Oklahoma. The SOM Class of 2011 will graduate on June 4, 2011. Congratulations!

Brett Blakeway and Auris Huen with Dr. Wagner

Lindsey Hunter with Dr. Raimer

UTMB’s Clinical Dermatology Elective DERU-4010

Dr. John Stephens gave a presentation of his scholarly project to the dermatology department this morning. Part of the presentation summarized the DERU-4010 Clinical Dermatology elective ( http://ar.utmb.edu/04-05review/bdisplay.asp?rec=339 ) under the direction of Dermatology Chair, Dr. Sharon Raimer. DERU-4010 is offered every Period at UTMB to 4 UTMB medical students, visiting medical students and/or UTMB PA students. The majority of students taking this elective were MS4s intending on primary care specialties. Students taking this elective received one faculty lecture and one resident lecture on dermatology topics each week of the elective. There was a 25 question multiple choice examination that reflected previously seen lecture slides and topics that the students had been exposed to during the rotation (mean score = 91%, range = 76-100%). Student comments about the elective were positive overall:

— “This was a great rotation to take for those going into internal medicine. Thank You!”
— “Great teaching by residents and faculty. Really appreciated Dr. Brent Kelly’s impromptu teaching sessions.”
— “Great rotation with a lot of teaching by residents and faculty. Learned a lot about common derm complaints that will benefit me later in practice.”
— “ I would like to see more cosmetic derm.”
— “I enjoyed being able to participate in journal club on Fridays. The lectures by faculty and residents were very helpful because they particularly focused on common dermatological problems.”
— “I enjoyed the lectures, most rotations don’t offer that.”
— “Everyone was incredibly nice and helpful. Great group of residents. Lots of opportunity for students to get involved and perform procedures.”
— “Rotation helped very much with basic pediatrics problems.”
— “ I enjoyed working with faculty and residents. I learned a great deal that will be helpful to me in internal medicine.”
— “I loved this rotation! I want to work (as a PA) in the ER for a couple of years and eventually work in derm!”

UTMB Dermatology Residents Announce 2011 Teaching Awards

Residents’ Award for Excellent Dermatology Faculty Teaching: Erica B. Kelly, MD

Residents’ Award for Excellent Teaching by a Community Dermatologist: Ramon Sanchez, MD

Congratulations to these awardees!

UTMB DIG Interest in Poison Ivy Education and Prevention

UTMB DIG vice president Chelsea Altinger and immediate past president Lindsey Hunter have collaborated with faculty advisor Dr. Richard Wagner to submit a proposal, “Elusive Ivy” to The President’s Cabinet at UTMB requesting funding for an innovative community service project to educate people in Galveston County about the recognition and avoidance of poison ivy in the local environment. Poison ivy is a leading, but preventable cause of severe contact dermatitis. Winning proposals should be awarded by September 1^st. Thanks for taking the initiative to help educate Galveston natives and visitors about how to avoid this noxious plant!

"Stay Shady!" at Holy Family Catholic School

Yesterday, May 23rd, UTMB DIG's Community Outreach Co-Chair, Michaela Marek (MS4), presented "Stay Shady!" to 80 students in Pre-K thru 7th grade at Holy Family Catholic School in Galveston. They were a great audience, asking questions about whether wearing dark-colored clothing is worse for their skin and also about how we treat skin cancers.

The UTMB DIG would like to thank Holy Family Catholic School for hosting us and for being such a wonderful audience!

If you have a suggestion for a school that could benefit from our "Stay Shady!" presentation next year, please email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

Dr. Stan Taylor's Dermatology RRC Update

Dr. Stan Taylor, a UTMB SOM alum and Professor of Dermatology at UT Southwestern, is the Chair of the Dermatology RRC Committee. In the May 2011 RRC News (Dermatology), he addressed an issue of interest to medical students with an interest in a dermatology career. When the Dermatology RRC last met in April, they approved the creation of 23 new permanent dermatology positions in 9 different dermatology programs. There are now 1197 dermatology positions at 114 residency programs. However, just because a position has been permanently approved by the Dermatology RRC does not mean that it is funded by the residency program requesting it. It is possible that some of these spots will remain unfilled until funding is available.

Third Friday in March

March 16, 2012 (the third Friday in March) is now Match Day, as recently announced by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

Dr. Anthony Perri Magazine Cover

Yes, that is Dr. Perri on the cover of the Spring 2011 issue of H Texas Magazine (www.htexas.com) and more details about his practice appear on Pages 74-75 of this magazine. He is currently in dermatology practice at Sadler Clinic in Conroe and The Woodlands, Texas.

"Stay Shady!" at Satori School

On Friday, May 20th, UTMB DIG members André Pitt (MS1, left), Ryan Riahi (MS3, middle) and Rebecca Philips (MS3, right) presented "Stay Shady!" at Satori School. They taught 30 students from Kindergarten thru 5th grade about the importance of sun safety.


After the presentations, students made UV bead bracelets. The UV beads turn from white to different colors when exposed to UV rays, reminding the students that their skin is being affected by the sun. Even on cloudy days, the beads will change colors and show kids how important protecting your skin is even when you cannot see the sun’s shining rays.

The UTMB DIG would like to thank Satori School for hosting us and for being such a wonderful audience!

UTMB’s 2011 Outstanding Overall Resident Award

Dr. John Stephens, the 2011 awardee, was unable to attend his award ceremony in UTMB’s Caduceus Room today, so his award was accepted by UTMB’s Dermatology Program Director, Dr. Richard Wagner. Dr. Stephens wrote the following statement, which was read to the group in attendance:

“I would like to thank the graduate medical education committee at UTMB for this great honor. I am sorry that I can’t be present to accept the award. I have been lucky enough to be part of a great department over the past few years and would like to share this award with my fellow residents, faculty, and support staff. UTMB has provided me with a great opportunity to explore the art of medicine and develop my skills as a physician. I am thankful to have been able to learn from some truly wonderful residents and faculty during my time here. I hope this recognition inspires a continued commitment to excellent patient care and medical education for many years to come. Thanks again.”

This award is made annually by the UTMB Graduate Medical Education Committee from nominations received from UTMB Residency and Fellowship Directors from over 500 house staff. Dr. Stephens was the Department of Dermatology nominee in 2010 as well, and received the departmental award for Excellent Service and Leadership by a Dermatology Resident.

Congratulations on this outstanding professional achievement, Dr. Stephens!

UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Residents Win Awards At Annual Texas Dermatological Society Meeting for Poster and Podium Presentations

Congratulations to Drs. David Raimer and Matt Petitt for their resident awards at the Texas Dermatological Association meeting held in Houston this past weekend. Dr. Raimer was awarded 3rd Place for his poster about the use of porcine xenografts for the immediate postoperative wound management of Mohs wounds, and Dr. Petitt was awarded 3rd Place for his podium presentation about B-cell lymphoma.

DIG Meeting Recap - 5/12/2011

The UTMB DIG had its last meeting of the 2010-2011 academic year on Thursday. If you weren't able to join us, here's what you missed:

Guest speaker: Dr. Richard Wagner

UTMB DIG's faculty advisor, Dr. Richard Wagner, answered student questions and gave advice on a variety of topics, including the dermatology match, away electives for fourth year medical students, the dermatology acting internship, research during medical school, the 2011 practice dermatology board exam and dermatology fellowships. Thank you, Dr. Wagner, for taking the time to meet with us! Email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu) for more details of what was discussed.

Recent Community Outreach

1. "Stay Shady!" Presentation at Weis Middle School, May 3rd: Community Outreach Co-Chair, Michaela Marek, gave presentations to five 6th grade science classes, teaching 113 students about the importance of sun safety. Michaela, thank you for your hard work!

2. Houston Dermatological Society Skin Cancer Screening, May 7th: UTMB Dermatology faculty, residents and nurses, in addition to UTMB DIG medical students, provided free skin cancer screenings in Galveston and League City. Thank you to everyone involved for putting on this successful event!

Upcoming "Stay Shady!" Presentations: Looking for Volunteers!

Email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu) if you would like to participate.

1. Satori School: Friday, May 20, 2011 at 1:30 PM

2. Holy Family Catholic School: Monday, May 23, 2011 at 9 AM

Galveston AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk, May 7th

Thank you to UTMB Melanoma Walk Co-Chairs, Kenne Ogunmakin and Auris Huen, for organizing this event! We had over 40 participants and raised $2,300+ for melanoma research and awareness.

Society for Investigative Dermatology 2011 Meeting

UTMB DIG Galveston President, Lindsey Hunter, presented research (#697: Hunter L, Wang S, Wickliffe J, Wilkerson M. Reevaluating the toxicity and mutagenicity of photoactivated Rose Bengal in Chinese hamster ovary cells. J of Invest Dermatol. 2011; 131: S117) at the 71st annual SID meeting, held in Phoenix, Arizona on May 4-7, 2011. She had a great experience and encourages other medical students to participate in the future. Email Lindsey Hunter (lihunter@utmb.edu) with questions.

Thank you to the 2010-2011 UTMB DIG Officers and Faculty Advisor!

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the 2010-2011 UTMB DIG Officers and our Faculty Advisor, Dr. Richard Wagner. Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work this year! If you missed the meeting, don't forget to pick up your certificate from the dermatology department office.

Never too late to say Thank You

UTMB dermatology department held free skin cancer screenings last Saturday, May 7, following the AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk. UTMB DIG would like to thank the UTMB dermatology faculty and residents, in addition to the medical student DIG members, for their community service. The screenings took place both at the Bay Colony Clinic in League City and the Stewart Road Clinic here in Galveston.

UTMB Dermatology Residents Shine on 2011 Dermatology Practice Examination

It is hard to do better than 100%, as one PGY4 UTMB dermatology resident did on the dermatopathology section of the test. Two other residents, a PGY3 and a PGY4, scored 97% on the procedural dermatology section of the test, and two scored 96% in basic science. Other residents scored 90% or greater in pediatric dermatology (3), basic science (1), procedural dermatology (1).

Galveston AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Raises Over $2,300!

This past Saturday, May 7th, the UTMB DIG held our annual Galveston AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk at the UTMB Alumni Field House track. 40 people participated and raised $2,300+ for melanoma research and awareness! This year's walk was in honor of Stage I Melanoma Survivor, Courtney Scott. It was in loving memory of Rex Thomas Bass (1964-2006).

Special thanks to the AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Co-Chairs, Auris Huen and Kehinde Ogunmakin, and all of the walk participants for making this such a successful event!

Dr. Mara Dacso and MS4 Lindsey Hunter Return from Annual SID Meeting

Dr. Mara Dacso, a PGY2 dermatology resident at UTMB, and UTMB MS4 Lindsey Hunter stand in front of Lindsey’s poster at the recent SID meeting in Arizona. Dr. Dacso was nominated by UTMB to attend the 2011 SID Resident Retreat and was selected to participate by the SID Selection Committee.

UTMB DIG Meeting this Thursday

The UTMB DIG will be holding its last meeting of the school year this upcoming Thursday, May 12th at 5:00 PM in the Dermatology Conference Room (4.112 McCullough Building). Our guest speaker will be UTMB DIG's Faculty Advisor, Dr. Richard Wagner.

We hope to see you all there!

"Stay Shady!" at Weis Middle School

On Tuesday, May 3rd, UTMB DIG's Community Outreach Co-Chair, Michaela Marek (MS4), presented "Stay Shady!" to five 6th grade science classes at Weis Middle School in Galveston. She taught over 100 students about the importance of sun safety.

The UTMB DIG would like to thank Weis Middle School for hosting us and for being such a wonderful audience!

UTMB MS4 Kenne Ogunmakin Awarded Magna Cum Laude Dermatology Research Honors

UTMB MS4 Kenne Ogunmakin presented her Dermatology Research Honors Project Thesis presentation (“Co-morbid psychiatric dysfunction in patients with keloids using GHQ-12: a comparison to patients with psoriasis”) and was awarded Magna Cum Laude dermatology research honors by her ad hoc Honors Committee. Her faculty advisor was Dr. Erica Kelly and her thesis committee members are Drs. Simon Lewis, Sharon Raimer and Richard Wagner. It is the second (and final) dermatology research honors project presented this academic year. Following graduation from the UTMB SOM in June, Ms. Ogunmakin will take her PGY1 year in the Department of Internal Medicine at UTMB before going to Texas Tech for her dermatology residency. Congratulations to UTMB DIG member Kenne Ogunmakin for achieving this distinguished academic honor at UTMB!

We need volunteers for the Skin Cancer Screening THIS weekend

The UTMB DIG needs volunteers this Saturday to assist UTMB Dermatology faculty and residents at the annual skin cancer screening from 10 AM to 1 PM following the AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk. You can sign up for either of the locations below by contacting Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu) or Kenne Ogunmakin (koogunma@utmb.edu) with your site preference.

Stewart Road Family Medicine
6710 Stewart Road, Suite 100
Galveston, TX 77551
409-744-4030

University Dermatology at Bay Colony
2785 Gulf Freeway South, Suite 165
League City, TX 77573
281-534-3376

Thanks for your help!

UTMB SOM 2011 MS4 Lindsey Hunter Awarded Dean’s Award for Research Excellence

Congratulations to Lindsey Hunter, the 2010-2011 UTMB Dermatology Interest Group President, for her award of this prestigious honor! Following graduation in June, Ms. Hunter will take her PGY1 year in the UTMB Department of Internal Medicine and then begin dermatology residency at UTMB in July 2012.

The 2011 Galveston AIM for a CURE Melanoma Walk: Saturday, May 7th

Join the UTMB DIG this Saturday for the annual Galveston AIM for a CURE Melanoma Walk to help raise melanoma awareness and support melanoma research. This year's walk is in honor of Stage I Melanoma Survivor, Courtney Scott. It is in loving memory of Rex Thomas Bass (1964-2006).

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Time: Registration at 8:00 AM; Walk begins at 8:30 AM
Walk Location: UTMB Alumni Field House, 215 Holiday Dr., Galveston, TX 77555
Additional Info: There is NO fee to register. Each participant is encouraged to raise at least $50.
To Register and/or Donate: http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-action/1158/1159/galveston-2011.html.

Following the walk, UTMB Dermatology Residents and Faculty will be providing FREE skin cancer screenings at the Stewart Road and Bay Colony Dermatology clinics from 10 AM - 1 PM!

Stewart Road Family Medicine
6710 Stewart Road, Suite 100
Galveston, TX 77551
409-744-4030

University Dermatology at Bay Colony
2785 Gulf Freeway South, Suite 165
League City, TX 77573
281-534-3376

The UTMB DIG is looking for medical student volunteers to help at both skin cancer screening locations. Email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu) if you are interested in volunteering.

Questions? Contact AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Co-Chairs Kenne Ogunmakin (koogunma@utmb.edu) or Auris Huen (aohuen@utmb.edu).

First Dermatology Research Honors Project Approved for UTMB SOM Class of 2012

Congratulations to Donnie Warren, a current UTMB MS3, for gaining the UTMB Honors Committee approval for his dermatology honors research project entitled, “Preventing Ultraviolet Radiation Hand Injury: Hand Cancer Awareness and Protective Behaviors.” Mr. Warren had obtained biostatistical consultation for this study from Dr. Daniel Freeman and UTMB IRB approval prior to its submission to the UTMB Honors Committee for review. He had previous experience assisting Dr. Doug Heiner on scalp cancer prevention research at UTMB while he was an MS2. His faculty advisor on this research is Dr. Richard Wagner from the UTMB Department of Dermatology.

TCOM Student Enrolls in UTMB Dermatology Film Class (DERU-4007)

The UTMB DIG was happy to hear that a visiting TCOM (Ft.Worth) student is scheduled to take Dr. Richard Wagner's elective film class during period 11. She is the second visiting student from Texas to enroll in this class, which is entirely available through teleconferencing.

Aron Nusbaum Wins National Student Research Forum (NSRF) Dermatology Poster Award for Wound Debridement Study

Congratulations to medical student Aron Nusbaum, Medical University of Miami Miller School of Medicine: "Comparison of two novel debridement modalities in an in-vivo porcine wound model," Poster 147, page 86, 52nd NSRF Program Book. He found that coblation technology was superior to tangential hydrosurgery to remove bacterial biofilms in an animal model in 24 hour old wounds. His coauthors on this study were Joel Gil, Jose Valdez, Michael Solis, and Stephen Davis.

Summa Cum Laude Dermatology Honors Research Awarded

UTMB MS4 Lindsey Hunter was awarded Summa Cum Laude Dermatology Honors Research Honors for her Thesis, “Photoactivated Rose Bengal in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells—A Mutagen?," on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Her Honors Committee members were Drs. M. Wilkerson (Faculty Advisor), Simon Lewis, Brent Kelly and Richard Wagner. Congratulations to Lindsey for this rare academic level of achievement at UTMB!

Evaluating Procedural Dermatology Education During Residency

The March 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported the results of the 2009 survey by Lee et al (“Procedural dermatology training during dermatology residency: a survey of third-year dermatology residents” 64:475-483) that was reviewed in detail at the weekly UTMB dermatology journal club last week. One striking difference noted between the results of this survey and the UTMB dermatology resident experience was in the number of Mohs layers taken (Table II, page 478). 22% of survey respondents indicated that they took greater than 50 Mohs layers during residency, but at UTMB all of the PGY3 dermatology residents achieved that level of expertise during their Mohs rotation. The most recent composite data from the ACGME for the UTMB Class of 2010 (3 residents) showed that UTMB dermatology residents had performed, as the primary resident surgeon, 18 skin grafts (national average = 8), 39 flaps (national average = 19) and 97 Mohs cases (which may have more than one layer involved), with the national average for Mohs = 63. UTMB dermatology residents also reported more experience in fillers (14 vs 5) and neurotoxin (15 vs 9) as the primary resident surgeon.

UTMB MS4 Kenne Ogunmakin Schedules Thesis Defense

UTMB MS4 Kenne Ogunmakin has scheduled her Dermatology Research Honors Project Thesis presentation (“Co-morbid psychiatric dysfunction in patients with keloids using GHQ-12: a comparison to patients with psoriasis”) for Friday, May 6, 2011 at 3 pm in the dermatology conference room. Her faculty advisor was Dr. Erica Kelly, and her ad hoc thesis committee members are Drs. Simon Lewis, Sharon Raimer and Richard Wagner. It is the second dermatology research honors project scheduled for presentation this academic year. All are invited to attend!

UTMB Dermatology Clinic at Bay Colony (League City, TX) Now Has Excimer Laser

The UTMB Dermatology Clinic at Bay Colony in League City has announced that it now has the XTRAC® Excimer Laser, which is a new technology using UVB to treat psoriasis and vitiligo. Evaluation may be scheduled by calling 281-534-3376 for an appointment with a UTMB dermatologist.

UTMB MS4 Publishes Abstract

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Kenne Ogunmakin, who published her dermatology research abstract entitled, “Co-morbid psychiatric dysfunction in patients with keloids using GHQ-12: a comparison to patients with psoriasis” (Poster 57, page 69) in the 52nd Annual National Student Research Forum program book. The meeting was held in Galveston on April 21st and 22nd, 2011. Ms. Ogunmakin discovered that subjects with keloids, a chronic skin disease related to abnormal scarring of the skin, reported similar life impact as subjects with psoriasis using the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Her coauthor on this abstract was Dr. Erica Kelly, who is on the UTMB dermatology faculty. Ms. Ogunmakin will be starting her dermatology residency at Texas Tech in July 2012.

Dr. Gibson Interviews About Tanning

Dr. Bernard Gibson, dermatology faculty at UTMB, was interviewed by Channel 6 Television KRIS (Corpus Christi) for his views about tanning. You can see the interview at: http://us.cisionpoint.com/BouncingBallVideoPassThrough.aspx?locator=6-2B52CE5A26-A9ABF57-A56E377.
UTMB dermatology faculty Drs. Sharon Raimer and Gibson, along with UTMB dermatology residents, travel to Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi every other month to consult on referred pediatric dermatology patients.

Dr. John Stephens Receives UTMB’s Best Resident Award

UTMB’s Graduate Medical Education Committee has recognized UTMB PGY4 dermatology resident, Dr. John Stephens, as the Outstanding Overall Resident for his dedication and excellence in service at UTMB during the 2010-2011 academic year. Last week, the UTMB DIG also recognized Dr. Stephens for his excellence in teaching dermatology to medical students.

Zombie Skin Explained

Author Dr. Steven Schlozman, a lecturer on the UTMB campus last fall, has published a novel entitled, "The Zombie Autopsies" (Grand Central Publishing, New York, 2011). Zombie CNS findings are the major focus of the book, however page 89 illustrates “…external infection and friable tissue along the skin…” of a zombie. Cultures are pending.

52nd Annual National Student Research Forum

The 52nd Annual National Student Research Forum will be held April 21-22, 2011 at UTMB in Galveston, TX.

UTMB DIG officer, Kenne Ogunmakin (MS-4), will present her research, "Co-morbid psychiatric dysfunction in patients with keloids using GHQ-12: A comparison to patients with Psoriasis" (#57).

Other dermatology projects to be presented include:

#25 Sophia Rangwala, Baylor College of Medicine: "Pralatrexate selectively induces apoptosis and synergizes with Bexarotene through up-regulation of p53/BAX/PUMA in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma cells."

#143 Zachary Pena, Creighton University School of Medicine: "ADAM12's role in the advancement of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma through cell migration and invasion."

#147 Aron Nusbaum, Medical University of Miami Miller School of Medicine: "Comparison of two novel debridement modalities in an in-vivo porcine wound model."

Please stop by Levin Hall to see these projects!

Who Should I Request Dermatology Letters of Recommendation From?

Dermatologists are in a small specialty, so many know one another professionally. As such, it is not very surprising that they may prefer to read letters of recommendations from dermatologists that they know and trust. That is why many dermatology applicants focus on obtaining three letters from dermatologists during the dermatology application process. A letter from the right person may resonate with the reader and result in an extra interview or two. Who should these letters be from?

Most applicants will request a letter from their home dermatology department chair or division chief. These dermatologists tend to be senior academic people that everyone knows. This is an important letter because it is expected. It often provides an overview about the applicant, and may even contain detailed observational content if there have been sufficient interactions in the clinic or other academic activities. If it is absent, it will likely be noticed, and may raise questions about why it is missing.

Who should provide the two other letters? If away rotations are taken, it may be possible to get a letter of recommendation from the chair/chief at away department/division. This may be especially helpful and open additional doors if the rotation is taken in another geographic location. The remaining letter should be from a dermatologist who knows you well. This is especially important if you are conducting a clinical or basic science research project. Your mentor’s letter will provide detailed insight into you, and your ability to participate in research.

What if your request for a letter is met with hesitation? This happens occasionally, and is usually due to insufficient interaction during the rotation. The writer knows that she may not have much information to contribute to the application and could anticipate that it may not be helpful. If this is the case, it is better to find another writer who knows you better and who is enthusiastic about your application to dermatology!

DIG Meeting Recap - 4/14/2011

At Thursday's DIG meeting we discussed a variety of topics, including:

Dermatology Match Results: UTMB had an outstanding dermatology match this year. 100% of dermatology applicants in the Class of 2011 matched! Congratulations, everyone!!

Dr. Audra Clos: UTMB

Melissa Efron: UT Houston

Auris Huen: University of Pennsylvania

Lindsey Hunter: UTMB

Rod Mahmoudizad: Texas A&M

Michaela Marek: UT San Antonio

Kehinde Ogunmakin: Texas Tech

Recent Community Outreach:
Galveston County Health Fair – Saturday, March 12, 2011
UTMB DIG volunteers reached out to over 140 members of the local community. We provided educational handouts on sun protection and skin cancer awareness, as well as the newest addition to our booth, poison ivy recognition and contact dermatitis. We also helped kids decorate sun visors, make UV bead bracelets, and color poison ivy drawings.

Upcoming Community Outreach:
To volunteer at any of the following events, email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

Houston Dermatological Society Skin Cancer Screening (Saturday, May 7, 2011)
Time: 10a.m. to 1p.m.
Locations: Stewart Road Family Medicine and University Dermatology at Bay Colony

Kids Day America (Saturday, May 14, 2011)
Time: Noon to 4p.m.
Location: Outdoors at Palmer HC, 2709 Palmer, Texas City, TX 77590

“Stay Shady!” Presentations to Galveston Elementary and Middle School Students
Participate in a fun, interactive 20-minute PowerPoint presentation that teaches local students about UV radiation, SPF values, sun protection tips and the harmful effects of sun damage as revealed through photographs of sunburns, moles, wrinkles and skin cancer. Dates and locations TBD. Email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu) as soon as possible, if you are interested.

Contact Dermatitis Outreach:
Our contact dermatitis chair, Chelsea Altinger, has worked hard to develop tools to teach the public about poison ivy recognition and contact dermatitis. She created educational handouts and poison ivy coloring pages, which were a very popular addition to our booth at the Galveston County Health Fair in March. At the meeting, she presented a display that will be used at future health fairs to teach the public about the appearance of poison ivy. We look forward to expanding the focus of our contact dermatitis precautions next year. Watch for updates!

AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk: Have YOU signed up yet?!
Date: Saturday, May 7th; Registration at 8:00 AM; Walk begins at 8:30 AM
Location: UTMB Alumni Field House, 215 Holiday Dr., Galveston, TX 77555

To register and/or donate visit:

http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-action/1158/1159/galveston-2011.html.
There is NO fee to register. Each participant is encouraged to raise at least $50.

Houston Dermatological Society Skin Cancer Screening Locations (to follow the walk):

1. Stewart Road Family Medicine, 6710 Stewart Road, Suite 100, Galveston, TX 77551

2. University Dermatology at Bay Colony, 2785 Gulf Freeway South, Suite 165, League City, TX 77573

Contact our AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Chairs, Kenne Ogunmakin (koogunma@utmb.edu) or Auris Huen (aohuen@utmb.edu), for more information.

UTMB DIG 2011-2012 Officer Elections: Congratulations to our new officers!

President: Rebecca Philips

Vice President: Chelsea Altinger

Community Outreach Chairs: André Pitt and Ryan Riahi

Aim for a Cure Melanoma Walk Chairs: Karan Patel and Donnie Warren

Contact Dermatitis Chair: Sheila Jalalat

Fundraising Chair: Ryan Riahi

Excision and Suturing Workshop: Thank you to the UTMB DIG dermatology faculty sponsor, Dr. Richard Wagner, and PGY-4 dermatology residents, Dr. Mika Yamazaki and Dr. John Stephens, for leading our first excision and suturing workshop! We look forward to another suturing workshop next year!

Upcoming Meetings

May 2011 - date TBA

UTMB Dermatology Sets 2012 Interview Dates for Outside Applicants

UTMB will interview dermatology residency applicants from other medical schools on Thursday, February 2nd and Friday, February 3rd, 2012. Approximately 30 applicants will be invited to interview on one of these two available dates for 3 positions through the NRMP.

UTMB dermatology faculty and residents do not begin to review completed ERAS applications until the deadline, November 1, 2011. UTMB dermatology automatically interviews its own MS4 students, house staff and visiting students at the time of their away rotation in Galveston.

UTMB DIG Announces 2011 Resident and Faculty Teaching Awards

Each year, MS4 DIG members at UTMB select a UTMB PGY4 dermatology resident and faculty in recognition of their excellence in teaching dermatology to medical students at UTMB. This year the annual awards were given to:

Resident: John Stephens, MD

(Left: Lindsey Hunter, DIG Galveston President; Middle: Dr. John Stephens;
Right: Rebecca Philips, DIG Vice President)

Faculty: Brent Kelly, MD

(Left: Lindsey Hunter, DIG Galveston President; Middle: Dr. Brent Kelly;

Right: Rebecca Philips, DIG Vice President)

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the new DIG Officers!

The new UTMB DIG officers were selected for the 2011-2012 academic year tonight! Congratulations everyone!

President - Rebecca Philips
Vice President - Chelsea Altinger
Community Outreach Co-Chairs - André Pitt and Ryan Riahi
Contact Dermatitis Outreach Chair - Sheila Jalalat
Fundraising Chair - Ryan Riahi
AIM for A Cure Melanoma Walk Co-Chairs - Donnie Warren and Karan Patel

Excision and Suturing Lab a Success!

The UTMB DIG sponsored a pig’s foot excision and suturing session on Thursday afternoon for DIG members in the dermatology conference room. Dermatology faculty, Dr. Richard Wagner, and PGY4 dermatology residents, Dr. Mika Yamazaki and John Stephens, assisted medical students in learning how to excise, undermine, and suture pig skin with buried absorbable dermal simple interrupted sutures and surface closure with nonabsorbable simple interrupted and vertical mattress sutures using instrument ties.