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.

2011 Dermatology Honors Thesis Presentation

Please join UTMB MS4 Lindsey Hunter for her Thesis Defense, “Photoactivated Rose Bengal in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells—A Mutagen?," on Tuesday, April 26th at 8AM in the Dermatology Conference Room (4.130 McCullough Building). Lindsey’s Honors Committee members are Drs. M. Wilkerson (Advisor), Simon Lewis, Brent Kelly and Richard Wagner. This is the first dermatology honors thesis presentation of the 2010-2011 academic year.

UTMB DIG Meeting, Officer Election and Suturing Workshop this Thursday!

Join us this Thursday, April 14th in the Dermatology Conference Room (4.112 McCullough) for our next meeting!

To include:

1. Discussion of this year's match results in dermatology, upcoming community outreach and the AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk to be held May 7, 2011

2. 2011-2012 UTMB DIG Officer Election

We will vote on the following available positions:
President (1)
Vice President (1)
Community Outreach Chairs (2)
AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Chairs (2)
Fundraising Chair (1)
Contact Dermatitis Chair (1)

If you plan to run for a position, please prepare a brief, informal speech discussing your involvement in the DIG as well as any ideas you have for the upcoming academic year. If you are interested in running for a position but unable to attend the meeting, please contact Lindsey Hunter (lihunter@utmb.edu) ASAP.

3. Suturing Workshop with UTMB Dermatology Faculty Sponsor, Dr. Richard Wagner, and UTMB Dermatology Residents, Dr. John Stephens and Dr. Mika Yamazaki (All of the spots are full, sorry!)

See you Thursday!

UTMB Dermatology Announces 2011 SOM MS4 Graduation Awards

Beiersdorf History of Dermatology Award: Brett A. Blakeway, “On Degrees of Lousiness: Medicine’s Response to Human Body Louse (Pediculus Humanus Corporis) Infestation During the First World War”

Best Original Essay for Skin Diseases Depicted in Cinema course: Auris O. Huen, “Psychiatry and Dermatology: Dancing Partners Brought to the Limelight”

Edgar B. Smith Endowed Scholarship Award for Excellent Dermatology Research by a Medical Student: Lindsey Hunter

Thomas B. Freese Award for Overall Excellence in Dermatology: Michaela Marek

Congratulations to these awardees for their great work in dermatology this academic year!

Dr. Audra Clos Accepts MDA Dermatology Research Fellowship for 2011-12 Academic Year

Congratulations to Dr. Audra Clos for accepting a one year dermatology research fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston under the direction of Dr. Madeleine Duvic, an internationally recognized dermatology researcher. Following this research year, Dr. Clos will begin dermatology residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch Dermatology Department in July 2012.

Don’t Miss the Old Red Exhibit!

Moody Medical Library has an exhibit through September 2011 on its first floor about Old Red, now 120 years old. For additional information, please see: http://ar.utmb.edu/ar/Library/Exhibits/tabid/763/Default.aspx.

2012 UTMB Dermatopathology Fellows Announced

Dr. Ramon Sanchez, UTMB’s Dermatopathology Fellowship Program Director, has named Dr. Patricia Moody McNab and Dr. Anisha Patel as the UTMB Dermatopathology Fellows for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Dr. McNab graduated from the University of South Florida College of Medicine and is currently their Chief Resident in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. She plans on completing a surgical pathology fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida before starting in Galveston in July 2012.

Dr. Patel graduated from Baylor College of Medicine and is currently completing her dermatology residency at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center in Portland.

Black Swan Added to Required Films

Students taking film class (DERU-4051 or DERU-4007) starting in Period 11 on May 2nd will find the Oscar Award Winning film (Best Actress, Natalie Portman), Black Swan, added to the curriculum. The film is an interesting depiction about the interaction between mental illness and skin disease.

Dr. John Stephens to be inducted into the UTMB Chapter of AΩA

The UTMB DIG would like to congratulate Dr. John Stephens (PGY-4 dermatology resident) for being selected as one of three UTMB residents to be inducted into the UTMB Chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Medical Honor Society! Election to AΩA is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service.

For more information on this honor society, click on the following link: AΩA

DIG Meeting and Elections Next Week

The UTMB DIG will be holding elections during our next meeting on April 14th, 2011 in the Dermatology Conference Room (4.112 McCullough) at 5:00 PM. If you plan on running for a position, please prepare a brief, informal speech discussing your involvement in the DIG as well as any ideas you may have for the upcoming academic year. The list of available officer positions, including the number of positions available, is below. If you are interested in running for a position but unable to attend the meeting, please contact Lindsey Hunter (lihunter@utmb.edu) ASAP. We will also be holding the Resident-Run Suturing Workshop at this meeting (All of the spots are full, sorry!).

2011-2012 UTMB DIG Officer Positions:
President (1)
Vice President (1)
Community Outreach Chairs (2)
AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Chairs (2)
Fundraising Chair (1)
Contact Dermatitis Chair (1)

See you next week!

MS4 Poster Presentation at the 2011 Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting

The UTMB DIG would like to congratulate Lindsey Hunter (MS4) and Dr. Michael Wilkerson for having their abstract accepted for poster presentation at the 71st Annual SID Meeting! All abstracts are published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Their abstract, #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) can be found under the SID 2011 Annual Meeting abstracts at the following link: http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v131/n1s/pdf/jid201175a.pdf.

Dr. Mara Dacso, PGY2 resident, will also be at the SID meeting after being selected to attend the SID's “Resident Retreat for Future Academicians.”

This year's meeting will be held at the JW Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, May 4-7, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. More information can be found at: http://www.sidnet.org/AnnualMeeting.aspx.

Dearl Dotson, MD Establishes New Dermatology Professorship at UTMB

Dr. A. Dearl Dotson (UTMB SOM 1976, UTMB Dermatology Residency 1980) was honored at the historic Galveston Artillery Club with a dinner attended by UTMB dermatology residents and faculty in recognition of his generous endowment for a new dermatology professorship in the Department of Dermatology at UTMB. Dr. Dotson is currently in private dermatology practice in San Antonio, Texas. This new professorship, the A. Dearl Dotson, MD Providential Distinguished Professorship, will be used to encourage academic work by UTMB dermatology faculty, residents, and medical students. Thank you Dr. Dotson for supporting the Department of Dermatology at UTMB!

Dr. Stephen Tyring to speak in Austin next week

Next Thursday, Dr. Stephen K. Tyring, the 2009-2010 President of the Texas Dermatological Society, will be giving a talk to the UT Southwestern - Austin Dermatology faculty and residents. This is a great opportunity for Austin-based 3rd and 4th year medical students to learn about an interesting topic in dermatology and to meet the UT Southwestern-Austin Dermatology Department!

Date: April 7th, 2011
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Trinity Clinic, 313 East 12th Street, Suite 103, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-324-7997

For more information, please contact Rod Mahmoudizad at romahmou@utmb.edu.

More on Dr. Stephen K. Tyring:
Stephen K. Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., is the 2009-2010 President of the Texas Dermatological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, Infectious Disease Society of America, as well as the American Federation for Clinical Research. Dr Tyring sits on several editorial boards and serves as a reviewer for a number of journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Antiviral Research, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Archives of Dermatology, Journal of Infectious Diseases and Annals of Internal Medicine. A principal investigator for over 200 successfully completed clinical trials, Dr. Tyring’s research interests include the therapy and prevention of various mucocutaneous diseases, especially those disorders with an infectious and/or immunological basis. Dr. Tyring is the author of over 600 journal articles and book chapters as well as seven books: “Interferon: Principals and Medical Applications”; “Human Papillomaviruses: Clinical and Scientific Advances”; “Mucocutaneous Manifestations of Viral Diseases”; “Antiviral Agents, Vaccines and Immunotherapies”; “Mucosal Immunology and Virology”; “Tropical Dermatology” and “Clinical and Basic Immunodermatology”. Dr Tyring received his undergraduate degree from Indiana State University , his Master’s Degree from Abilene Christian University , his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch , his doctorate from Texas Tech University and his MBA from Rice University.

Dr. Connor Chan Visits UTMB Dermatology for Academic Friday

UTMB SOM graduate Connor Chan visited the dermatology department on Friday and participated in our Dermatology Grand Rounds and lectures. He is currently a PGY-3 resident in the LSU dermatology residency program, and will be a chief resident there in July 2011.