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.