Reminder: DIG Meeting Tomorrow!

Please join us tomorrow for the next Dermatology Interest Group meeting.

When: Wednesday, March 28th at 5PM
Where: 4.112 McCullough Building (Dermatology Conference Rm)

Will include: Q&A with UTMB MS4s who recently matched into a dermatology residency, presentation by UTMB MS2 Sheila Jalalat about contact dermatitis and her experience at the ACDS and AAD conferences, and information about future DIG events

See you tomorrow!

UTMB MS2 Sheila Jalalat Returns from ACDS and AAD Conferences

UTMB MS2 Sheila Jalalat (pictured above) received funding from the UTMB Student Government Association to attend the American Contact Dermatitis Society and American Academy of Dermatology annual conferences from March 14-16, 2012 in San Diego, CA. As part of her DIG officer position (Contact Dermatitis Outreach Chair), Sheila wanted to explore the most recent topics, news and research relating to contact dermatitis and incorporate it into awareness, prevention, and management at UTMB and in the community. She will present what she learned at the conferences during tomorrow's UTMB DIG meeting.

Sheila's presentation will include:
1. What is contact dermatitis, who is affected, and what can we do about it?
2. Patch testing
3. CAMP (Contact Allergen Management Program)
4. Information on the new FDA regulation (in effect Summer 2012) which requires stringent usage and UV protection labeling on all sunscreens to help prevent and decrease the cases of skin cancer and premature aging

Thank you to the UTMB Student Government Association for funding this wonderful learning experience for Sheila and the UTMB DIG!

Please email Sheila Jalalat (szjalala@utmb.edu) with any inquiries on the topic or conferences.

AIM for a CURE Melanoma Walk

It's that time of the year again! Come help the UTMB DIG raise melanoma awareness and support melanoma research by participating in our annual AIM for a CURE Melanoma Walk.

Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012
Time: Registration at 8:00 AM; Walk begins at 8:30 AM
Walk Location: UTMB Alumni Field House, 215 Holiday Dr., Galveston, TX 77555
Format: Leisurely walk or run
Fee: There is NO fee to participate. Each walker is encouraged to raise at least $50.
Completed pledge sheet, waiver, and donations: Due the day of the event
To Register and/or Donate: Click on the following link: AIM FOR A CURE

**Register by April 1, 2012 to ensure a FREE t-shirt!**

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 10am - noon!

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 Donnie Warren (dbwarren@utmb.edu) or Miranda Uzoma (mauzoma@utmb.edu).

UCLA Medical Students Enroll in Period 10 Dermatology Film Class Elective

Word about UTMB’s popular dermatology elective, Skin Diseases Depicted in Film (DERU-4007), is spreading. During Period 10, two UCLA medical students are taking this elective. All lectures and class discussions for this didactic course are available through teleconferencing, so students need not be in Galveston to participate.

Next DIG Meeting Moved to Wednesday

The next Dermatology Interest Group meeting has been moved to Wednesday, March 28th due to the conflict with St. Vincent's Clinic Dermatology Night.

When: Wednesday, March 28th at 5:00 PM
Where: 4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

See you then!

Dermatology Night at St. Vincent's Clinic

Join UTMB Dermatology faculty and residents for the next Dermatology/Medicine Night at St. Vincent's Clinic!

When: Tuesday, March 27th, 4:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550

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

Next DIG Meeting: Wednesday, March 28th

Join us for the next UTMB Dermatology Interest Group meeting!

When: Wednesday, March 28th at 5:00 PM
Where: 4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

UTMB MS4s who recently matched in dermatology will be available to answer questions about the residency application process.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Is There A Better Way to Allocate Dermatology Selectives to UTMB Medical Students?

The Dermatology Film Selective (DERM-4051) is one of the most popular didactic classes at UTMB for MS4s. It is so popular that due to a recently implemented class size limit of 3 students per Period, the class filled within a few hours for certain Periods on the first day of pre-registration. With such a demand for this class, perhaps there is a better way to allocate this class to UTMB medical students? Enrollment Services should consider a lottery system for the next academic year to ensure an equal opportunity for all UTMB medical students to take this class during desirable Periods (especially Periods 6, 7 and 13). A lottery system is currently in use for MS1s who desire to take the one month clinical dermatology elective following completion of their first year classes, since these two summer rotations are limited to 4 students. MS4s could submit their Period preferences, and a lottery could be conducted. After the lottery is concluded, any remaining spots could be filled by those completing a C Form and submitting it to Enrollment Services.

“To C or not to C: that is the question.” (apologies to WS)

Pre-registration for rising UTMB MS4s started on Monday, to a great deal of confusion. Although completed C Forms are required for all BSHS Selectives, somehow My Star allowed some students to register and close out some classes that have limited numbers of positions each Period. The good news is that reportedly this problem has been fixed, and no one is now allowed to register unless their C Form has been signed by the Selective faculty. For those students interested in taking Dermatology Selectives (DERU-4051, DERU-4402, and DERU-4012), please email Ms. Keeswood in the Dermatology department and she will check course availability and stamp your C Form if there is still space in the class you want. Unfortunately, for the upcoming 2012-2013 academic year, the maximum class enrollment for each Selective is only three students per Period. Fortunately, the Dermatology Department offers all three of its Selectives every Period. Ms. Keeswood will also assist students in finding another Selective to fit their schedule if their first choice is not available.

Who Matched at UTMB for Dermatology Residency in 2013?

Who Matched at UTMB for Dermatology Residency in 2013?

Amber Gill MS4 UT Houston

Rebecca Philips MS4 UTMB

Janice Wilson MS4 UT Houston

In addition, Dr. Elizabeth McQuitty has accepted the UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship for 2103.

Congratulations to all!

UTMB SOM Class of 2012 Dermatology Residency Matches

UTMB SOM Class of 2012 Dermatology Residency Matches

Rebecca Philips: UTMB

Ryan Riahi: LSU

Donnie Warren: UT Southwestern-Austin

Congratulations to all!

UTMB DIG Members Invited to Match Day Celebration

Please join the UTMB Class of 2012 at their Match Day Celebration on Friday, March 16th in Levin Hall at 11 am (see http://www.utmb.edu/iutmb/article6825.aspx for announcement). Several of our DIG MS4s have matched into dermatology residencies, and it will be a chance for everyone to share in their great accomplishment with other friends and family.

UTMB Dermatology Filled all of their NRMP Positions

The UTMB Department of Dermatology received notification from the NRMP this morning that all three of their advanced dermatology residency positions have been filled through the NRMP. Programs will find out who they have matched with on Thursday, one day before the applicants learn where they have matched.

What Should I do if I don’t Match into Dermatology Next Week?

On Monday, March 12th MS4s and independent applicants will find out if they matched into a dermatology residency program (successfully matched applicants will have to wait until Friday, March 16th to find out where they are going). Predictably, every year competitive applicants who had multiple dermatology interviews fail to match. While this is a big disappointment, in the following weeks many applicants wonder if they should re-apply. They may wonder if it is worth the effort taking a one or two year dermatology research fellowship following their PGY1 year in the hope of improving their dermatology application and achieving their goal of obtaining a residency position. Here are some considerations regarding re-application:

-Currently, medical students are not able to retake Step 1 once it is passed. The Step 1 score is a major factor in determining how many interviews an applicant will receive. If an applicant has previously failed Step 1 or if the score is lower than 211, it is rare to be offered interviews because so many other applicants have much higher scores. Not impossible, but it certainly will be a struggle.

-Not being a member of AOA hurts an applicant’s chances for interviews. This is also an application variable that cannot be changed in the short term. Not being in AOA and having a Step 1 score lower than 221 will make interviews hard to come by.

-Having an impressive away rotation may open a door for a residency position with an away program. Students still in medical school should consider additional away dermatology rotations prior to graduation if their schedule permits. Once graduated, the opportunity to take rotations at outside institutions is typically difficult and may not be possible.

-Serious applicants who are not AOA and do not have a Step 1 score of at least 230 need to have significant research on their ERAS application. This could include quantity (at least 5 published case reports), quality (authorship on high quality research papers published in highly regarded dermatology journals), or sophisticated research skills usually acquired during a PhD program. Effort should be made to complete any previous research projects with the goal of getting them published before the next application cycle. There is no doubt that most dermatology research fellowships offer re-applicants an opportunity to engage in serious, productive research with leading dermatology investigators. This activity can results in numerous high quality research publications by a motivated fellow. That is why the match rate for dermatology research fellows is impressively high, even without a high Step 1 score and AOA membership.

-Many primary care fields and some specialties (rheumatology, allergy) have lots of patients with skin diseases. Consider if it is possible to satisfy your interest in dermatology through specializing in family medicine, pediatrics, or internal medicine (or one of its specialties)? Such residencies and clinical fellowships may offer the opportunity to do clinical electives with a dermatologist.

Of course, these observations and suggestions don’t apply to everyone. There are exceptions to everything. Some re-applicants don’t change anything on their next ERAS application and match in the next cycle! Only you can decide whether to re-apply or not, and whether to gain additional research experience first. If you decide to re-apply, good luck! Every year some re-applicants get the dermatology residency position they want.

2012 Santa Fe High Community Health & Wellness Fair, A Big Hit

The UTMB DIG had a blast volunteering at the 2012 Santa Fe High Community Health & Wellness Fair last Saturday, February 25th. To promote sun protection and skin cancer awareness, we provided educational handouts for both adults and kids, made UV-sensitive bead bracelets, and offered samples of sunscreen. We also encouraged poison ivy recognition by showing pictures of the plant and distributing poison ivy educational handouts and coloring sheets. These activities and handouts allowed us to reach approximately 75 members of the local community. Thank you to our volunteers, Sheila Jalalat (MS2, left), Will Tausend (MS2, middle), and Rebecca Philips (MS4, right).