100%

Yes, 100% of the UTMB Dermatology Residency “Class of 2012” received notification that they have passed the rigorous certification examination administered by the American Board of Dermatology this summer. Congratulations to Drs. Nate Davis, Ashley Group, and Neda Nosrati for this outstanding professional accomplishment!

Welcome Visiting Medical Students

There are 4 MS4 visiting students from three different medical schools (Boston University, UT Houston and UT Southwestern) taking dermatology electives during Period 3. Please welcome them to UTMB when you see them and let them know about Galveston!

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 40 new blog subscribers who signed up during the event! 

DIG Vice-President Will Tausend (right) explains the perks of being a DIG member to a new recruit.

Indoor Tanning Industry Responds to Critics

Reporter Bridget Huber has written about the conflict between the indoor tanning industry and medicine. To read her article, please go to:

http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/23/13415540-embattled-tanning-industry-fights-back-taking-its-cues-from-big-tobacco?lite

Stay Shady! Looking for Volunteers

The UTMB DIG is looking for volunteers to present our sun protection presentation, "Stay Shady!," to the students at the Crenshaw Middle School.

When: Friday, August 31st, 10:45-11:45am

Where: Crenshaw Middle School 416 Hwy. 87 Crystal Beach 77650

This is always a fun event! Interested in participating? Please email Alex Acosta at kaacosta@utmb.edu

UTMB Academy of Master Teachers Educational Technology Grant

The UTMB Dermatology Department applied for a grant offered by the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers. A proposal was made to replace worn and damaged DVDs used in 4 different UTMB Selectives and Electives about skin diseases, as well as to purchase additional DVDs for the Dermatology Lending Library for students taking these classes. Some of these materials have been in continuous use since 2006, when dermatology film classes were first offered at UTMB. Sadly, the dermatology department learned that their request was declined.

UTMB Dermatopathology Publishes Herpes Paper

Congratulations to Drs. Ryan Matherne and Brent Kelly for their contributions to their recently published case report, “Syringitis: A clue to herpes infection.” The citation is DOJ 2012(8):6, and a link to their paper is http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1808/03_csp/6_12-00005/article.html  Dr. Kelly is the UTMB Dermatopathology Director, and Dr. Matherne completed dermatology residency and dermatopathology fellowship at UTMB. Dr. Matherne currently practices in his home state, Louisiana. Co-authors on this publication were Drs. Michael Sedrak and Michaela Marek, a former UTMB medical student who is a current dermatology resident at UTSA.

Dermatology Resident Scholarly Project about Skin Diseases in Prison Published

Congratulations to Drs. Cameron Coury and Brent Kelly for their recent publication, “Prison Dermatology: Experience in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Dermatology Clinic,” in the Journal of Correctional Health Care (Published online before print August 16, 2012, doi:10.1177/1078345812456365). Dr. Coury is currently practicing dermatology in Richardson, Texas, and Dr. Brent Kelly is Associate Professor in the UTMB Department of Dermatology. Their abstract is currently available at: http://jcx.sagepub.com/content/early/recent

Why did I interview there?

In the face of unenthusiastic applicants at the interview, dermatology departments may wonder why some residency applicants accepted an invitation to interview. Although the linked article is focused on applicants seeking academic positions, it offers valuable insight into interview dynamics during residency interviews as well:  http://chronicle.com/article/Show-Them-You-Really-Want-the/132281/ Applicants will be more likely to create a positive first impression if they attempt to learn more about the program and enjoy the interactive interview process.

Calling All DIG Members!

Volunteers are needed to work the DIG booth at the Welcome Weekend Community Fair on Saturday, August 18th. The community fair will be held from 12:15 to 2:15pm. Volunteers are needed to work anytime during this period to help distribute sunscreen and sun awareness information, obtain interested incoming students' email addresses, and to cultivate interest in Dermatology in the incoming class. If you are interested, please send an email to Will Tausend (wetausen@utmb.edu) and state what times you would like to work from. The new DIG shirts will also be distributed to current members at this time.

New UTMB PGY2 Dermatology Residency Position for July 2013 Filled

Dr. Helen Malone, a PGY4 plastic surgery resident from Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) has accepted the new PGY2 Dermatology Residency Position for July 2013. Congratulations, and we all look forward to working with you next year!

UTMB President Denies Additional Large-Scale Layoffs

The Galveston Daily News (GDN) is reporting that UTMB President, Dr. David Callender is denying widespread rumors that there are plans for additional large-scale layoffs at UTMB. Please read http://galvestondailynews.com/story/332222 for additional details. GDN reporter, Laura Elder summarizes the history of UTMB layoffs from 2006 (pre-Ike) to the present in her article. Dr. Callender will host a meeting next week to discuss these employee and community concerns.

Medical Student Publications While in Medical School

The current ultra competitiveness for dermatology residency positions has motivated many medical students with outstanding academic credentials to engage in research while in medical school and attempt to publish their results before submitting their ERAS application. What barriers do medical students encounter in this process? A recent publication by Chakraborti et al, “Identifying barriers to successful research during medical school,” surveyed 422 members of medical student organizations ( http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/med/article/view/med.2012.e2/pdf ) . Their findings were that mentorship, student funding and having someone in charge of student research were important factors for successful publication. Surprisingly, course offerings in research were not a factor. This may explain why medical students working with the UTMB Department of Dermatology often publish dermatology research while in medical school. Our dermatology department has multiple faculty and residents who have a strong interest and a proven track record in scholarly publication. They are all very accessible to medical students and have the experience and funding available to support student projects through publication.