Reminder: DIG Meeting Tomorrow!

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: Monday, October 1st at 5PM

Have any questions? Email Sheila Jalalat at szjalala@utmb.edu

The "Most Qualified" Dermatology Applicant

Who is the "most qualified" applicant for a competitive dermatology residency position? That depends on a variety of factors. Certainly getting an interview through the usual screening process means that based on the paper credentials presented, the applicant  meets the academic requirements for the program. Does this mean that the applicant with the best Step 1 score from the highest ranked medical school is an automatic match? Not necessarily. According to Bob Weinstein ("First impressions, body language just a few key interview lessons," Houston Chronicle, September 30, 2012, EE1), "Candidates who sell themselves the best in the interview process get the job." All dermatology residency programs are not the same, and candidates should expect programs to be evaluating applicants for their best fit with regard to candidate career aspirations and available program resources. 

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: Monday, October 1st at 5PM

Have any questions? Email Sheila Jalalat at szjalala@utmb.edu

Facebook and Twitter for Dermatology Applicants

Is it possible that Dermatology Program Directors, other faculty, or residents follow applicants on Facebook and on Twitter? While we are unaware that this is a current practice, applicants should be cautious about what they and their friends post (including pictures). This type of background research is certainly being done in other fields when businesses are interviewing potential new employees. It is not uncommon for businesses to google an applicant to learn more background information about them.

Dermatology Teachers Exchange Group Continues to Offer National Exposure to Dermatology Applicants

This year’s Dermatology Teachers Exchange Group (DTEG) meeting in Chicago on September 14, 2012 featured many medical students presenting their educational research. The DTEG meets twice each academic year, first in September at the annual meeting of the Association of Professors of Dermatology (APD) meeting and again at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Educational abstracts must be submitted prior to each meeting, and those selected for presentation are distributed to attendees. Since this meeting is well attended by dermatology program directors and chairs, it is an excellent opportunity for medical students interested in a dermatology career to meet interact with leaders in the specialty.

Melanoma Moulage for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)?

Educational research at the September 2012 meeting of the Dermatology Teachers Exchange Group  by Reddy S, Powers J, Jacob R, Wilson L, Belazarian L, Dominguez E, George P, Robinson-Bostom L, Avashia N, Wise E, Wang J, Geller A, and Garg A. entitled “The Skin Cancer Objective Structured Clinical Examination (SCOSCE): a multi-institutional collaboration to develop and validate a clinical skills assessment for suspicious pigmented lesions” discussed their experience with the use of a realistic melanoma moulage that was placed on the back of gowned  simulated patients requiring examination of the posterior chest  for respiratory complaints. This created a realistic clinical situation because many asymptomatic primary melanomas present on the posterior chest and removal of the gown during pulmonary examinations would permit the examiner with an opportunity to identify early melanoma and provide early intervention.

No Need to Attend Class!

Original dermatology educational research presented by Daniel Eisen from the University of California Davis at the September 2012 meeting of the Dermatology Teachers Exchange Group in Chicago yielded surprising results. Dr. Eisen and his co-authors Clayton Schupp, Lynda Ledo, and April Armstrong presented their abstract, “Does Class Attendance Matter? Study on Impact of Medical Student Class Attendance and Learning Preferences on Academic Performance in Dermatology” and reported that medical students attending an introductory dermatology course did no better on their final exam than students who did not attend class. Students who preferred watching the lectures online received significantly higher exam scores than those attending class.

Dermatology Residency News for Applicants from the 2012 Association of Dermatology Professors Meeting

Dr. Alexa Kimball’s annual review of the dermatology match, given to the Association of Dermatology Professors at their recent meeting in Chicago, contained valuable information for applicants. There were 10 less residency positions offered in the last match than the prior year. It is unknown if this downward trend will continue, although information from the Dermatology Academic Administrators Group Meeting indicated that at least one residency program may need to downsize in the future due to cutbacks in funding. Dr. Kimball also indicated that 70 to 80 percent of dermatology residency programs are now employing cutoff scores to screen applicants. Applicants with less than a 225 on Step 1 are unlikely to receive interviews at these programs. A Step 1 score of at least 245 was the “safe score” for dermatology interviews last year. On the average, programs interviewed about 33 applicants, and typically ranked 27. If an applicant interviewed at 5 different dermatology programs, there was a high likelihood for matching. However 10-15% of applicants with 5 interviews did not match into a dermatology residency.

"Stay Shady!" goes to Crenshaw Elementary School

On Friday, August 24, UTMB DIG member Alexandra Acosta (MS3) taught approximately 70 children, ages 5 to 10, about the importance of sun safety at Crystal Beach's Crenshaw Elementary School.  This fun, interactive presentation is aimed at making kids aware that the sun can damage their skin and inform them how to protect themselves.

Thank you to the students of Crenshaw for being such a great audience!

If you are interested in becoming involved in "Stay Shady!" events, please email Alexandra Acosta, kaacosta@utmb.edu.

National Lidocaine Shortage

Yes, there appears to be a national shortage of lidocaine according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, along with many other frequently prescribed medicines (see http://www.ashp.org/DrugShortages/Current/bulletin.aspx?id=859 ). Lidocaine is widely used by dermatologists and other health care providers such as dentists to provide local anesthesia during a variety of otherwise painful  procedures. While we are unaware of procedures being canceled due to the unavailability of lidocaine, it will be possible that this will occur in the future if none is available. According to the FDA website, the FDA monitors drug shortages but cannot require manufacturers to report the reason or duration (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugShortages/ucm050792.htm ). 

Important Upcoming Examination Dates (and their registration deadlines)

Annual Dermatology In-Training: 2/21/13 (application deadline 11/15/12)

Dermatology Certification Examination (Tampa, Florida): July 15-18 and July 22-25, 2013 (application deadline 3/1/13)

Dermatopathology Certification Examination (Tampa, Florida): September 9, 2013 (application deadline 5/15/13)

Source: Dermatology World, September 2012, page 48.

Deadline approaching: Fundamentals of Pediatric Dermatology Conference

Residents AND medical students are welcome to attend the Fundamentals of Pediatric Dermatology Conference, where they can receive a state-of-the-art review and update of common and important pediatric dermatologic conditions, focusing on diagnosis and treatment. Presentations will include didactics, clinical photographs, and question and answer sessions. 

Registration is FREE for residents and students if completed by September 11, 2012. On-site registration will be $50 for residents and students. This conference will be especially helpful for dermatology and pediatric residents as well as students interested in either dermatology or pediatrics!

 

To register, call 832.822.3718, or send an email to laheras@texaschildrens.org. Provide your name, degree, medical specialty, facility, address, phone, and e-mail.

 

What: Fundamentals of Pediatric Dermatology Conference, Fall 2012 Meeting

Where: Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, Hermann Pavilion Conference Center, 6411 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030

When: September 15, 2012

Time: 7:30AM-3:30PM

Parking will be validated for those who use the parking garage located at Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza, 6400 Fannin.

Dermatology Applicant Publishes Handbook about Dermatogeriatrics

Congratulations to Jillian W. Wong, who has published an impressive, 148 page handbook, plus illustrations of common skin diseases in the elderly (Handbooks in Health Care Company). Ms. Wong collaborated on this text with Drs. Jashin Wu and  John Koo, a Professor of Dermatology at UCSF. The new book, funded by a $21,000 grant, was sent to dermatology program directors along with a letter of recommendation from Dr. Koo.  

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 Oppe Elementary School.

When: Thursday, September 20th, 10:30-11:00am

Where: Oppe Elementary 2915 81st Street  Galveston, TX 77554

This is fun teaching experience and a great way to get involved with DIG! Interested in participating? Please email Alex Acosta at kaacosta@utmb.edu