UTMB Dermatology Clinics Welcome POM2 Medical Students

The UTMB Department of Dermatology will participate in UTMB’s required POM2 (Practice of Medicine 2) medical student education class during the 2014-2015 academic year. Two medical students will participate in morning dermatology clinics in the UHC, while another will travel to the UTMB Dermatology Clinic at Bay Colony in League City. The clinics will host POM2 students on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings. Every POM2 student will have an opportunity to rotate through our dermatology clinics. POM2 students will have an opportunity to interact with UTMB dermatology residents and faculty, and see a variety of patients with skin diseases. They will also have the opportunity to view dermatologic procedures such as diagnostic tests and the treatment of skin cancers. They will present their clinical experiences to their faculty facilitator during scheduled POM2 class meetings. This is an excellent opportunity for UTMB medical students to gain exposure to dermatology early during their medical education.

Does Dermatology Residency Program Matter for Dermatologic Surgery or Dermatopathology Fellowship Offers?

Yes, where you take dermatology residency appears to matter if you plan on subspecialization in dermatologic surgery (Mohs) or dermatopathology. Fellowship training positions in these subspecialties are very limited, and excellent performing residents from within home dermatology training programs offering these fellowships will likely have the best professional connections to receive a fellowship offer there. These residents also usually have the opportunity to participate in research with the fellowship director, further cementing their desirability as a future fellow. Medical students who know that they want to take a procedural dermatology or a dermatopathology fellowship following dermatology residency are best advised to rank programs offering those fellowships higher on their rank lists, and hope for the best!

Boston University Intends to Extend Dermatology Training to 6 Years

Boston University plans on changing its dermatology training program from the current standard 3 years to 6 years starting in July 2016. Applicants in the current match cycle should understand that matching into the Boston University Dermatology Program will require a 6 year academic commitment. This will be accomplished by having its new dermatology residents complete the standard 3-year ACGME dermatology residency. Graduates will then remain an additional three years as Assistant Professors of Dermatology at Boston University where they will continue to develop academic niche areas in dermatology subspecialties. This type of academic restructuring has previously been attempted at another institution without success. It will be interesting to see how Boston University fares in its innovative change with dermatology education.