Updates from the National Psoriasis Foundation

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) recently announced that they have changed the dates for their annual Houston Walk and their Be Joint Smart events due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey. DIG members have both participated in and helped volunteer at these events previously and are encouraged to maintain this tradition! The new dates are Saturday, March 10th, 2018, for the Houston Walk and  Saturday, February 10th, 2018, for Be Joint Smart. Please go to www.teamnpf.org/houstonwalk or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/be-joint-smart-houston-tx-tickets-34157116856 to find out more information about these great events. 

DIG Meeting on Wednesday, October 11th at 5pm

On Wednesday, October 11th at 5pm in the 5th floor conference room (McCullough 5.124), the DIG Officers will be hosting the Fall 2017 meeting. Topics for discussion include: Stay Shady dates/sign-up, Texas Derm Society recap, Fall Bake Sale, and other upcoming events of interest. In addition, UTMB Program Director and DIG Faculty Adviser Dr. Richard Wagner will be present to provide general advice/recommendations as well as host an informal Q&A session. This is a great opportunity for interested students to receive advice early on to help them become a top applicant.

What: Fall DIG Meeting

When: Wednesday, October 11th @ 5pm

Where: 5th floor conference room (5.124 McCullough)

Recent PGY4 Dermatology Graduates Provide Lunch for Department

Thanks to our recently graduated PGY4 dermatology residents (and now Diplomates of the American Board of Dermatology!) Elizabeth, Emily, Young, and Alison for the delicious lunch. Wish you could be here with us! We will see y’all in Bastrop at the 2017 fall Texas Dermatological Society meeting in Bastrop, Texas next weekend. UTMB has lots of medical student and resident posters that should be of interest.

MCAT Score Predictive of AOA Election

Medical education researchers at the University of Minnesota report that at their medical school, higher MCAT scores were predictive of future AOA election (P < 0.001 ). Between 2012 and 2016, no students were elected to AOA who scored less than 27 on the MCAT. However, students who scored 38 or higher (99^th percentile) had a 27% chance of AOA election. For additional information, please see: https://www.dovepress.com/articles.php?article_id=34741

Galveston is Free on Weekend of September 30/October 1, 2017 (At Least Some Things…)

The City of Galveston is generously offering free Seawall parking and beach (Stewart Beach and East Beach) admission during the weekend of September 30^th and October 1^st (“Galveston Cares Weekend”). Trolley rides on the Strand are also free these days. Free fireworks at 37^th and Seawall honoring first responders. This is a good time to enjoy the wonders of Galveston for free! Please read http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Galveston-plans-free-beach-weekend-fireworks-and-12217740.php  for additional information.

UTMB MS4 First Author on Mohs Surgery Article

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Josh Hays for his recent first author publication, “Reactive Eccrine Syringofibroadenoma Associated With Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Histologic Mimicker of Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus,” This electronic publication, ahead of print, appears in Dermatol Surg. 2017 Sep 4. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000001308, PMID: 28902033.  His co-authors on this study were Drs. H. Malone (UTMB former Mohs Fellow not in private practice in Katy, Texas), Brandon Goodwin (Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology at UTMB), and Richard Wagner (Mohs Fellowship Director). The UTMB DIG blog congratulates Josh for the quality of his research and for his excellent academic productivity!

UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Resident Dr. Chinelo Ikpeama Assists Dermatology Lobbying Effort in Washington, DC

Chinelo Ikpeama MD, MBA, PGY-4 UTMB dermatology resident is photographed with the Texas delegation as they lobby Texas Junior Senator Ted Cruz at Capitol Hill during the 2017 American Academy of Dermatology Association Legislative Conference in Washington DC. Dr. Ikpeama is standing to the immediate right of Senator Cruz in this photograph.

UTMB Mohs Team Publishes Nasal Reconstruction Article in October 2017 JAAD

Congratulations to Dr. Helen Malone (former UTMB Mohs Fellow now in private practice in Katy, Texas), UTMB MS4 Josh Hays, UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Resident Dr. Will Tausend, and Fellowship Director, Dr. Richard Wagner for their October 2017 article, “Interdomal sutures for nasal tip refinement and reduced wound size,” that was electronically published in the October 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Volume 77, Issue 4, pages e107-e108). Of note, Josh Hays drew all of the figures in this report! It is available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962217316456

Congratulations to Josh and the rest of the Mohs team for this interesting article!

Stay Alert for New Cases of Murine Typhus in Galveston County

The Galveston County Health Authority has requested assistance in identifying new cases of murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi) that is spread by infected fleas. Infected animals include rats, cats, and opossums. So far this year, there have been 15 new infections identified in Galveston County. Dermatologists may see these patients due to a  maculopapular rash that begins on the trunk and extends peripherally. Additional information about murine typhus can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/typhus/murine/index.html

Please direct any additional questions to 409-938-2208, 409-938-2215 or 409-938-2322

2017 UTMB Dermatology Residents Receive an A on ABD Certification Exam

The American Board of Dermatology Provides dermatology residency programs with composite information about the results of their annual Certification Examination each year as one way to evaluate effectiveness of the training program. This year our 4 graduating PGY4 dermatology residents achieved a composite percentile rank of 90%. The failure rate of the 2017 exam was 1.4% of the 496 testees. This makes the third year in a row that UTMB PGY4 graduating dermatology residents have achieved composite percentile ranks of 90% or greater. 130 Programs were ranked by this method in 2017. Congratulations to the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program for this great achievement and recognition.

Dermatology Very Popular With New First Year Students

Dermatology was very popular among the incoming students at welcome weekend (Aug 26-29), with over ~30 people signing up to join the blog. When the DIG booth looks this good, its easy to see why! Thanks to Michael Ryan(MS2) and Keith Wagner (MS3) for volunteering to man the booth.

UTMB Dermatology Operations during Hurricane Harvey

The UTMB Dermatology Clinic was open at UHC in Galveston on Monday, August 28^th. Even though UTMB medical students were dismissed from school the previous week to evacuate for Hurricane Harvey (and would not return until Tuesday, September 5^th), the UTMB Dermatology Clinic at UHC in Galveston was open for patients on this very wet day. Kudos to all who were able to staff this clinic (photo) during this weather emergency! All UTMB Dermatology Clinics were open for patients on Friday, September 1.

100% of PGY4 UTMB Dermatology Residents Pass July 2017 American Board of Dermatology Certification Examination on First Try

Congratulations to all of the PGY4 2017 UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Residency Graduates who completed training in June. All four passed the American Board of Dermatology on their first attempt. The UTMB DIG had no doubts about your success!

Record Number of Visiting Medical Students Taking UTMB Dermatology Electives

There have been 12 visiting MS4s in the UTMB Department of Dermatology so far during the 2017-2018 academic year through Period 3 (July through September). Included are in-state medical students (University of Texas Houston, Texas A&M) and others from out-of-state medical schools (University of Arkansas, University of Louisiana New Orleans, University of Tennessee Memphis, Drexel University, and University of North Dakota). We hope that you have all enjoyed your stay in Galveston and have learned more about dermatology!

UTMB Medical Students Return Following Hurricane Harvey

UTMB medical students were dismissed prior to the arrival of Hurricane Harvey, and are now back at UTMB starting September 5^th, 201

UTMB Dermatology has Two New Professors!

Congratulations to Drs. Erica and Brent Kelly. Dr. Erica Kelly was promoted to Clinical Professor of Dermatology on September 1, 2017 and Dr. Brent Kelly was promoted to Professor, Dermatology (tenured) at the same time.  The UTMB Dermatology Department now has 5 dermatology professors, 1 associate professor, and 3 assistant professors on faculty. Three of the professors are tenured.

St. Vincent Dermatology Night 9/7

Join UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty for the upcoming dermatology night (Thursday, September 7th) at St. Vincent’s Clinic. Please see the calendar link below to reserve your volunteering spot:

When: Thursday, September 7th 5:30-8:30PM (volunteers should arrive at 5:15)

Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550

Volunteer link: http://ift.tt/25Hmbgd