Thank you to all members who were able to attend our fall meeting last night and a very big thank you to Dr. Wagner, who took time out of his busy schedule to speak to DIG members. Please see below for a quick recap of the meeting:
- Stay Shady (Michael Ryan; MS2; mpryan@utmb.edu)
- Stay Shady is currently working on obtaining 8 dates (4 fall and 4 spring) to present Stay Shady to different schools in the area
- Look for sign-up opportunities on the blog or by email
- Contact Michael Ryan for more information
- Bake Sale Date (Uloma Ibezim; MS3; ucibezim@utmb.edu)
- Tentatively scheduled for 11/13
- Check your email for a sign-up document for members to donate baked goods
- The fall and spring bake sale are used to help defray the cost of supplies for Stay Shady
- Volunteer opportunities
- Melanoma Walk (Paige Hoyer; pehoyer@utmb.edu)
- Paige Hoyer (MS4) is currently looking for either an MS1 or MS2 to help with planning the annual Melanoma Walk
- Paige did an amazing job with the walk the past spring on the seawall and we would like to continue this!
- Houston Psoriasis Walk (Jacob Benavidez; Jacobbenavidez7@gmail.com)
- Jacob Benavidez (MS3) is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Psoriasis Walk
- It will be on Saturday, March 10th, 2018
- For more information, visit www.teamnpf.org/houstonwalk or contact Jacob
- Be Joint Smart (Jacob Benavidez; Jacobbenavidez7@gmail.com)
- Jacob Benavidez (MS3) is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Psoriasis Walk
- It will be on Saturday, February 10th, 2018
- For more information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/be-joint-smart-houston-tx-tickets-34157116856
- DIGA Board and Regional Representatives (Paige Hoyer; pehoyer@utmb.edu)
- Please check your email for a message about information on applying to be a member of the national DIGA board as well as volunteer opportunities from DIGA
- For more information, please visit the DIGA website http://derminterest.org/About.aspx
- Cast Away Cancer (Priscilla Ly; pfly@utmb.edu)
- Cancer awareness event hosted by UTMB SGA and started by DIG member Priscilla Ly (MS3)
- DIG is looking for volunteers to help create a skin cancer awareness poster and ways to both screen for and prevent skin cancer
- Will be on 11/16 with free food and T shirts provided
- Melanoma Walk (Paige Hoyer; pehoyer@utmb.edu)
- Q&A with Dr. Wagner
- Dr. Wagner has been the Program Director for UTMB Dermatology for more than 15 years. Last night, he took time out of his busy schedule to come answer questions that DIG members had in order to become successful, competitive applicants. Topics included: overall information about applying, research, away rotations, and schedule recommendations.
- Overall information about Dermatology
- Almost all Dermatology residencies are 3 year Advanced positions
- For the intern year, the ACGME allows Preliminary Internal Medicine, Preliminary Surgery, Transitional Year, Categorical General Surgery, Categorical Pediatrics, and Categorical OBGYN to count as a successful intern year
- Applicants typically apply for Prelim - IM or Transitional Year; however, it is becoming more competitive to match into a Transitional Year
- In addition, if an applicant is interested in a fellowship in dermatology (Pediatric Dermatology, Procedural Dermatology, or Dermatopathology), it may benefit to apply for a Pediatric categorical or a Surgery Prelim or Categorical position
- In addition, applicants need to know that both the overall number and the quality of applicants increases every year
- Research
- Dr. Wagner recommends at least 10 abstracts, presentations, and publications combined in order to be a competitive applicant
- The most important way to get research is to be present around the department and be proactive (done though electives or St. Vincent's)
- Research is the expectation now by programs
- Away rotations
- One of the most important parts of the process because 50% of applicant match at their home program or places they did away rotations at
- Because what a program values as important varies widely, away rotations allow both the program and the applicant to see if they are a "good fit" for one another
- Things to consider are if other UTMB students have matched at a given program recently and the size/previous matches of different programs (smaller programs may prefer their own students versus larger programs who may cast a wider net)
- In some instances, the away rotation can be better than the interview itself
- Even if students are limited by their schedule, Dr. Wagner stresses that it is important to do as many away rotations are you can
- Fourth year schedule recommendations
- Do your best to avoid having rotations during interview season.
- If required, choose easier courses to do during interview season so that you may attend your interviews
- Don't do away rotations during interview season (avoid December and January at all costs; Best to do them from July until early November)
- Be prepared for conflicts when receiving interview applications because some programs interview on the same day. In that event, decide which one you have the best chance to match at
- Talk to upperclassmen to figure out and decide on good electives and away rotations
- Overall information about Dermatology
- Dr. Wagner has been the Program Director for UTMB Dermatology for more than 15 years. Last night, he took time out of his busy schedule to come answer questions that DIG members had in order to become successful, competitive applicants. Topics included: overall information about applying, research, away rotations, and schedule recommendations.