Medical students at UTMB were surprised that UTMB was not listed in the top 20 ranked US Programs in regard to successful matches into dermatology residency (JAAD 2022; 86:490-492). Our students have exposure to several factors that favor applicants in the competitive dermatology residency match each year: an active dermatology residency program with multiple electives starting in the first year of medical school, a dedicated preclinical dermatology course (dermatology is covered as part of DHM in the second year), ample research opportunities for medical students to collaborate with dermatology residents and faculty or to conduct independent dermatology research as a Principle Investigator (PI) by engaging in the UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Program, encouragement to present research at regional (Texas Dermatological Society spring and fall meetings), national meetings such as the annual meeting to the American Academy of Dermatology), other national dermatology societies, and the National Student Research Forum dermatology section), 4 departmental graduation awards each year, and numerous volunteer opportunities through our active Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) and St. Vincent’s monthly dermatology clinic. Assuming that the other school reports in this article were accurate, UTMB would have ranked tied at number 3 with the University of Michigan.
Researching the archives of the UTMB DIG Blog, it was documented that there have been 24 successful dermatology matches for UTMB medical students during the 4 year period reported (2017-2020). UTMB medical students have matched at 15 different dermatology programs during this period:
UTMB 7
Texas Tech 3
Baylor (Dallas) 1
Cook County 1
LSU (New Orleans) 1
NYU 1
U Arkansas 1
U Florida 1
U Kansas 1
U Minnesota 1
Howard 2
Tulane 1
UT Austin 1
UT Houston 1
UT San Antonio 1