4 Week Electives Reinstituted at UTMB for 2022-2023 Academic Year (But No Change for 2021-2022)

Many medical students, faculty, and administrators have raised concern about the 3 week long electives at UTMB that were first instituted for the current 2020-2021 academic year. Although the 3 week elective schedule will remain in place for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year, there are plans to change back to the 4 week elective schedule (13 Periods) for the 2022-2023 academic year.

UTMB Dermatology Publishes Comprehensive Review About Pain Management in Mohs Setting

Congratulations to Dr. Frank Winsett (UTMB PGY4 dermatology resident) for his first author review that was published online in the peer-reviewed journal, International Journal of Dermatology (March 2021). The article, “Managing pain associated with dermatologic procedures” is available at http://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.15540 His coauthors are Drs. Kristyna Gleghorn (PGY4 UTMB dermatology resident and 2021-2022 UTMB Mohs fellow), Julie Croley (2020-2021 UTMB Mohs Fellow), and Richard Wagner, UTMB Professor Dermatology and Mohs Fellowship Director. Dr. Winsett has accepted a UTMB dermatology faculty position following expected program completion in June 2021.

Dermatology Research Electives at UTMB

Dermatology Research (DERU-4015) is a 3 or 6 week elective available to UTMB medical students during all periods (see description online at:

https://www.utmb.edu/meded/ElectivesBrochure/bdisplay.asp?rec=94

Unlike other electives offered by the UTMB Department of Dermatology, it requires completion of an “R Form” and the course directors approval (Richard Wagner, MD). A brief description of the planned research must be included in the R Form. The R Form must be submitted 60 days prior to the anticipated start date of the elective for approval by the UTMB Elective Course Committee.

UTMB Dermatology Announces PGY2 Residents Starting July 2022

Congratulations to our 5 new dermatology residents who matched through the NRMP into dermatology residency at UTMB:
 
Olivia Chukwuma (University of Florida College of Medicine)
 
Juan Pinto Cuberos, MD (Universidad Central de Venezuela)
 
Tony Jimenez (UTMB)
 
Sarah Rivera (Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine)
 
Elise Weisert (UTMB)
 
The UTMB DIG looks forward to working with you!

Congratulations to UTMB MS4s Matching into Dermatology Residency Programs

The UTMB DIG sends out our congratulations to the Class of 2021 UTMB MS4s for successfully matching into dermatology residency programs:
Tony Jimenez (UTMB)
 
Natalya Gallaga (Tulane)
 
Elise Weisert (UTMB)

Dermatology Medical Student Virtual Symposium 2021

Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Dermatology will be hosting a Medical Student Virtual Research Symposium 2021 taking place on Wednesday, May 26 from 11AM to 3PM EST.

This symposium is exclusively dedicated to highlighting medical student research accomplishments in dermatology in a national forum. They welcome submissions from a broad variety of research topics.

Submissions are due Friday, April 16 at 11:59 PM EST.

Another Successful Hats for the Homeless

Hats for the Homeless had another successful event on March 13th. 
Pictures from left to right: Grace Obanigba (MS1), Nesiya Sheriff (MS1), Ben Garcia (MS2), and Andrea Francis (MS2).

UTMB Publishes Proposal for Psychodermatology Fellowship

Congratulations to former UTMB DIG President Dr. Michael Ryan (SOM 2020) and UTMB Dermatology Program Director Dr. Richard Wagner (Professor Dermatology) for their original article, “Psychodermatology: Is it Time?” that was published in the February 2021 issue of Dermatology Online Journal. It may be found at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7j15s8kh

UTMB Fills All 5 Advanced Positions Through 2021 NRMP

Congratulations to the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program for successfully matching all 5 advanced positions in our dermatology residency that will start in July 2022 following completion of the PGY1 year.

UTMB Dermatologists Participate in Review of Upper Lip Reconstruction

Congratulations to UTMB Dermatologists who co-authored a recent review article in the March 2021 issue of Cutis about upper lip reconstruction techniques in collaboration with the UTMB Plastic Surgery Division. They are Drs. Josh Hammel (UTMB Mohs Fellow 2018-2019) and Richard Wagner (Professor Dermatology). Dr. Josh Hays (UTMB SOM Class of 2019) created the original figures used to illustrate the reconstructive procedures. The article may be found online at https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/236839/aesthetic-dermatology/upper-lip-anatomy-mechanics-local-flaps-and

UTMB Medical Student Coauthors “Compelling Comment” about Colorism and Skin Bleaching

Congratulations to UTMB medical student MS3 Michael Phan joined with first author Tulane MS2 Kezia Surjanto and Tulane Dermatology Faculty Laura Williams to publish “A Commentary on Colorism and Skin Bleaching in Asian and Asian American Patients” in the 2021 Volume 5, Number 2 issue of SKIN (page 189).

UTMB Dermatology Publishes Case Report in SKIN

Congratulations to UTMB medical students, resident, and faculty for their recent 2021 publication about bullous pemphigoid associated with Linagliptin in SKIN. First author Brenda Carrillo is a UTMB MS2. Her coauthors were Natalya Gallaga (UTMB MS4), Dr. Paige Hoyer (UTMB Dermatology Resident PGY3), and dermatology faculty Drs. Lindy Ross (Assistant Professor) and Michael Wilkerson (Professor and Chair).The citation for this publication is: Carrillo, B., Gallaga, N., Hoyer, P., Ross, L., & Wilkerson, M. (2021). A Case of Linagliptin-Induced Bullous Pemphigoid . SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine, 5(2), 147–151. https://doi.org/10.25251/skin.5.2.11

TDS Award Winning Presentation Published

Congratulations to Dr. Paige Hoyer, a current PGY3 UTMB dermatology Resident for her recent publication in SKIN (Volume 5, Number 2, 2021). The article that appeared in the “COVID Concepts” section of the journal was “Use of Absorbable Cutaneous Sutures Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Her UTMB coauthors were Drs. Julie Croley (current Mohs fellow) and Richard Wagner (Mohs Fellowship Director. Dr. Hoyer was awarded first prize for her podium presentation on this topic at the fall 2020 TDS virtual meeting. This publication is available online at https://doi.org/10.25251/skin.5.2.9

DIG Research Program

DIG is excited to launch our Research Program where students will be paired with the dermatology department faculty or residents to work on research projects!

With Texas Dermatology Society Conference coming up shortly, there will be opportunities for students to be paired.

Please fill this form out as soon as you are able, so we can begin the matching process:

https://forms.gle/Tnyscmm7egLNXU9D9

If you have any questions, please contact our research chair, Renat Ahatov - rrahatov@utmb.edu.

Recommended Reading for Underrepresented-in-Medicine Dermatology Applicants

 The article, “Advice for Applying to Dermatology as an Applicant of Color: Keep Going,” by Nicole A. Negbenebor, MD is excellent reading for underrepresented-in-medicine medical students considering dermatology as a career. It was published in Cutis. 2021 January;107(01):E15-E16 | doi:10.12788/cutis.0166  

UTMB MS1 Approved for UTMB Honors Dermatology Research Program

UTMB MS1 Fareen Momin has been approved for the UTMB Honors Dermatology Research Program for her original research proposal, “Dermatological Findings in Disney Children’s Films.” Her research mentor is Dr. Richard Wagner, UTMB Professor Dermatology and the Dermatology Program Director. Her ad hoc committee is composed of Drs. B. Howrey (Director of the UTMB Honors Research Program), Janice Wilson (Assistant Professor of Dermatology), and Dr. Brent Kelly (Professor Dermatology). Congratulations!

TDS Abstract Competition

From the Texas Dermatological Society Website (Click here for guidelines for poster & podium and links to poster & podium applications):  

TDS invites you to participate in the Podium & Poster Competition that will be held April 30 – May 1, 2020 virtually for the TDS Spring Meeting. Residents, Fellows & Medical Students will have the opportunity to present their abstracts and research in two different settings.  

Applications for the podium and poster competitions are to be filled online.

 

Virtual Podium Competition:

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in the amounts of $500, $300 and $200 as well as certificates.

 

REMINDER: Residents are only eligible to win. Medical Students & Fellows are welcome to participate.

 

Application Deadline: March 26th

Abstract Paragraph & Pre-Recorded Video Presentation: April 9th

 

Virtual Poster Competition:

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the amounts of $500, $300 and $200 as well as certificates.

 

REMINDER: Residents are only eligible to win. Medical Students & Fellows are welcome to participate.

 

Application Deadline: March 26th

Abstract Paragraph & Poster PDF Deadline: April 9^th

For questions, please email alyssa.hanson@texmed.org.

 

NOTES:

• You can apply for poster & podium but they have to be different topics. As well, you can NOT be first author for more than one poster.
• If you want to be a co-author, you can but the main first author HAS TO submit the application. We will not accept applications under the same first author for the same competition (i.e., poster or podium).
• Deadlines are DEFINITE due to uploading files to the platform we are using to display our virtual abstract poster & podium presentations.
• Registration is free for Residents/Fellows that are members & medical student 

UC Irvine Virtual Residency Open House

UC Irvine will be hosting a free, virtual residency open house via Zoom on Saturday, May 1, from 9am-Noon (Pacific Time). This event is designed for medical students applying to residency programs in the Fall of 2021. Core faculty and residents from the UCI Department of Dermatology will be participating.

Here is the weblink containing more information (deadline to register is April 17):

https://som.uci.edu/gme/residency-open-house/

Hats for the Homeless Volunteer Link

Students that are interested in signing up to volunteer for Hats for the Homeless events can sign up through this link.  Please contact the current blog editors for more details. 

UTMB Medical Students Present at Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium Competition

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Elise Weisert and MS3 Renat Ahatov who presented their project, "It's Time for Some Rash Changes: An Analysis of Representation of Skin of Color in Online Patient Education Images," at UTMB's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Symposium. Their presentation won 2nd place in the poster/presentation competition. Their co-authors on the project were Dr. Paige Hoyer and Dr. Lindy Ross.

Robert S. Tausend, MD (1955-2021)

The UTMB Department of Dermatology was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Robert Tausend suddenly passed away on January 1, 2021.

He was well known to our medical students and dermatology residents, and he always welcomed them to learn about dermatology in his private practice (Bayshore Dermatology) in Pasadena, Texas. Many UTMB medical students interested in dermatology careers greatly benefited from having Dr. Tausend mentor them during the 4-week Ambulatory and Community Medicine Selective graduation requirement. He was the UTMB AOA Visiting Professor in 2015.

2021 UTMB Dermatopathology Board Review Canceled

Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 emergency, the spring 2021 UTMB Dermatopathology Board Review has been canceled. It was last held on the UTMB Galveston campus in 2019.

2021-2022 Proposed UTMB House Staff Salaries

 

ASLMS Student Membership

ASLMS (American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, Inc.), the world’s largest professional organization devoted to medical laser and energy-based applications, offers a student membership which includes a free Introduction to Laser course with special rates on live interactive webinars. Interested students can find more information here. 

Weather Disaster Does Not Stop UTMB DIG from Distributing Hats to Galveston Homeless

The sun is back in Galveston after many here lost electric power and water due to the arctic snow and ice. Today’s event was a success! We distributed 10 hats and some bottled Gatorade. Attached is the picture of the event. 

From left to right: Benjamin Garcia (MS2), Xavier Rice (MS3), Puja Shah (MS1), and Andrea Francis (MS2)

UTMB National Student Research Forum (NSRF) Goes Virtual in 2021

Medical students and residents are encouraged to participate in the 62nd Annual NSRF. This year the meeting is being held on May 14-15. Abstracts are due April 16, 2021, but are already being submitted. Early registration by March 3 will save registrants $25. Please see https://www.utmb.edu/nsrf/ for additional information. Historically dermatology awards are made for the best dermatology poster and the best dermatology podium presentation.

UTMB SOM Graduates Create The Bone Window Blog

2020 UTMB School of Medicine graduates Drs. Catherine and Wade Karam, resident physicians who couples matched into radiology and orthopedic surgery, created a blog to share advice to pre-med students, medical students, and residents about their journey through medicine. Blog posts include advice on away rotations, ranking programs, and couples matching. Students can follow along at their website here or follow them on Instagram at @thebonewindow.

Changes for UTMB 2021 Match Day

Match day is March 19, 2021 but only UTMB MS4s will attend due to COVID-19 (no guests). Please see https://www.utmb.edu/som/student-affairs/match-day.

Many MS4s are expected to celebrate remotely and not be on campus.

No Houston Rodeo This Year

The 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo initially scheduled for May 2021 has been canceled due to COVID-19.

Congratulations Mohs Team

Current UTMB Mohs Fellow Dr. Julie Croley published a surgical tip that will be useful to clinicians about how to easily determine if the amount of undermining needed to close a wound meets the new criteria for complex closure. Her co-authors were Drs. Richard Wagner (UTMB Mohs Fellowship Director) and Aaron Joseph, UTMB Associate Program Director of the Mohs Fellowship Program. For additional information, please see:

Croley JA, Wagner RF Jr, Joseph AK. Use of a Cotton-Tipped Applicator to Measure the Extent of Undermining. Dermatol Surg. 2021 Jan 11. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000002854. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33481432 No abstract available.

Step 2 CS Discontinued

On January 26, 2021, the USMLE announced that they are cancelling plans to relaunch a modified Step 2 Clinical Skills exam due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have decided to permanently discontinue Step 2 CS. In the statement, the USMLE states: "We have no plans to bring back Step 2 CS, but we intend to take this opportunity to focus on working with our colleagues in medical education and at the state medical boards to determine innovative ways to assess clinical skills." 

Link to the official announcement can be found here.

UTMB PGY3 Dermatology Residents Win Poster Competition

Congratulations to UTMB PGY3 Dermatology residents Drs. Morgan Arnold and Paige Hoyer for winning first place for their poster, “Clinical and Dermoscopic Improvement of Cutaneous Collagenous Vasculopathy with IPL” awarded at the 2021 ARTE (Advanced Resident Training and Education) Poster Competition at ODAC (Orlando Dermatology Aesthetic & Clinical Conference). Their coauthors on the poster were UTMB faculty Dr. Brandon Goodwin and Dr. Janice Wilson and MS4 Elise Weisert. 

January 2021 Hats for the Homeless

Thanks to all of our DIG volunteers for making our January 2021 Hats for the Homeless program a success!

From left the right: Will Meyer (MS2), Olivia Arriaza (MS1), Lilly Villarreal (MS2), and Andrea Francis (MS2)

UTMB MS2 Presents Stay Shady at Trinity Episcopal

UTMB DIG continues virtual "Stay Shady" presentations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to MS2 Andrea Francis, who presented Stay Shady to the students of Trinity Episcopal school on January 8th. 

 

Dermatology Residency Applications with No Step 1 Score

Dermatology Online Journal (2020, Volume 26, Issue 12) has published an interesting article of particular interest to medical students who will apply to dermatology residency programs without a Step 1 score (see https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4k1570vj ). In addition to traditional selections factors, the authors also include “the extras” on applications including, “Past   experiences   such   as   being   class   president, engaging in Step 1 tutoring, receiving the Gold    Humanism    Honor    Society    (GHHS)    award,    starting    a    nonprofit    organization,    obtaining    a    Masters  of  Public  Health  degree,  or  having  had  an  entirely  different  career  before  coming  to  medical  school …” as important.

How Burnout Impacts Dermatology Resident Career Choice

 Bottom line: “Residents with higher levels of burnout reported they were significantly less likely to pursue academia, full-time work, clinical research, and fellowships after residency. The results showed opposite effects for residents with higher qualities of life.” See https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26v1h7gc for additional information about this survey (DOJ Volume 26, Issue 12)

Continued Accreditation for All UTMB Dermatology Programs

The ACGME Review Committee for Dermatology met this month and determined that all three of UTMB‘s Dermatology Graduate Education Programs in dermatology, dermatopathology, and micrographic surgery/dermatologic oncology receive continued accreditation. The ACGME reviews every residency program in the United States every year.

Volunteers Needed for January St. Vincent's Dermatology Night

Five student volunteers are still needed for St. Vincent's Dermatology Night on January 7 starting at 5:30 pm. Interested volunteers may sign up here.

Hats for the Homeless Program Continues into 2021

UTMB MS2 Andrea Francis is organizing the Hats for the Homeless Program in Galveston during 2021. The current scheduled dates for this volunteer activity (7:50 am to 9 am) are:

1/16/2021

2/20/2021

3/6/2021

4/3/2021

5/15/2021

6/12/2021

 

Please contact her if you would like to participate!

UTMB PGY3 Dermatology Resident Receives Prestigious Thayer Award

Congratulations to UTMB PGY3 Dermatology Resident Dr. Paige Hoyer for her recent receipt of the fall 2020 UTMB Thayer Award for Excellence in Teaching. This recognition is sponsored by the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine and is awarded to residents and fellows nominated by medical students and selected by Osler Student Scholars. More information about this award is available at https://www.utmb.edu/osler/awards/thayer-award-for-excellence

Thayer Award for Excellence - utmb.edu William S. Thayer, M.D. William S. Thayer was born in Milton, Massachusetts and received his B.A. in 1885, and his M.D. in 1889, both from Harvard University. www.utmb.edu