Beach Run During Galveston's Mardi Gras Next Weekend

This year the Galveston YMCA will host a Beach Run during Mardi Gras on Saturday morning, February 6th. Additional information is available on their hotline number (409-763-4607), and their website is: https://webmail.utmb.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e2f562d583c41ba8edf4db2fe9c6995&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mardigrasbeachrun.com%2fdefault.asp

Join in on all the fun for a very good cause. And please remember the sunscreen!

Dr. Cameron Coury Completes UTMB Dermatology Residency

Congratulations to Cameron Coury, MD, who completes her dermatology residency at UTMB today. Dr. Coury was one of the combined 5-year dermatology/pediatrics residents, but following the closure of this combined residency program at UTMB in 2008 after Hurricane Ike, Dr. Coury continued residency training as a full-time dermatology resident at UTMB. She is joining a private dermatology practice in Richardson, Texas (Dermatology Specialists, office telephone 972-699-0000).

Dr. Mika Yamazaki made this flower arrangement.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Heavy rainfall in Galveston this morning caused temporary street flooding around the UTMB campus this morning.

Volunteer for Science Night at Odyssey Academy

Join DIG at Odyssey Academy's Annual Science night:

When: February 17, 2010 5pm-7pm
Where: Odyssey Academy
2412 61st Street
What: Teach kids how to stay safe in the sun
Make UV Bead bracelets with the kids

Interested in participating? E-mail Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu.

False Health and Safety Claims about Indoor Tanning

The American Academy of Dermatology has issued a statement about the recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action on indoor tanning health and safety claims. It is available at: http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/Releases/American_Academy_of_Dermatology_Lauds_US_Federal_T/

Dermatology Times Offers Advice to Applicants

The January 2010 issue of Dermatology Times (Volume 31, Number 1) by John Jesitus, Senior Staff Correspondent, offers expert advice to dermatology applicants on page 26. To match into dermatology and to be happy with this career choice, you should be in the top 10% of your medical school class (unless there is a research background), become a mentor to students once you graduate, have a strong self-image so that negative peer comments about dermatology being less worthwhile than other specialties won't bother you, select dermatology because of your passion about the specialty (not because of perceived lifestyle benefits that may change with increasing governmental regulation), application to every dermatology program, and knowledge that most daily dermatology practice involves the management of only 5 or 6 specific diagnoses.

DIG Presents Stay Shady! at Odyssey

DIG presented "Stay Shady!" this week at Odyssey Elementary School. The first and second graders were enthusiastic about sun safety and asked many wonderful questions! Thank you to Odyssey Academy for being a great audience.

Interested in presenting Stay Shady! at another school? Contact our Community Service Rep Rebecca Philips at rcphilip@utmb.edu or Co-Pres Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu.

Former Dermatology Residents Visit Department Before Sunday Marathon

Drs. Julie Brantley (The Woodlands, TX) and Josh Dimmick (Springfield, MO) visited the UTMB Department of Dermatology on Friday, prior to their races in the Houston Marathon this weekend. They shared their experiences in their first seven months of private dermatology practice with our faculty and residents. It was great getting their feedback about our dermatology residency program now that they are practicing dermatologists. Good luck to you both in the upcoming marathon! We will all be cheering for you!

"Skin Diseases Depicted in the Cinema" is Ready for the Next Hurricane!

Our dermatology senior BSHS selective (DERU-4051) and elective (DERU-4007) have been improved so that in the event of another hurricane in Galveston, these courses will not be disrupted. Instead of using the dermatology conference room in the McCullough building on the UTMB campus in Galveston, the course will be relocated in the new dermatology conference room located at the dermatology clinic in the Bay Colony Town Center, League City, TX. In the event of another Galveston hurricane, students will be welcome to join Dr. Wagner in League City or teleconference with the class from any location. Dr. Wagner plans on contacting enrolled students via email with class details in the event of another hurricane. In the aftermath of another hurricane, enrollment restrictions are typically dropped and Dr. Wagner will permit over enrollment to accommodate students needing BSHS graduation or elective credit. This registration process is usually accomplished through email following a hurricane.

Skype Videoconferencing Comes To UTMB

Starting next week, UTMB dermatology residents plan on using our new Skype Videoconferencing System to link the two main dermatology conference rooms at UTMB in Galveston and the UTMB Bay Colony Clinic in League City. This will restore the option of traditional morning and noon academic conferences that were disrupted by Hurricane Ike in 2008, without additional resident and faculty travel, in addition to "Academic Friday" when the entire department meets in Galveston for grand rounds, lectures and journal club. The first joint videoconference scheduled is the dermatopathology textbook review.

UTMB Dermatology Resident "Cosmetic Boot Camp" This Friday Afternoon (1/15/09)

Dr. Erica Kelly, UTMB's faculty cosmetic dermatologist, will host another dermatology resident "cosmetic boot camp" this Friday afternoon following Dermatology Grand Rounds, academic Friday activities, and dermatology journal club. All ten of the UTMB dermatology residents will have enough product to treat two patients requesting fillers and two patients requesting treatment with neurotoxin under her expert supervision. UTMB dermatology residents typically feel very competent and experienced to perform these cosmetic and other outpatient surgical procedures once in practice due to the strong training UTMB dermatology residency provides in these subspecialty areas.

Reminder for National Student Research Forum Abstracts (due 1/22/10)

Submit your abstracts today for the 51st Annual National Student Research Forum!

Location: Galveston, TX

Date: April 22-23, 2010
Abstract Deadline: January 22, 2010!

The primary purpose of the National Student Research Forum is to provide a national scientific assembly, planned and managed by students for the presentation of research by medical students, graduate students, interns, and residents in the biomedical sciences. The Forum provides an opportunity for young biomedical scientists to receive critical analysis and recognition of their research efforts from established scientists.

For more information, go to https://webmail.utmb.edu/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx or Contact Elisabeth Sanders at https://webmail.utmb.edu/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx.

Visiting Medical Student Takes UTMB Dermatology Film Course

Dr. Wagner's elective film course, DERU-4007, "Skin Diseases Depicted in Film" seems to be getting more popular with medical students. Our first visiting student from Texas Tech's El Paso campus enrolled for this 4 week class during Period 7, that started on Monday, January 11th.

Doing Your Best at the Dermatology Residency Interview

Congratulations, you have received some dermatology interviews! That means that on paper you could be a good potential fit for the requesting program. While most undergraduate programs and some graduate schools, such as law schools, do not usually interview applicants but instead go with test scores and the GPA, as a rule medical schools and their postgraduate medical education programs (residency and fellowship) want to meet you personally before placing you on their match list. How do some applicants make a great first impression at their interviews while others are not as successful?

There is no doubt that interviewing for a dermatology residency can be stressful. Try to prepare as much as you can for the interview. Robin Ryan’s updated book, 60 Seconds & You’re Hired (2008), although not completely geared to the needs of dermatology residency applicants, offers valuable advice about improving interview skills. If you have time on the “trail“ this next month, it could be a worthwhile read!

UTMB Dermatology and Dermatopathology Alumni

Ashley Allison, MD
UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship: 2007-2008
Current Location: Dermpath Diagnostics, Birmingham, Alabama
Website: dermpathdiagnostics.com

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Stacy Russell Beaty, MD
Assistant Professor of Dermatology at St. Louis University: 2005-2007
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2005
Current Location: Northeast Tarrant Dermatology, Hurst, Texas: 2007-Present
Website: http://www.northeasttarrantderm.com/

Additional Information: Married to Drew Beaty, MD (allergist) with 3 children

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Alma Berlingeri-Ramos, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch
UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship: 2008-2009
Current Location: UTMB Department of Dermatology, Galveston, Texas
Website: http://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/faculty/index.html

Additional Information: Areas of special interest: Dermatopathology, Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Disease

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Julie Brantley, MD
UTMB School of Medicine: 2004
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2009
Current Location: Sadler Clinic, The Woodlands, Texas
Website: sadler.com

Additional Information: She has a personal interest in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology. Interests include traveling, exercising, spending time with husband and their bloodhound.

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David F. Butler, MD
Chair, Department of Dermatology
Professor of Dermatology
UTMB School of Medicine: 1980
Dermatology Residency: Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., Chief Resident
Current Location: Texas A&M Medical Center/Scott & White Clinic, Temple, Texas
Website: sw.org/dermatology

Additional Information: Interests and hobbies include golf, swimming, walking

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Conner Chan, MD
PGY-3 Dermatology Resident
UTMB School of Medicine: 2008
Current Location: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Website: lsuhsc.edu/dermatology/residency

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Catherine Chen-Tsai, MD
UTMB School of Medicine: 2002
Dermatology Residency: Roger Williams Medical Center - Boston University Medical School, Chief Resident, Boston, Massachusetts
Current Location: Chandler, Arizona
Website: evderm.com

Additional Information: She's married with 2 boys and a dog. She enjoys playing the guitar, singing, painting, traveling, and reading.

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Cameron Coury, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2010
Current Location: Richardson, Texas, Dermatology Specialists
Website: dermspecialist-tx.com

Additional Information: Special interests include: pediatric dermatology, general medical and surgical dermatology, skin cancer management and surveillance and cosmetic dermatology.

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Josh Dimmick, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2009
Current Location: Ferrell Duncan Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Springfield, Missouri
Website: ferrellduncan.com

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Dayna Diven, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1990
Current Location: Austin, Texas
Website: http://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/faculty/index.html
Publications: Dr. Diven's Publications

Additional Information: Areas of special interest include: Lasers in Dermatology and Teledermatology

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Marcia Driscoll, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1997
Current Location: Department of Dermatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Website: medschool.umaryland.edu

Additional Information: Dr. Driscoll is married to Dr. Brian Driscoll, an ENT/Facial Plastic Surgeon, partner in a private practice and part-time staff clinician at the NIH. They have 3 children.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craig Eichler, MD
Chief, Division of Dermatology
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1993
Current location: Physicians Regional Medical Group, Naples, Florida
Website: physiciansregionalmedicalgroup.com

Additional Information: Special interests include: Skin cancer, dermatologic surgery, psoriasis, acne

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Emily Fridlington, MD
PGY-4 Dermatology Resident
UTMB School of Medicine: 2005
Current Location: University of Iowa Dermatology, Iowa City, Iowa
Website: uihealthcare.com/depts/med/dermatology

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Adrienne Glaich, MD
UTMB School of Medicine: 2003
Dermatology Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Current Location: Jon K. Stern, M.D. & Associates, Houston, Texas
Website: jonksternmd.com

Additional Information: Dr. Adrienne Glaich was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is a board-eligible Dermatologist with interests in general dermatology, dermatologic surgery and cosmetic procedures. Dr. Glaich is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Houston Dermatologic Society, Texas Medical Association and the Harris County Medical Society. She has authored over 20 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr. Glaich specializes in the treatment of skin cancer with a concentration in aesthetic dermatology through the use of chemical peels, Botox, cosmetic fillers and laser.

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Brent Kelly, MD
Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology, University of Texas Medical Branch
Co-Director, Dermatopathology Labarotory
UTMB Internal Medicine Residency: 2002
UTMB Internal Medicine Chief Residency: 2002 – 2003
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2006
UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship: 2006-2007
Current Location: UTMB Department of Dermatology, Galveston, Texas
Website: http://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/faculty/index.html
Publications: Dr. B. Kelly's Publications

Additional Information: Areas of special interest include: Medical Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Transplant Dermatology. Married to Erica Kelly, MD (dermatologist). Musician- guitarist, instructor, and writer; digital audio home recording. Family - raising three children. Outdoors - hiking, adventure vacations, soccer coaching.

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Erica Kelly, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch
Director of Cosmetic Dermatology
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2002
Current Location: UTMB Department of Dermatology, Galveston, Texas
Website: http://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/faculty/index.html
Publications: Dr. E. Kelly's Publications

Additional Information: Areas of special interest include: General Dermatology and Cosmetic Dermatology. Married to Brent Kelly, MD (dermatologist). Aerobics, Spinning, Weight training, Travel, Hiking, Digital Photography, Theater/Musicals

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Rebecca Kelso, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2007
Current Location: Kelso Dermatology, San Antonio, Texas
Website: kelsodermatology.com

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Norma Magee, MD
UTMB School of Medicine: 2004
Dermatology Residency: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Current Location: West Lake Dermatology, Austin, Texas
Website: http://www.westlakedermatology.com/staff_magee.php

Additional Information: Dr. Magee enjoys both medical and cosmetic dermatology and has a special interest in treating skin cancer. She is a current member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the Dermatology Foundation.

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Amy McClung, MD
Dermatology Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
UTMB School of Medicine: 2005
Current Location: Evans Dermatology Partners, Austin, Texas
Website: evans-dermatology.com

Additional Information: She is active in several medical organizations, including the AAD and the Texas Dermatology Sociey. She is an avid runner and has completed nine marathons. She is an active volunteer for Marathon Kids. She and her husband, Christopher, have recently moved to the Tarrytown section of Austin and have a young son.

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Catherine McNeese, MD
UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship: 2007-2008
Current Location: ReitPath Pathology, Austin, Texas
Website: Dr. Cathernine McNeese

Additional Information: Dr. McNeese is a member of several professional organizations including College of American Pathologists, American Medical Association, American Society for Clinical Pathologists and Texas Medical Association.

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Anthony Perri, III, MD
UTMB Dermatology: 2008
Current Location: Sadler Clinic, Conroe, Texas
Website: http://www.perridermatology.com/

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Matt Petitt, DO
PGY-3 Dermatology Resident
UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship: 2006-2007
Current Location: UTMB, Galveston, Texas
Website: UTMB Dermatology

Additional Information: He enjoys spending time with his two kids

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Jennifer Pike, MD
PGY-4 Dermatology Resident
UTMB School of Medicine: 2006
Current Location: Texas A&M Medical Center/Scott & White Clinic, Temple, Texas
Website: sw.org/Dermatology/Residents

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Jennifer Ray, MD
Dermatology Residency: Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
UTMB School of Medicine: 2005
Current Location: Skin Care Doctors PA, Apple Valley, Minnesota
Website: skincaredrs.com

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Allison Readinger, MD
Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist
UTMB School of Medicine: 2002
Dermatology Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
Dermatopathology Fellowship: University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Current Location: Texas Dermatology Associates, P.A., Dallas, Texas
Website: texasderm.com

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Cecilia Rosales, MD
Assistant Professor of Dermatopathology
Dermatology Residency: University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship: 2008-2009
Current Location: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Website: bcm.edu/pathimmuno

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Monica Scheel, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1999
Current Location: solo practice in Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Website: drmonicascheel.com

Additional information: She practiced with a dermatology group in Texas for three years prior to moving to Hawaii in 2002. She is a faculty member for the University of Minnesota Medical School and assists in teaching a course on integrative medicine to 4th year medical students. Dr. Scheel’s community service includes free skin cancer screenings in her office, at the Waimea Senior Fair and the Makalei Golf Course. She also lectures in the schools, to women’s groups and cosmetic practitioners about skin wellness and skin cancer prevention. Dr. Scheel is also a triathlete. She recently did the Ironman World Championship race in Kona Hawaii!

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Laura Speck, MD
PGY-4 Dermatology Resident
UTMB School of Medicine: 2007
Current Location: New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Website: nymc.edu/depthome/academic/dermatology

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Brent Spencer, MD
Dermatologist and Mohs surgeon
UTMB School of Medicine: 2004
Dermatology Residency: Texas A&M Medical Center/Scott & White Clinic, Temple, Texas
Combined Mohs Surgery and Procedural Dermatology Fellowship: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
Current Location: Dermatology & Skin Surgery Institute of North Texas, Frisco, Texas
Website: dermntx.com

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Karen Sra, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 2008
Current Location: Dermatological Association of Texas, Houston, Texas
Website: dermtexas.com

Additional Information: Dr. Sra has published over 15 scientific manuscripts in medical journals and books in the last few years. She has received numerous academic awards including 2 scholarships from the National Institutes of Health. When Dr. Sra is not working, she enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, and running.

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Cloyce Stetson, MD
Associate Professor & Chairman of Dermatology
UTMB School of Medicine: 1994
Dermatology Residency: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
Dermatopathology Fellowship: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 2000-2001
Current Location: Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, Department of Dermatology
Website: ttuhsc.edu/som/dermatology
Publications: ttuhsc.edu/som/dermatology/publications

Additional Information:
1998-2004: Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Lubbock, TX
2001-Present: Assistant Professor of Pathology, TTUHSC, Lubbock, TX
1999-2001: Secretary/Treasurer, Southwestern Dermatological Society
2004-Present: Associate Professor of Dermatology, TTUHSC
2003-2005: Interim Chairman, Department of Dermatology, TTUHSC
2005-Present: Chairman of Dermatology, TTUHSC
Interests: Pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, Mohs micrographic surgery, general dermatology

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Kevin St.Clair, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1991
Current Location: Ozark Dermatology Clinic, Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Jamison Strahan, MD
General Dermatology and Procedural Dermatology Fellow
UTMB School of Medicine: 2005
Dermatology Residency: University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
Current Location: Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California
Website: lomalindahealth.org

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R. Stan Taylor, MD
Professor of Dermatology
UTMB School of Medicine: 1985
Dermatology Residency: University of Michigan Medical Center
Immunodermatology Fellowship: University of Michigan Medical Center, 1988 - 1990
Dermatology Surgery Fellowship: Oregon Health Sciences University, 1990 - 1991
Current Location: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Website: utsouthwestern.edu/dermatology
Publications: utsouthwestern.edu/dermatology/research

Additional Information: Dr. Taylor, Director of the Skin Surgery and Oncology Clinic at UT Southwestern. He also serves as the Director of the UT Southwestern Melanoma Center, a multidisciplinary clinic which addresses the needs of patients with melanoma and those patients at risk for developing melanoma. His research interests include the use of digital technologies in the surgical treatment of skin cancers, genetic causes of skin cancer and the non-surgical means of treating skin cancer.

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Thomas Taylor, MD
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1964
Current Location: Wichita Falls, Texas

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Eduardo Tschen, MD, MBA
Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1980
Current Location: Academic Dermatology Associates, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Website: http://www.abqdermtrials.com/

Additional information: Involved exclusively in clinical research and has conducted over 2500 clinical trials

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Mandy Warthan, MD
Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist
UTMB School of Medicine: 2001
Dermatology Residency: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia
Dermatopathology Fellowship: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas
Current Location: Warthan Dermatology Center, McKinney, Texas
Website: mckinneydermcenter.com

Additional Information: Dr. Warthan grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas - in a medical family; both her father and sister are also dermatologists. She has published extensively in academic journals and has been quoted in the New York Times. Dr. Warthan is highly trained in the latest developments in aesthetic dermatology, as well as the prevention and treatment of skin cancer and other diseases. She is committed to volunteering her time to others by participating in Melanoma Monday through the American Academy of Dermatology. She also actively participates in the McKinney Chamber of Commerce, the Ronald McDonald House, and Young Texans Against Cancer.

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Molly Warthan, MD
UTMB School of Medicine: 2004
Dermatology Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia.
Current Location: The Dermatology Center, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Website: thedermatologycenter.com

Additional Informaion: She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery as well as the American Medical Association.

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Karen Wiss, MD
Director of Pediatric Dermatology
Director of Dermatology Residency Program
Professor of Medicine (Dermatology) and Pediatrics
UTMB Dermatology Residency: 1989
Current Location: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Worcester, Massuachusetts
Website:http: umassmed.edu/derm

Additional information: Special interests include: Pediatric dermatology, epidermolysis bullosa, genodermatoses, midline developmental defects, childhood exanthems, medical education, pediatric laser, and journalology.

Along the Interview Trail

Calling all seniors!

Dr. Wagner has suggested we can help next year's students with their interviews and offer invaluable advice from "home." Let us know what questions you are getting on your dermatology interviews. We will compile a list to prepare our medical students for the upcoming application season.

Where are you interviewing? Help guide our future students about places to consider for their away rotations.

Thank you for your help with this project and best of luck to you all on your own interviews. Please e-mail responses to Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu.

DIGA Leadership Opportunities for 2010-2011

Applications for next year's Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA) officers are now being accepted. The application process will be open until midnight on Jan. 15th, 2010. The application and instructions can be found on our website under "Public Announcement" at: http://www.derminterest.org/

Available DIGA Positions:

-President

-Vice President

-Webmaster

-Treasurer

-Secretary

-Community Service Director

DIGA leadership is a wonderful opportunity. Serving as National Community Service Director this year, I interacted with DIG groups across the country helping promote Stay Shady! and other community service projects.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Alison Wiesenthal
DIGA National Community Service Director
UTMB DIG Co-President
acwiesen@utmb.edu

Automatic Interviews Extended to Visiting Dermatology Elective Students

The UTMB Dermatology Residency Program has historically extended informal interviews to all UTMB MS4 medical students applying and to other applicants on campus, typically those in different residency or fellowship programs. Starting Period 6, 2009 (ended Friday, 12/11) these interview offers are also being given to visiting dermatology elective students from other institutions. Similar to the interviews given to UTMB MS4s, these dermatology interviews are informal and must be completed during the 4 week rotation. If possible, visiting students should schedule times to meet all of the UTMB dermatology residents and faculty, especially if they have not interacted with them in any of the UTMB clinics, lectures or conferences. As is the case for UTMB MS4s, dermatology residents and faculty may waive the informal interview request because of familiarity with the applicant during the rotation. These informal interviews are not the same as the formal February interviews that UTMB offers students from outside institutions (UTMB MS4s are excluded from these formal interviews as well). In the future, visiting students, similar to UTMB MS4s, may not receive any email interview communications through ERAS about their pending dermatology applications to UTMB, although UTMB may invite some of these visiting students back to campus for a formal interview, especially if the rotation was in the early part of the academic year.

UTMB Dermatology Resident Melanoma Research Published In Leading Journal

Second year dermatology resident, Dr. Matt Petitt, published his original research entitled, "Lymphatic invasion detected by D2-40/S-100 dual immunohistochemistry does not predict sentinel lymph node status in melanoma" in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (pages 819-828). His coauthors on this study were Drs. Ashley Allison, Sharon Raimer and Brent Kelly from the UTMB Department of Dermatology, along with Tally Shimoni (UTMB School of Medicine) and Tatsuo Uchida (Office of Biostatistics). This project satisfied Dr. Petitt's UTMB dermatology residency program graduation requirement. It was a great experience hearing Dr. Petitt explain his study at the weekly Friday dermatology journal club meeting today, with Drs. Brent Kelly and Sharon Raimer in attendance, along will other dermatology faculty, residents and medical students.

New Enrollment Record for UTMB Dermatology Film Courses

Period 13 begins on Monday, December 14th and has set a new record enrollment for dermatology: Twenty-seven medical students are now enrolled in this popular UTMB class that offers a teleconferencing option to students who are not currently in Galveston (15 students in DERU-4051 and 12 students in DERU-4007, the elective version that is open for MS3 and visiting medical students).

Planning Ahead for 2010 Dermatology Applications

Matching into a dermatology residency program continues to be very difficult because there are so few positions available nationally and lots of applicants. What are the trends in dermatology applications, and what can be done to improve an application for next year?

Step 1: The average dermatology applicant score for those who match into a dermatology residency is above 240. Some residency programs use the Step 1 score as a cutoff to decrease the overwhelming number of applications to review.

Step 2: Currently, most dermatology programs do not expect to have Step 2 scores, but some do. Step 2 scores are usually higher than Step 1. Applicants should consider taking Step 2 in June, at the end of their core MS3 rotations in order to be considered at every program.

AOA: Half of dermatology matches are AOA members. It is a big advantage to be in AOA for dermatology applicants, because some programs use AOA membership as a screen for applicants.

School: Yes, it matters. Some schools never interview applicants from XYZ. Some programs have regional or state preferences. Students from medical schools without dermatology residency programs seem to be a a disadvantage in this process.

Multiple applicants from the same school: Yes, programs will compare students from the same school during the application process. Higher Step 1 scores and AOA membership are advantages, as are a PhD. An outstanding away rotation may also result in an invitation to interview.

Advanced degrees: A PhD will help at a handful of programs that do bench research, but there are not many of these (although they tend to be the larger programs). Other graduate higher education (MS, MA, MBA, MPH, JD, etc may also interest some programs especially if there are academic publications).

Away rotations: Statistics seem to indicate this can help some applicants. However, at many programs, an interview is not automatic. Some away rotations require an application far in advance of the elective date, so planning is required. Applicants who are not AOA or have below average Step 1 scores for dermatology applicants have the opportunity to make a positive impression during aways, especially at smaller programs with fewer visiting students.

Research: Almost every applicant has dermatology research now. High quality research takes time (IRB, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation, etc), and usually cannot be completed in the first half of the MS4 academic year (June to November 1), when most applications are due. The earlier substantive research is started, the better is the chance it will be completed by the application deadline. UTMB sponsors the Dermatology Honors Research Program, in which the participating medical student acts as the PI on an original investigation. It can be started as early as the MS1 year and may be completed before the ERAS application is due. Number of publications count, because it is rare for MS4 applicants to have more than 5 peer-reviewed publications (but those in their 2nd year of post-internship dermatology fellowship frequently do).

Awards: Always adds to an application. UTMB students sponsors many campus activities that may lead to student award, such as the MSSRP (Medical Student Summer Research Program between the first and second year of medical school) and the annual Forum on Aging. In addition, UTMB sponsors The National Student Research Forum each year, that awards for medical students and residents for dermatology in the categories of poster and presentation. Getting a dermatology award as an MS3 or earlier will get on your ERAS application. Included in this is the American Academy of Dermatology Diversity Medical Student Mentorship Awardees (about a quarter of them have been successful in obtaining dermatology residencies, including some UTMB students).

Letters: The sooner dermatology faculty at your school know about your dermatology career interest and become involved in your academic program, the better. Programs will look for letters from the dermatology chair at your school and your research project faculty. Your research mentor's letter is very important because this faculty has great insight into student academic potential and productivity, areas of interest to many dermatology residency programs.

Essay: Not too short or longer than one page. Try to make it interesting. Avoid spelling or grammatical errors. If you have any ties to the geographical location of the program, this is a chance to make it known.

Delayed graduation to do research: This can improve application quality if the additional research year has been productive with national presentations, publications and a strong faculty letter of recommendation.

Previous residency: Limits residency positions available for a dermatology match, but can be very desirable to programs if special clinical skills are involved (dermatopathology, plastic surgery, ent, internal medicine, pediatrics, rheumatology, allergy, infectious diseases, psychiatry) and a strong academic publication record was established during the prior residency. It also helps if there if a dermatology job is waiting for you at your previous residency institution or if a sponsoring institution is willing to provide funding.

Switching residencies: Often viewed skeptically by programs, because they may be next. Essay should have a very good reason for not completing the residency that was started, and letters from former chair and program director should support new professional goal.

Internship (PGY1): For those not matching into dermatology while a MS4, the quality of the PGY1 year will be considered by many programs. A strong preliminary internal medicine internship at a University Hospital with strong support letters from the Chair and Program Director should help generate interest.

Clinical Dermatology Fellowships: The best ones for applicants have a strong track record of taking their former fellows for dermatology residency positions after one or more years of fellowship work with them or those that have a strong historical record of fellow placements into dermatology residency programs. These fellowships usually involve clinical trails. During the fellowship, pre-dermatology fellows need to be presenting and publishing lots of research. Sometimes it is necessary to do several fellowships at different institutions before finally matching into dermatology.

ERAS: Saves lots of time but difficult to update programs about additional accomplishments after the ERAS application is submitted. Since many programs have a November 1 deadline and many try to offer interviews by late November or early December, non-ERAS supplemental information sent by applicants after the program deadline may have little impact on the decision process. However, once invited for an interview, supplementation of your application is generally considered.

Interview: Be yourself. Your application is under serious consideration. Don't get flustered. Don't be late. This is the one chance to make a great first impression. Read about the program and faculty research ahead of the interview. Try to have fun learning about a new program and a new city. Make the pre-interview dinner if there is one, because face time counts in this process.

Good luck with the application process!

American Academy of Dermatology Diversity Medical Student Mentorship

This is a very good program that has benefited past UTMB medical students. The application deadline is January 31, 2010. For additional information, please see http://www.aad.org/education/students/students.html

UTMB Dermatology Opens Clinic in Bay Colony Town Center, League City, Texas

The new UTMB dermatology clinic at Bay Colony (2785 Gulf Freeway South, Suite 165, the same shopping center as HEB and 24 Hour Fitness in League City, just west of I-45) has just opened. This clinic is conveniently located to the quickly growing cities of League City, Dickinson, Friendswood, Santa Fe, Texas City and communities in the Clear Lake area. Patients interested in making an appointment there should call 281-534-3376 . The clinic will be staffed by UTMB dermatology faculty.

Stay Shady! Visits Odyssey Academy's Third Graders!

This past Friday, December 4th, DIG members Rebecca Philips, Lindsey Hunter, and Janese Laster presented Stay Shady! to the third grade class at Odyssey Academy. Students learned the importance of skin protection during all seasons of the year.

A big thank you to Odyssey Academy for hosting our team and for being such a wonderful and interactive audience! If you would like to participate in the next Stay Shady! event, e-mail DIG's Community Outreach Chair, Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu), for further information.

Medical Student Expectations for Away Dermatology Rotations

What should medical student rotators expect from their away dermatology rotations? Visiting students on an away dermatology elective should gain exposure to another dermatology department or division with different faculty and residents, and have the opportunity for professional interactions that may create additional career networking opportunities. Sadly, the national trend seems to be moving away from automatic interview offers for away dermatology rotators due to the increased competition from outstanding applicants and limited departmental/division resources for interview slots. However, since previous educational research in dermatology indicates that dermatology residency programs are most likely to match with either their own students or visiting students doing away electives with them, away rotations can help applicants obtain residency positions. This observation suggests that some programs may place greater emphasis on longer term interactions with dermatology applicants than excellent paper credentials and a one or two day interview. The bottom line is that away dermatology rotations may open some interview doors for applicants, but it is no longer automatic!

UTMB Dermatology Consolidates 3 Mainland Clinics at New Bay Colony Site

On Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, the three UTMB Dermatology clinics in Dickinson, League City, and Texas City will consolidate into one new location: University Dermatology at Bay Colony in League City, 2785 Gulf Freeway South, Suite 165 (next to 24 Hour Fitness at I-45 and FM 646). The phone number is (281) 534-3376.

Eve Visits UTMB Dermatology

Allergan's Eve, an interactive computer model used to teach and improve physician injection techniques for Botox, visited UTMB Dermatology last week. UTMB dermatology residents received expert instruction and feedback from UTMB's faculty cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Erica Kelly.

Houston Dermatologists Are Talking (and Learning) About Us!

The achievements of UTMB dermatology residents and students was the topic of a lecture given by our dermatology program director, Dr. Richard Wagner, at the 2009 John Knox Dermatology Lecture and Clinical Conference hosted by the Houston Dermatological Association and held at The University of Texas-Houston Dermatology Department on Saturday morning, November 21, 2009. Dr. Wagner talked about the UTMB Dermatology Research Honors Program, the recently published UTMB research article in Dermatology Online Journal about dermatology educational opportunities for visiting 4th year medical students (Houston area dermatology residency programs are a national hotbed for dermatology medical education), the success of the UTMB Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) blog in providing communication and information about dermatology to our medical students, and UTMB's Dermatology experience with using teleconferencing to include distance learning medical students in our dermatology electives. In addition, the required Dermatology Scholarly Project for UTMB Dermatology Residents was discussed, highlighting Dr. Josh Dimmick's recent publication about SPF lip protection in a population of skin cancer patients.

Dr. Sharon S. Raimer Featured in Texas Monthly

Congratulations to Dr. Sharon Raimer, the Chair of UTMB Dermatology, for being named a 2009 "Texas Super Doctor." This honor was recognized in the December 2009 issue of Texas Monthly, a widely read magazine. The website, superdoctors.com contains more information about the selection process.

UTMB Dermatology Clinic in Bay Colony Town Center, League City, Texas Now Taking Appointments for Anticipated Monday, December 7, 2009 Opening

The new UTMB dermatology clinic at Bay Colony (in the same shopping center as HEB and 24 Hour Fitness in League City, on the west side of I-45) has begun taking appointments for its planned opening on December 7th. This clinic is conveniently located for the rapidly growing cities of League City, Dickinson, Friendswood, Santa Fe, Texas City and communities in the Clear Lake area. Patients interested in making an appointment there should call 281-534-3376 . The clinic will be staffed by UTMB dermatology faculty.

This Looks Good!

UTMB will be sponsoring a day long (8:30 am to 5 pm) symposium featuring outside and UTMB faculty speakers in honor of Michael R McGinnis, PhD, about Medical Mycology topics on Monday, December 7th in Levin Hall. It is free to participants, who must register by contacting roleslie@utmb.edu

Play Safe In The Sun comes to Houston this weekend!

The Women's Dermatologic Society needs volunteers for the “Play Safe in the Sun” event this weekend at the LPGA Tour Championship in Houston, TX. Volunteers will provide sun safety education and outreach to LPGA spectators.

WDS members Deborah MacFarlane, MD and Lucile White, MD will chair this event and are seeking Texas Board-certified Dermatologists to conduct free skin cancer screenings and sun safety outreach in the WDS booth on the tournament grounds. This is a fun way to get to know other local dermatologists, be involved in an event that attracts a lot of media attention, and provide a much-needed outreach service to the golfing community. There are also volunteer opportunities for residents, nurses, physician's assistants and family members who are interested in joining us.

Date: November 20-22, 2009

Location: The Houstonian Golf & Country Club @ 12600 Houstonian Way, Houston, TX

Volunteer Shifts:
Friday, November 20 - Sunday, November 22- Public Outreach
1.) Fri: Shift A: 9:00 am-12:00 pm * Shift B: 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
2.) Sat: Shift A: 9:00 am-12:00 pm * Shift B: 12:00 pm-3:00 pm
3.) Sun: Shift A: 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Additional Information: Volunteer passes and parking information will be provided to you once you have signed up as a volunteer. For more information on the tournament, please visit http://www.lpgatourchampionship.org/information.php

RSVP if you are interested in joining:
http://www.playsafeinthesun.org/news/volunteer.php
877-WDS-ROSE (937-7673) or wds@womensderm.org

Congratulations to Dr. Catherine C. McNeese

Dr. Catherine McNeese has passed the American Board of Dermatopathology Certification Exam on her first attempt and is now a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatopathology. She completed the one year dermatopathology fellowship at UTMB in 2008, and now practices in Austin, Texas.

Reminder: 51st annual NSRF deadline is January 22

The 51st Annual National Student Research Forum is scheduled for April 22-23, 2010. Abstracts for submission must be postmarked by January 22nd. Check out the NSRF UTMB Homepage at: http://www.utmb.edu/nsrf/ for more details. Medical students, residents and graduate students are all able to submit abstracts about dermatology to this meeting.

Still some Openings for "Narratives of Skin Disease" class (DERU-4012)

According to UTMB's Anita Hendrix, there are still three spots available for the new BSHS Selective, DERU-4012 that starts on December 14th (Period 13). This class is only available to UTMB MS4 students and is only given during Period 13. During the course, students read 3 books written by people with skin diseases (nonmelanoma skin cancer, leprosy and vitiligo) and then select an additional book from an approved list for a 5 page, double-spaced critical, comparative essay. This is a good class for those who like to read and who want to learn more about how skin disease impacts lives.

MS4 Audra Clos Receives Basic Science Research Student Poster Award

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Audra Clos for her winning presentation, "Approaches using cutaneous amyloid mouse model to study the effects of local, passive administration of conformational antibodies for the treatment of protein aggregate disorders of aging" at the 13th Annual Forum on Aging. Her coauthors were A. Lasagna-Reeves (neurology), B. Kelly (dermatology), G.R. Jackson (neurology) and R. Kayed (neurology). Her abstract was published in the program book (number 29). This work is part of her UTMB Honors Research Program.

The Envelope Please...

Please join the UTMB DIG in congratulating MS4 Doug Heiner and his coauthor, MS2 Donnie Warren for being awarded the "Best Student Poster" at the 13th Annual Forum on Aging. for their presentation, "Preventing Ultraviolet Light Scalp Injury: Scalp Cancer Awareness and Protective Behaviors" (Abstract 12 published in the 2009 program book). Their UTMB coauthors on the study were Tatsuo Uchida (Office of Biostatistics) and Richard Wagner, MD, Department of Dermatology. The resesearch is part of Mr. Heiner's UTMB Dermatology Research Honors Program, and it was sponsored in part by the Edgar B. Smith Professorship.

Alison Wiesenthal Presents Research in Austin

MS IV Alison Wiesenthal will be presenting her original research, Cutaneous Side Effects of Novel Chemotherapy PLX 4032, in Austin next Friday to Dr. Reichenberg and residents and welcomes Austin DIG members to join! We will be in the Dermatology Conference room in the UT Physicians Building at noon on Friday, November 20th.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP to acwiesen@utmb.edu.

Good Resource for Dermatology Residency Information

DIGA (the national umbrella organization for medical school based Dermatology Interest Groups such as our own) maintains a website with lots of useful information for dermatology applicants. They keep an updated list of when specific dermatology residency programs plan to conduct their interviews, so this information can be very useful in planning interview travel schedules. The DIGA website is http://www.derminterest.org/

UTMB DIG Members Presenting Posters Tomorrow

UTMB DIG members, along with the entire UTMB community, are invited to see the two dermatology research posters at the UTMB 13th Annual Forum on Aging on Thursday, November 12th starting at 5 pm in the Levin Hall Dining Room. Cheese and refreshments are promised.

UTMB MS4 Audra Clos is presenting her fascinating research about cutaneous amyloid in a mouse model
("Approaches using cutaneous amyloid mouse model to study the effects of local, passive administration of conformational antibodies for the treatment of protein aggregate disorders of aging") and UTMB MS4 Douglas Heiner, along with coauthor MS2 Donny Warren are presenting their original epidemiologic research from Galveston entitled, "Preventing Ultraviolet Light Scalp Injury: Scalp Cancer Awareness and Protective Behaviors." Good luck to all of these UTMB medical student researchers!