National Concern About Dermatopathology Workforce Impacts UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship

There is growing national concern that too many dermatopathologists are being trained for the current job market (Suwattee P, et al. Dermatopathology workforce in the United States: A survey. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011;65:1180). UTMB Dermatopathology has recently announced that it will decrease the number of dermatopathology fellows it trains from two to one, beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Reminder: DIG Meeting Tonight!

The next UTMB DIG meeting is tonight (Monday, January 30th) at 5:30 PM in the Dermatology Conference Room (4.112 McCullough).

We look forward to seeing you there!

Next DIG Meeting: Monday, January 30th

Join us for the next UTMB Dermatology Interest Group meeting! We will talk about upcoming events and make plans for the semester.

When: Monday, January 30th at 5:30 PM
Where: 4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

We look forward to seeing you there!

American Board of Dermatology Certification Pass Rates in 2011

The January 2012 issue of the American Board of Dermatology News contains information about the pass rates for two recent certification tests that they administer (page 3). 419 candidates took the dermatology examination in 2011, and the pass rate was 89.7%. 34 dermatologists took the dermatopathology certification exam, and all of them passed it in 2011. However, for the 57 pathologists taking the dermatopathology exam, 84.2% passed.

Former UTMB Dermatology Resident Featured on Cover of Texas Medicine

Dr. Dan McCoy, a former UTMB dermatology resident who completed our program in 1997, is on the cover of the January 2012 (Volume 108, Number 1) issue of Texas Medicine. He is also featured in an article, “Social media connects physicians and patients,” by Crystal Conde (pages 14-20). He practices dermatology in Dallas, and publishes a blog, DocDano.com, for patients.

What is the Job Market for Dermatologists?

There has been recent concern, especially in view of recent health reforms, about the future job market for dermatologists. The January 2012 (Volume 33, Number 1) issue of Dermatology Times investigated this issue in their front page article, Supply & Demand: ‘Chronic’ Shortage of Derms Leaves Some Areas Underserved (pages 1, 16, and 20). In 2009, the average starting salary for dermatology was $325,000 (Medical Group Management Association). Practice location tends to be the first consideration for dermatologists who have recently completed residency, and because of strong market demand for dermatology services in most areas, there is little economic incentive for dermatologists to locate in underserved areas.

Misrepresentation on Dermatology Residency Applications

Dermatology Online Journal’s lead article in the January 2012 issue presents research from the University of California Davis (Sacramento) indicating that dermatology applicants who list greater numbers of “in preparation” or “submitted” manuscripts on their ERAS dermatology applications gain a significant advantage in the match, even though only 16.3% of these articles are ever published. Surprisingly, these authors found that applicants with published articles were not more likely to match. (Maverakis E, Li C, Alikhan A, Lin T, Idriss N, Armstrong AW. The affect of academic “Misrepresentation” on residency match outcomes. Dermatology Online Journal 18 (1):1; http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1801/1_org/01_11-00285/article.html).

These authors also researched applicants who specifically identified the prestigious Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) as the recipient of 17 articles reported as submitted on applications. JAAD could only verify that 6 of these articles had been submitted to them.

These findings are certainly disturbing to many in academic dermatology, and this publication has the potential to radically change dermatology match outcomes in 2012 and future years based on previous predictive models. Dermatology residency programs that count numbers of publications and include unpublished manuscripts in the totals may ironically be rejecting applicants who have really published.

UTMB MS4 Rebecca Philips Publishes Case Report

Congratulations to UTMB DIG President, Rebecca Philips (MS4), for her publication in the January 2012 issue of the Dermatology Online Journal (Philips RC, Motaparthi K, Krishnan B, Hsu S. HIV photodermatitis presenting with widespread vitiligo-like depigmentation. Dermatology Online Journal 2012; 18(1):6). Her co-authors for this case report were Dr. Kiran Motaparthi (BCM Dermatology, PGY-4), Dr. Bhuvaneswari Krishnan (BCM Pathology) and Dr. Sylvia Hsu (BCM Dermatology). The entire case report can be read at: http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1801/2_csr/06_11-00267/article.html.

Douglas Heiner, MD Publishes UTMB Dermatology Research Honors Thesis

Congratulations to former UTMB DIG member, Dr. Douglas Heiner for the peer-reviewed publication related to his 2010 Dermatology Honors Research Program at UTMB. His co-authors are MS4 UTMB DIG member Donnie Warren, UTMB faculty Tatsuo Uchida (Office of Biostatistics) and Dr. Richard Wagner (Dermatology). The citation for this study is: Heiner DJ, Warren DB, Uchida T, Wagner RF Jr. Preventing ultraviolet radiation scalp injury in men. Household and Personal Care (HPC) Today 4/2011: 18-20. Dr. Heiner is currently a first year dermatology resident at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

AAD President Predicts Future Decrease of Dermatologists

According to an article in the January 2012 issue of Dermatology World (“What does the future of our specialty look like?”, page 33), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) President Dr. Ronald Moy predicts that in the future, there will be fewer dermatologists due to decreased Medicare funding for Graduate Medical Education.

Are Structured Interviews for Residency More Reliable than Unstructured Interviews?

The issue of structured vs unstructured interviews for dermatology residency has received a lot of attention recently. A recent study from Canada that compared the results of these two types of interviews for 30 Emergency Medicine residency applicants has provided some answers (Blouin D, Day AG, Pavlov A. Comparative reliability of structured versus unstructured interviews in the admission process of a residency program. Journal of Graduate Medical Education 2011;3:517-523.) Surprisingly, structured interviews did not have higher overall reliability than unstructured interviews for this small group of applicants.

Dermatology Night at St. Vincent's Clinic

Join UTMB Dermatology faculty and residents for Dermatology/Medicine Night at St. Vincent's Clinic!

When: This Tuesday, January 3rd, 4:30-8PM
Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550

St. Vincent's House offers a UTMB student-run free health clinic serving Galveston. UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty can be found volunteering at the St. Vincent's Clinic each month, where they aid medical students in providing free skin cancer screenings, biopsies, excisions, and routine dermatologic care.

For more information about St. Vincent's Clinic, please visit their website at: http://www.stvsc.org/.

Difficult Questions at Dermatology Residency Interviews

Although still the exception, some dermatology faculty ask applicants difficult questions at interviews for residency. How many of us are still able to do calculus? One interviewer on the trail is well known for asking this type of question. Others like to see how quickly applicants can reassemble a pen. Another program asks that applicants teach staff something new, and gets a performance report back that is part of the interview evaluation. One procedural fellowship director requested that applicants send him a video of themselves performing surgery during their dermatology residency. Don't worry, UTMB does not do any of this! We know of no studies that link dermatology residency or fellowship performance to these types of questions (not even getting the calculus question correct). An article by William Poundstone about hiring at Google in December 24-25, 2011 issue of The Wall Street Journal (pages C1 and C2) provides some insight into the motivation behind these out of the ordinary questions. However, what seems to be working for Google hiring ("How would you escape from a blender?") may not work for other companies (or dermatology residency programs). Poundstone is the author of a new book, Are you Smart Enough to Work at Google? Google reportedly only hires 1 person per 130 applicants.

UTMB Dermatology Residency Alum, Andy Perri MD, Featured in “Top Docs of Houston” Video

Click here to see the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Ff9HcIP5A&feature=youtu.be.

Elective Version of Novels/Film Class Now Available (DERU-4017)

Good news for students interested in dermatology and the impact of written and visual media on public perceptions of skin diseases. Dr. Richard Wagner’s newest course, Skin Diseases in Novels/Films, is available as an elective (DERU-4017) starting this Monday, December 12th (Period 13). There is currently a maximum enrollment of 3 elective students each Period. This class meets with the selective section of the course, DERU-4402. The course requirements are identical for elective and selective students, but only the selective will count toward UTMB’s BSHS MS4 writing requirement for graduation. The UTMB Electives Committee will not permit students enrolled in the elective to switch into the selective once the course starts, even if the class is required for graduation.

DIG Meeting Recap: 12/6/11

We had a great DIG meeting on Tuesday and were excited to welcome several new first and second year medical students to our group!

Thank you to the UTMB Dermatology residents for providing a very informative Q&A panel at the meeting. The residents covered many topics, including their reasons for going into Dermatology, a description of the field and what they do during a typical day, types of surgeries performed by Dermatologists, a description of Dermatopathology, research advice, and ways to get involved with the UTMB Dermatology department as a medical student. Remember, the UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty are available to help!

Dr. Raimer Receives "Texas Super Doctor" Distinction by Texas Monthly magazine

Dr. Sharon Raimer, the UTMB Department of Dermatology Chair, is one of 23 UTMB physicians recently named Texas Super Doctors® by Texas Monthly magazine. Congratulations, Dr. Raimer!

Click here to see the ad featured in the December 2011 issue of Texas Monthly magazine.

Reminder: DIG Meeting Tomorrow!

Our next Dermatology Interest Group meeting is tomorrow!

Tuesday, December 6th at 5PM
4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

We will be having a Q&A panel with some of the UTMB Dermatology residents.

See you then!

Zaemon Inducted into Louisiana Music Hall of Fame

Zaemon fans were thrilled to learn that Zaemon (UTMB's Dr. Brent Kelly, far left of the photo) was recently inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Zaemon released two cd's and was a key club band in the live music scene in Baton Rouge during the early 90's. Watch for upcoming concerts starring Zaemon and other Hall of Fame bands.

Next UTMB DIG Meeting on 12/6/11

Join us for the next UTMB Dermatology Interest Group meeting!

When: Tuesday, December 6th at 5PM
Where: 4.112 McCullough, Dermatology Conference Room

We are excited to have a panel of UTMB Dermatology residents to answer questions about getting involved in Dermatology and what it's like being a Dermatology resident. We will also discuss upcoming DIG events.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Dr. Brandon Goodwin Accepts UTMB Dermatology Residency Position for July 2012

Congratulations to Dr. Brandon Goodwin, a 2011 medical graduate of the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, and a current PGY1 (Preliminary Medicine) at Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Goodwin will begin dermatology residency at UTMB in July 2012. UTMB Dermatology’s proposal for a permanent resident complement increase from 9 to 10 was approved by the Dermatology Residency Review Committee in September 2011. UTMB will still be offering three advanced dermatology residency positions for July 2013 in the upcoming NRMP.

Film Class Helps UTMB MS4 Diagnose Patient in the Emergency Room

Medical students who have taken Dr. Richard Wagner's film class (DERU-4051 or DERU-4007) gain exposure to a broad spectrum of common and uncommon skin diseases. Most students taking this course have not seen patients with many of the skin diseases studied in this class. A previous film class student recently wrote Dr. Wagner with the following comment:

"I just thought you would like to hear that I saw a case of delusional parasitosis yesterday during an ER shift. It was a textbook case and she even brought a "sample" in for us to look at. Thanks to your class I was able to recognize it!"

The film class currently studied the film Bug and its depiction of the skin disease, delusions of parasitosis.

UTMB MS4 Donnie Warren Presents Dermatology Poster

UTMB MS4 Donnie Warren presented his research about ultraviolet radiation hand injury prevention at UTMB's 15th Forum on Aging Poster Session. His UTMB coauthors were MS4 Ryan Riahi, MS3 Jason Hobbs, Dr. Daniel Freedman (Office of Biostatistics), and Dr. Richard Wagner (UTMB Department of Dermatology). Their poster was titled, “Preventing ultraviolet radiation hand injury: hand cancer awareness and protective behaviors.” The research presented is part of Donnie Warren’s UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Program. This meeting, sponsored by The Sealy Center on Aging and Research Services each fall, is a major research event on the UTMB campus. Through 2010, there have been 915 poster presentations given at this conference (249 by students).

Two Former UTMB Dermatology Medical Students and Residents Publish Case Report

Drs. Julie Fridlington and Dayna Diven, two former UTMB medical students and dermatology residents (Dr. Diven was also UTMB Dermatology Faculty before becoming the UT Southwestern (Austin) Dermatology Program Director), have published a case report in the November 2011 issue of Dermatology Online Journal (Fridlington JL, Tripple JW, Reichenberg JS, Hall CS, Diven DG. Acute methotrexate toxicity seen as plaque psoriasis ulceration and necrosis: A diagnostic clue. Dermatology Online Journal 2011; 17(11):2 http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1711/2_csr/2_11-00218/article.html. Dr. Fridlington is in private dermatology practice (Austin).

Dr. Julie Jackson Publishes UTMB Dermatology Honors Research in JAAD

The UTMB DIG has learned that Dr. Julie Jackson, a current Chief Dermatology Resident at UCLA (and Dermatopathology Fellow there during the next academic year), has published the results of her UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Thesis. Her research was published in the November 15, 2011 Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (“JAAD”) online. The print version will be published at a later date. The citation is: Jackson JE, Kelly B, Petitt M, Uchida T, Wagner RF Jr. Predictive value of margins in diagnostic biopsies of nonmelanoma skin cancers. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2011.09.027. Dr. Petitt completed dermatology residency at UTMB in June 2011 and had previously completed pathology residency (New Mexico) and dermatopathology fellowship (UTMB). Mr. Uchida is with the UTMB Office of Biostatistics, and Drs. B. Kelly and Richard Wagner are UTMB Dermatology Department faculty.

DIG Members Present Dermatology Research at Annual UTMB Geriatrics Conference

Several of our DIG members are presenting their epidemiologic research poster at the Annual UTMB Geriatrics Conference this week (Warren D, Riahi R, Hobbs J, Freedman D, Wagner R. Preventing ultraviolet radiation hand injury: hand cancer awareness and protective behaviors). This research is part of UTMB MS4 Donnie Warren’s dermatology honors research program. The meeting is being held from 5 pm to 7 pm in Levin Hall on Thursday, November 17th. Please stop by to see the posters and enjoy the refreshments!

UTMB Dermatology Resident Invited to 2012 Dermatology Foundation Clinical Symposia

Dr. Ashley Group, a PGY4 dermatology resident at UTMB, has been awarded an educational grant by the Dermatology Foundation to attend their annual Clinical Symposia (“Advances in Dermatology”). The meeting will be held in Naples, Florida during February 2012. Congratulations, Dr. Group!

10/25/11 DIG Meeting Recap

We had a great turnout for Tuesday’s meeting! The DIG would like to thank Dr. Wagner for his very informative talk about getting into a Dermatology residency. Below is a summary of the items Dr. Wagner discussed, followed by a meeting summary.

Summary of Dr. Wagner's Talk:

1.) Dermatology is an extremely competitive field. Applicants who match into dermatology often have many publications, research experiences, volunteer activities, superior USMLE Step 1 scores, and approximately 50% belong to the AOA Medical Honor Society.

2.) Research is highly encouraged for dermatology applicants and there are many opportunities to get involved in research at UTMB, both within and outside of the dermatology department. The key is to develop a project that matches your interests. There are diverse interests represented in the UTMB dermatology department that you can pursue, such as topics in general adult and pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, dermatologic surgery and cosmetic dermatology. Alternatively, you could develop a project with a basic science faculty or in a different department and apply your research to skin disease!

3.) It is never too early to start a research project – you can even start during your first year. The UTMB School of Medicine allows you to participate in a summer research elective between 1st and 2nd year. This is a good way to gain a research mentor, compete for various research awards, and perhaps even have the opportunity to get published. You can also participate in the Honors Research Program in Dermatology. The official deadline for the Honors Proposal is 12/31 of the third year, but extensions may be possible with permission from Dr. Simon Lewis. This research is typically completed and presented by April of the fourth year.

4.) If you don't match the first year, don’t give up! It is very possible to match into Dermatology the second or third time around. There are a number of Dermatology research fellowships in the country that you can pursue after your intern year. Productive research with publications and the opportunity to become an expert on a particular topic of interest will add to your application. There are also alternative routes to becoming a dermatologist. For example, a pathologist who has completed a dermatopathology fellowship or a pediatrician may be attractive applicants to certain programs.

5.) The American Board of Dermatology requires a total of four years of postgraduate training. The first year must include 12 months of clinical training in a broad-based program, such as internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, emergency medicine, or a transitional year. The next three years include full-time training as a resident in a dermatology residency program. Some dermatology programs have a combined intern year and residency; however, most dermatology training programs are unattached to the intern year and therefore require a separate application process.

6.) There are a number of fellowships that you can pursue after a dermatology residency, such as Pediatric Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Procedural Dermatology and Immunodermatology.

7.) Remember, the Dermatology faculty and residents are here to help!

UTMB DIG Meeting Summary:

1.) Meet the 2011-2012 Officers!
President: Rebecca Philips
Vice President: Chelsea Altinger
Community Outreach Chairs: André Pitt and Ryan Riahi
Aim for a Cure Melanoma Walk Chairs: Karan Patel and Donnie Warren
Contact Dermatitis Chair: Sheila Jalalat
Fundraising Chair: Ryan Riahi
Second Year Representative: Will Tausend

2.) The DIG blog (http://digutmb.blogspot.com) is a great resource for medical students interested in Dermatology. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive individual blog posts to your email, contact Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

3.) The DIG has a Facebook Group! Search for us: “UTMB Dermatology Interest Group.”

4.) We look forward to community outreach projects, fundraising events and our annual AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk this year. Follow our blog to learn about upcoming events that you can participate in.

5.) Want to help with DIG events this year? E-mail the officers to join a committee or find out how you can help:
a.) AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Committee - contact Donnie (dbwarren@utmb.edu) or Karan (kaapatel@utmb.edu).
b.) Stay Shady! (Sun Protection/Skin Cancer Awareness) Committee - contact Ryan (rrriahi@utmb.edu) or Andre (rapitt@utmb.edu).
c.) Contact Dermatitis Outreach Committee - contact Sheila (szjalala@utmb.edu).
d.) Fundraising Committee – contact Ryan (rrriahi@utmb.edu).

6.) The National Dermatology Interest Group Association has a number of resources for medical students who hope to pursue a career in Dermatology. Visit their website (www.derminterest.org) and join their Facebook Group “Dermatology Interest Group Association” for more information.

UTMB Dermatology Residency Application Deadline Looming

The last day for dermatology applicants to submit their application for a categorical dermatology residency position at UTMB that starts in July 2013, is on Tuesday, November 1st. The UTMB Department of Dermatology plans on offering three residency positions in the current NRMP. Only complete applications submitted through ERAS will be considered. In previous years, UTMB MS4 applicants and current UTMB house staff automatically received interview invitations. The remaining applicants usually are notified in early December about interviews that are scheduled for February 2nd and 3rd of next year.

Reminder: DIG Meeting Tomorrow!

Join us for the first UTMB DIG meeting of the year tomorrow evening, October 25th, at 5:00 PM in the dermatology conference room (4.112 McCullough Building). Our guest speaker will be Dr. Richard Wagner, the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program Director. We look forward to seeing you!

Questions? Please email Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

USC Medical Student Publishes Dermatology Handbook

Congratulations to Misha Heller, a medical student at Keck School of Medicine (University of Southern California), for her new book, Contemporary Diagnosis and Management in Psychodermatology, that was published by Handbooks in Health Care Company this year. Her co-author is Dr. John Koo, an acknowledged expert in psychodermatology at UCSF.

2010-2011 UTMB Dermatopathology Fellows Pass Boards

Congratulations to Drs. Ryan Matherne and John Cangelosi for passing their recent board certification examination in dermatopathology!

Are MD/PhD Applicants Favored for Dermatology Residencies?

According to the October 2011 issue of Skin and Allergy News (Volume 42, Number 10), U.S. dermatology residencies during 2004-2007 had the greatest percentage (5.8%) of MD/PhD residents(page 10). This was more than three times higher than the average percentage of MD/PhDs in other residency probrams.

First DIG Meeting of the Year!

Join us for a Q&A Session with Dr. Richard Wagner, the UTMB Department of Dermatology Residency Program Director.

Where: Dermatology conference room, 4.112 McCullough Building

When: Tuesday, October 25th at 5PM

Questions? Contact Rebecca Philips (rcphilip@utmb.edu).

Predictors of Resident Performance

It would be nice to predict which dermatology applicants will excel in residency and make selections on that basis. The authors of a recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Harfmann KL, Zirwas MJ. Can performance in medical school predict performance in residency? A compilation and review of correlative studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011;65:1010-1022) reviewed the literature and concluded that no one factor is predictive. Of course, examinations taken in residency had strongest correlation with exams taken during medical school, clinical performance and membership in AOA. Resident evaluations by supervisors correlated most strongly with medical school, interview, and clinical grades.

Dr. Richard Wagner Lectures to UTMB Plastic Surgeons about Media

Dr. Wagner, the UTMB Edgar B. Smith Professor of Dermatology, was invited to give the UTMB Division of Plastic Surgery a lecture this week about Media and Perceptions of Appearance. The lecture was attended by the UTMB Plastic Surgery Faculty and Residents. Dr. Wagner teaches several popular didactic courses at UTMB about media depictions of skin diseases. UTMB PGY3 Plastic Surgery Residents have a required one month clinical rotation on the Mohs Service with Dr. Wagner and the rotating Dermatology Resident each year.

New Dermatology BSHS Selective Offered: “Skin Diseases In Novel/Films”

Dermatology's new BSHS Selective, DERU 4402 (specific topic: "Skin Diseases in Novels/Films"), will offer 3 students each Period the opportunity to study 4 primary novels: Dear John (melanoma), The Da Vinci Code (albinism), The First Wives Club (aging skin), The English Patient (burn), and their derivative films. This sounds like a very interesting class!

American Board of Dermatology 2011 Certification Examination Pass Rates

The American Board of Dermatology reported that of the 391 first time examinees for the 2011 Certifying Examination, 6.2% failed.

Where do Dermatology Residents Practice?

A study from the September 2011 issue of Archives of Dermatology addresses this question (Resneck JS Jr, Kostecki J. An analysis of dermatologist migration patterns after residency training. Arch Dermatol 2011;147:1065-1070). UTMB is specifically cited (page 1067) as one of only 4 US dermatology residency programs (along with Mayo Clinic, Texas Tech and the University of Iowa) that had less than 15% of their residents practicing within a 100 mile radius. This compares to 43% of dermatologists nationally who practice within 100 miles of their residency training program.

Dr. Mara Dacso Publishes Research on Leprosy

Congratulations to UTMB PGY3 dermatology resident, Mara Dacso MD, MS, for her publication in the October 2011 issue of the Southern Medical Journal (Dacso MM, Jacobson RR, Scollard DM, Stryjewska BM, Prestigiacoma JF. Evaluation of multi-drug therapy for leprosy in the United States using daily rifampin. Southern Med J 2011;101(10):689-694). Dr. Dacso collaborated with researchers at The National Hansen’s Disease Program in Baton Rouge, LA for her Dermatology Research Honors Program thesis while she was a medical student at UTMB.