Belated Congratulations to Travis Dowdle, MD (PGY3 UTMB Dermatology Resident)

The DIG Blog has just become aware about a Mohs related publication that was published by Dr. Travis Dowdle in the peer-reviewed journal SKIN: Travis S. Dowdle, MD, Ryan S. Koch, MD, Corley Pruneda, MD, Juan M. Pinto-Cuberos, MD, Renat Ahatov, MD, Frank T. Winsett, MD, Richard F. Wagner Jr., MD, Impact of Anatomical Location on Stage Requirements in Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study of 501,209 Cases Using TriNetX (2004-2024), SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine: Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): January 2026 Issue.   His coauthors include the former, current, and the incoming 2026-2027 Mohs fellow, as well as our two full-time UTMB Mohs Core faculty, Assistant Professor and Fellowship Associate Program Director Frank Winsett, MD and Professor Dermatology and Fellowship Program Director Richard Wagner, MD. SKIN is an open-access online dermatology journal that is indexed Google Scholar and  DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), Scopus, and Portico.

UTMB PGY3 Dermatology Resident Publishes Study in Dermatologic Surgery

Congratulations to Marie Vu, MD, a current second year UTMB dermatology resident, for her first authorship publication in the June 2026 supplemental issue of Dermatologic Surgery

GLPs Significantly Decrease the Risk of Postoperative Surgical Complications: A TriNetX Retrospective Cohort Study

Vu, Marie MD*; Schmidt, Madelyn BS†; Gandhi, Smiti BS†; Wagner, Richard F. MD*  Dermatologic Surgery 52(6S):p S35-S38, June 2026. | DOI: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000005162). Her co-authors were UTMB medical students Madelyn Schmidt and Smiti Ghandi, and Professor Dermatology, Richard Wagner, MD, UTMB's Mohs Fellowship Program Director. 

UTMB Dermatology PGY2 Publishes Case Report in Dermatologic Surgery

Congratulations to UTMB PGY2 dermatology resident, Dr. Kush Maheshwari for his recent first author publication in Dermatologic Surgery (Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in a New Tattoo).

Maheshwari K, Ahatov R, Pinto-Cuberos J, Wagner RF Jr. Dermatol Surg. 2026 May 1;52(5):488-489. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000004849. Epub 2025 Sep 3. PMID: 40899760 (No abstract available). His coauthors were Drs. Renat Ahatov (PGY4 UTMB dermatology resident and 2026-2027 UTMB Mohs fellow), Juan Pinto-Cuberos (current UTMB Mohs fellow), and Richard Wagner (UTMB Professor Dermatology and Mohs Fellowship Director).

 

UTMB MS4 Publishes in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Christopher Thang for his recent publication in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (Impact Factor 6.6), which found that dupilumab treatment in atopic dermatitis patients was associated with a progressive reduction in the incidence rate of alopecia areata.

 

Reference: 

Levine, J, Tang, A, O'Hagan, R, Mo, L, Islam, RK, Thang, CJ, Gulati, N, Talia, J, Guttman-Yassky, E, & Ungar, B. (2026). Dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis associated with reduced risk of alopecia areata: A multicenter cohort study. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, S2213-2198(26)00219-9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2026.03.015

UTMB MS4 Publishes in International Journal of Dermatology

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Christopher Thang for his recent publication in the International Journal of Dermatology (Impact Factor 3.2), in which he found a bidirectional association between periorificial dermatitis and type 2 inflammatory conditions, including atopic dermatitis. 

 

His project was conducted with David Garate (UTMB SOM Alumnus), Dr. Michael G. Wilkerson (Professor and Chair of UTMB Department of Dermatology) and Dr. George Golovko (UTMB Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology).

 

Reference: 

Garate, D, Thang, CJ, Lai, J, Sánchez-Feliciano, A, Golovko, G, Wilkerson, MG, & Barbieri, JS. (2026). Bidirectional Association Between Periorificial Dermatitis and Type 2 Inflammatory Conditions: A Retrospective Cohort Study. International journal of dermatology, 10.1111/ijd.70395. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.70395

UTMB Dermatology and UTMB DIG Announce Annual Awards for 2025-2026 Academic Year

Departmental Awards 

Thomas B. Freese Award (Best Overall Dermatology Senior Medical Student): Madelyn Schmidt

Edgar B. Smith, MD Award (Best Dermatology Research Performed in Department): Christopher Thang

 

History of Dermatology: Jun Park (The Origins of en face Processing: Tracing the Evolution of Mohs Micrographic Surgery)

Skin Diseases Depicted in Film: Joy Li (How Has This Course Changed My Perception of Film as It Relates to Depictions of Skin Diseases)

DIG Awards

 

Excellent Faculty Teaching in Dermatology: Kathleen Kroger, MD

Excellent Resident Teaching in Dermatology: Peter Nguyen, MD

AAMC Dermatology Residency Webinar — June 3

The AAMC is hosting a Specialty Spotlight webinar focused on Dermatology residency applications on Wednesday, June 3 at 12 PM CST. The session will feature dermatology program directors and advisors discussing strategies for the upcoming ERAS application season, including application preparation, resources, and best practices.

Register here!

2026-2027 Dermatology Residency Application Updates (APD)

 The Association of Professors of Dermatology (APD) recently released updated recommendations and guidance for the 2026-2027 dermatology residency application cycle. Below is a brief summary of some of the major changes and recommendations applicants should know going into this cycle:

Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)

Beginning this cycle, applicants are required to submit at least one dermatology SLOE through ERAS. This letter should come from:

• your home dermatology department, or

• an away rotation institution if your school does not have a home dermatology program.

Additional letters may still be narrative letters, though APD encourages broader adoption of the SLOE format moving forward.

Program Signaling

Dermatology will continue using the 28-signal system:

• 3 Gold signals

• 25 Silver signals

Applicants are encouraged to signal programs that genuinely reflect their interests, including home programs and away rotation programs if applicable. The APD also noted that applicants historically have a near-zero chance of receiving interviews from non-signaled programs. Because of this, applicants are discouraged from applying broadly beyond their signaled programs.

Coordinated Interview Release Dates

Interview invitations will be released in three coordinated waves during November 2026:

• November 2

• November 16

• November 30

Programs participating in the coordinated release system will only release the number of invitations corresponding to available interview spots.

Interview & Communication Recommendations

The APD recommends that:

• applicants avoid sending unnecessary pre-interview updates or expressions of interest,

• post-interview thank-you letters and letters of intent should not be sent,

• applicants should not interpret silence from programs as lack of interest.

Programs may continue using virtual, in-person, or hybrid interview formats depending on institutional preference.

Away Rotation Recommendations

The APD continues to recommend limiting away rotations in an effort to improve equity and reduce financial burden:

• Students with a home dermatology program: recommended maximum of 2 away rotations

• Students without a home program: recommended maximum of 3 away rotations

For full APD guidance and official documents, please visit:

Association of Professors of Dermatology – Program Director Resources

Serve, Snack, and Support: Melanoma Walk Profit Share at Chicken N Pickle!

The energy from this year's Melanoma Walk was incredible, and the fundraising momentum is keeping strong through the end of the year!

The Melanoma Walk Committee has partnered up with Chicken N Pickle (Webster Location) for an exciting profit share night, and the entire community is invited to come out, hang out, and support a fantastic cause.

Whether you are a seasoned pickleball pro or just looking for a fun night out to catch up with classmates, grab dinner, and hit the courts, we would love to see you there! DIG has 2 courts reserved for us to play while we all socialize.

📅 When: Tuesday, May 26th | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Chicken N Pickle (Webster) – 210 Blue Heron Dr, Webster, TX
🍕 Impact: 10% of all food and drink proceeds (both dine-in and to-go) go directly to AIM at Melanoma to support their vital fight against melanoma.

Please invite your peers, friends, and family—the more people who grab a bite, the more we can raise for AIM at Melanoma. See you all on the courts!

UTMB Students Present at the Annual Society for Investigative Dermatology 2026 Conference

Congratulations to the UTMB students who presented posters at the 2026 Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Conference!

Poster Presentations:

Vitiligo is associated with an increased risk of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease

Kassianna Elizondo, Renat Ahatov, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez

The emerging role of ertapenem in recalcitrant hidradenitis suppurativa: A systematic review

Alekhya Gurram, Jun H. Park, Amna Sidiq, Diego A. Ramos-Briceño, Mohamad Jabin, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez. 

Evaluating the role of upadacitinib in refractory lichen planus: A systematic review

Jun H. Park, Alekhya Gurram, Amna Sidiq, Mohamad Jabin, Anthony Linfante. 

Assessing the relationship between vitamin D levels and risk of major adverse cardiovascular and thromboembolic events in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Diego A. Ramos-Briceño, Jun H. Park, David Garate, Narayana Swamy, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez. 

Risk of alopecia areata among rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis patients treated with TNF inhibitors

Diego A. Ramos-Briceño, Jun H. Park, David Garate, Narayana Swamy, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez. 

Intravascular pyogenic granuloma of the popliteal fossa: A rare clinical presentation

Jun H. Park, Diego A. Ramos-Briceño, Katherine Johnson, Brent Kelly, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez.

Q&A with Dr. Wilson: Applying to Dermatology Residency 2026-2027

Dr. Wilson, our UTMB Dermatology Program Director, will be hosting a Q&A session on Thursday, May 21 at 4:30PM for students applying to dermatology residency during the upcoming 2026-2027 application cycle!  

The session will include discussion of recent changes to the application process, followed by an open Q&A.

Teams Link to the Meeting:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/260455179538235?p=8P8xR87TYQdxSZ1g7c 

 

Meeting ID: 260 455 179 538 235

Passcode: mA9qf9U3

UTMB MS3 Presents at 11th Annual Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Poster Session and QI Symposium

Congratulations to UTMB MS3 Sarah Ahmed for her recent research poster presentation, “Improving Outpatient Follow-Up in Inpatient Dermatology Consult Services Through Student-Led Care Coordination” at UTMB's 11th Annual Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Poster Session and QI Symposium. Her coauthors on this poster were Drs. Daphne Eckembrecher (PGY2) and Anthony Linfante (UTMB Assistant Professor Dermatology).

2026 AAD Innovation Academy - Call for Scientific Poster Submissions

 The 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy will take place this summer in New York City, July 16-19. Submissions for scientific posters are due by May 14^th.  We encourage all interested participants to submit their work and take advantage of this opportunity to share their research and connect with fellow attendees. Submission guidelines and additional conference information can be found on the conference website: 2026 AAD Innovation Academy: Abstracts.

Please ensure that all submission originating from the department of dermatology have been reviewed by a faculty member and include the faculty and resident names in the submission.

Record UTMB Posters and Abstracts at 2026 Annual American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) Meeting in Austin, Texas

Congratulations to UTMB medical students, residents, and faculty for their research presentations at the 58th Annual ACMS meeting! The presentations were:

Dowdle TW, Driskill J, Pinto-Cuberos JM, Linfante A, Ahatov R, Wagner RF. Novel angiocentric pattern in basal cell carcinoma. Abstract published in: American College of Mohs Surgery 2026 Annual Meeting Abstract Supplement, April 30, 2026, Austin, TX.             

 

Jabin M, Rocker A, Alameddine R, Ahatov R, Wagner RF Jr. SGLT-2 Inhibitors and reduced risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC): A retrospective cohort study of patients with diabetes. ePoster, Annual Meeting of the American College for Mohs Surgery, April  30, 2026, Austin, Texas.

 

Jabin M, Rocker A, Alameddine R,  Ahatov R, Wagner RF Jr. GLP-1 receptor agonists and reduced risk ofmelanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC): A retrospective cohort study of patients with obesity. ePoster, Annual Meeting of the American College for Mohs Surgery, April  30, 2026, Austin, Texas.

 

Vu M, Momin F, Williams P. Avoiding overtreatment of a benign disease: Recognizing histopathologic differences between Darier’s disease and squamous cell carcinoma. Abstract published in: American College of Mohs Surgery 2026 Annual Meeting Abstract Supplement, April 30, 2026, Austin, TX. 

 

Vu M, Schmidt M, Gandhi S, Wagner RF Jr. GLPs significantly decrease the risk of post-operative surgical complications: a retrospective cohort study. ePoster, Annual Meeting of the American College for Mohs Surgery, April  30, 2026, Austin, Texas.

 

20th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk in Galveston

Galveston’s 20th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk took place this past weekend on April 25th! The event brought together melanoma survivors, their families, and a strong community of supporters for another meaningful and inspiring event. The event was coordinated by the Melanoma Walk Committee, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group, and AIM at Melanoma. 

We were honored to have Dr. Anthony Linfante as the opening speaker and all of our participants who made this event a success! Thanks to everyone’s hard work and generosity, we raised $5,100 in support of melanoma research. Donations will continue to be accepted until the end of the year, so please feel free to share the link with your friends and family via our website.

We hope to see everyone next year for Galveston’s 21st Melanoma Walk!

Texas Dermatological Society Spring 2026 - Congratulations to all participants!

Please join DIG in congratulating all UTMB faculty, residents, and medical students at the Texas Dermatology Society (TDS) Spring meeting hosted in Dallas, Texas on April 24th and 25th!

AWARDS

1st Place Resident Poster Presentation: 

Palmar Petechiae in a Patient Receiving Ibrutinib for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Olivia Arriaza, Luke Hamilton, Renat Ahatov, Antonio Jimenez, Brent Kelly

RESIDENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Oxygen-Enriched Operating Rooms and Surgical Fires: An Underestimated Risk of Ambulatory Dermatologic Surgery

Fareen Momin, Antonio Jimenez, Marie Vu, Paige Hoyer Williams, Julie A Croley, Alyssa Hansen, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Reconstructive Utility of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty and Full-Thickness Skin Grafting in Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Julien Bourgeois, Juan Pinto-Cuberos, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Reduced Risk in Melanoma & Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Obese Patients on Semaglutide & Tirzepatide

Mohamad Jabin, Rashwan Alameddine, Allison Roecker, Renat Ahatov, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Up in Smoke: Uncovering a Hidden Health Risk in Dermatologic Practice

Marie Vu, Frank Winsett

RESIDENT POSTERS

Fibrous Hamartoma of Infancy Presenting as a Large Mass in a 4-Month-Old Male

Vivian Rojas, Madelyn Schmidt, Erica Kelly

Pediatric erythrokeratodermia variabilis with favorable response to secukinumab

Lynchi Nguyen, Sarah Kesaria, Bernard Gibson, Lindy Ross 

Chromoblastomycosis Recurrence After Conventional Excision: The Role of Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mojahed M.K. Shalabi, Christopher Richter, Umayr R. Shaikh, Leela K. Raj, Melissa Laughter, H. William Higgins II

Digital Disparities: Skin of Color Visibility in Dermatologic Content on Instagram

Alyssa Hansen, Lynchi Nguyen, Fareen Momin, Janice Wilson

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Mimicking a Benign Subcutaneous Nodule: A Case of Delayed Diagnosis

Daphne G. Eckembrecher, Sydney McDaniel, Janice M. Wilson, Bernard R. Gibson

Breaking the Surface: A Rare Case of Perforating Osteoma Cutis 

Mary Cavanagh, Luke Hamilton, Janice Chang, Brandon P. Goodwin

Fever, Ferritin and Flares: A Young Woman’s Presentation of Adult-Onset Still’s Disease

Benjamin Garcia, Sarah Ahmed, Brandon Goodwin, Brent Kelly, Anthony Linfante

Standardizing Dermatology Medical Student Education Using a Structured Curriculum and Pre- and Post-Rotation Assessments: A Quality Improvement Initiative 

Peter Nguyen, Whitney Harrell, Anthony Linfante

MEDICAL STUDENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Mapping the Gap: Geographic Barriers to Mohs Surgery in Texas

Shawn Lim, Joshua Wang, Kush Maheshwari, Travis S. Dowdle, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Shade Coverage in Galveston Schools: A Map to Guide Targeted Dermatological Community Intervention

Sydney McDaniel, Kassianna Elizondo, Daphne G. Eckembrecher, Michael G. Wilkerson

Association Between GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Incident Hair Loss

Zainab Yousaf, Alyssa Hansen, Lindy Ross

MEDICAL STUDENT POSTERS

Colchicine Successfully Treats Refractory Palisading and Neutrophilic Granulomatous Dermatitis Associated with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Madelyn Schmidt, Julien Bourgeois, Anthony Linfante

Natural History of a Large, Complicated Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Requiring Interdisciplinary Management

Danielle Miller, Kristen Kay, Anthony Linfante, Janice WIlson

Pediatric Non-Segmental Vitiligo with Morphea-Lichen Sclerosus Overlap and Anogenital Scarring: A Rare Immune-Mediated Association

Caludia N. Dubocq Ortiz, Daphne G. Eckembrecher, Brandon Goodwin, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez

Isotretinoin Exposure and Long-Term Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk in Acne Patients: A TriNetX Retrospective Cohort Study

Elizabeth McCarthy, Katherine Benandi, Kristin Wolf

Trends in Medicare Utilization and Spending for Skin Cancer Treatment Procedures, 2018-2023

Alekhya Gurram, Amna Sidiq, Fareen Momin, Travis S. Dowdle, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

A Systematic Review of Women in Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS): Gender Diversity, Reimbursement Gaps, and Physician Perspectives

Smiti Gandhi, Marie T. Vu, Madelyn Schmidt, Paige Hoyer Williams 

Continuous Glucose Monitor Device-Associated Cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus Infection: A Novel Source of Primary Inoculation

Luke Hamilton, Travis S. Dowdle, Antonio Jimenez, Janice M. Wilson, Brandon P. Goodwin 

Comparing Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients on Cyclosporine with Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis

Destinee Elliott, Luke Hamilton, Isha Jhingan, Eric Cline, Nicole Papac

The Role of Telemedicine in Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Scoping Review

Luke Moore, Ruth Hong, Julien Bourgeois, Juan Pinto-Cuberos, Frank Winsett

Acute Localized Exanthematous Pustulosis: A Two-Patient Case Series Highlighting Diagnostic Overlap with Infectious and Inflammatory Facial Dermatoses

Cutler Cannon, Kristen Kay, Julien Bourgeois, Anthony Linfante, Brent Kelly, Brandon Goodwin

Intralesional MMR vs. Candida Antigen for Adult Cutaneous Warts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

Shawn Lim, Sophia Choi, Sarah Kesaria, Anthony Linfante

Evaluating Malignancy Risk of Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies in Systemic Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Sydney McDaniel, Katherine Benandi, Olivia Arriaza, Anthony Linfante

A Rare Case of Methotrexate Toxicity Mimicking Psoriasis

Sarah Ahmed, Kristin Geh, Brent Kelly, Anthony Linfante

Social Media and the rise of infant skin care: Navigating digital trends and clinical guidance

Helena M. Nammour, Samruddhi Arkatkar, Amna Sidiq, Alisha Kashyap, Rashid M. Rashid

Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Incident Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

Zainab Yousaf, Kush Maheshwari, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez

Infection with Hepatitis C, Not Hepatitis B Confers Increased Risk for Lichen Planus

Gengi Kleto, Umer Nadir, Sahithi Talasila, George M. Jeha, Stanislav N. Tolkachjov