Galveston Mardi Gras

The Galveston Daily News has released 9 videos that explore the history of Mardi Gras in Galveston. It is available at GALVNEWS.COM/MARDIGRAS.

UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Resident Attends Annual Dermatology Foundation Symposium

Congratulations to Renat Ahatov, MD (top left) for his selection by the Dermatology Foundation's to attend their annual scientific symposium in Naples, Florida last week. Dr. Ahatov will be the 2026-2027 UTMB Mohs fellow after he completes dermatology residency at UTMB this June.

MS4 Schedules UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Project Thesis Defense

All interested DIG members and the UTMB community are invited to attend UTMB MS4 Madelyn Schmidt’s Dermatology Honors Research Project Thesis Defense on Friday, March 6th, from 2:00–3:00 pm in Galveston at the Dermatology Conference Room (McCullough Building Room 5.124). Ms. Schmidt’s research presentation is “Evaluating the Image-Based Diagnostic Accuracy of ChatGPT in Dermatology: A Comparative Analysis Between AI Models and Dermatologists.” Her supervising faculty is Janice Wilson (Associate Professor of Dermatology) and her thesis committee members are Kathleen Kroger (Assistant Professor of Dermatology), Richard Wagner (Professor Dermatology, Residency Program Director), and Jiefei Wang (Assistant Professor of Biostatistics & Data Science).

Teams link for virtual attendance: 

Madelyn Schmidt's Dermatology Honors Thesis Defense | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

Dr. Juan Pinto-Cuberos Nominated for the 2026 UTMB Outstanding Overall Fellow of the Year

Congratulations Juan Pinto-Cuberos, MD for his recent nomination for the 2026 UTMB Fellow of the Year Award. Each year the UTMB Graduate Medical Education Committee selects one of the current UTMB Fellows for this award.

Dr. Pinto-Cuberos is currently the UTMB Fellow in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (MSDO) with anticipated fellowship completion in June 2026. He accepted a faculty position in the UTMB Department of Dermatology following fellowship completion.

UTMB MS4 Publishes in JAAD

Congratulations to Christopher Thang (MS4) for his publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), which found an association between hormonal contraception and development of periorificial dermatitis. 

His project was conducted with Dr. George Golovko, PhD (UTMB Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology) and Dr. Michael G. Wilkerson, MD, MS (Professor and Chair of UTMB Department of Dermatology).

 

Link: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(26)00060-5/fulltext

 

Reference:

Thang CJ, Lai J, Garate D, et al. Hormonal contraception and development of periorificial dermatitis: a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX database. J Am Acad Dermatol. Published online January 21, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2026.01.021

UTMB PGY3 Dermatology Resident Named for “Resident of Distinction Award”

Congratulations to UTMB dermatology resident Travis Dowdle, MD for being selected as a 2026 Resident of Distinction.

Sponsored by Beiersdorf, the dermMentors™ Resident of Distinction Award™ recognizes 5 top US dermatology residents each year for their excellence and commitment to the future of dermatology. The award covers airfare, hotel accommodations, tuition fees to attend the Maui Derm Hawaii conference, and includes exclusive 1-on-1 Mentorship and Slide Review Sessions with national thought leaders in dermatology.  Recipients are also given dedicated podium time to present their research during the conference. Dr. Dowdle presented his research, “Impact of Anatomical Location on Stage Requirements in Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study” at the meeting. His faculty mentor for the meeting was Dr. Linda Stein Gold, Director of Dermatology Clinical Research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, as well as Division Head of Dermatology at Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

ACGME Continued Accreditation for all UTMB Dermatology Graduate Medical Education Programs

Congratulations to UTMB Dermatology for their Continued Accreditation for their Graduate Medical Education Programs in Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology! The ACGME meets every January and evaluates WebADS submitted from each accredited program for evaluation.

UTMB MS4 Poster Awarded 2nd Place at AAD

Congratulations to Madelyn Schmidt (MS4, DIG President) and Travis Dowdle (PGY-3) on their poster, “Comparative Risk of Psoriatic Arthritis in Psoriasis Patients on Immunomodulators,” which was awarded second place at the annual American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Conference. Their poster was recognized as outstanding based on scientific importance, methodology, and presentation, selected from more than 2,300 high-quality poster exhibits. Their co-authors are Georgiy Golovko (Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology) and Ayezel Munoz (Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology).

Last Day to Apply to the 67th National Student Research Forum

Great opportunity for medical students and residents to submit their dermatology research! See https://www.utmb.edu/som/som-educational-affairs/office-of-research-scholarship/medical-student-research/nsrf for additional information.

Opportunity to Present Dermatology Research at UTMB’s Research Summit

 

UTMB Find a Doctor Website now includes Dermatology Residents

Recently the UTMB Website “Find a Doctor” includes UTMB Residents. This improvement should increase patient access and facilitate follow up appointments. See https://doctors.utmbhealth.com/ for additional details.

UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Resident Co-authors Case Report

Congratulations to PGY4 dermatology resident Mary Cavanagh, MD and Brent Kelly, MD (Professor Dermatology) on the publication of their recent case report, “Necrolytic acral erythema in an incarcerated population: A case series” in the peer-reviewed journal, JAAD Case Reports. The first author was former rotating medical student, Iman Ali, MD, from UTHSC who is currently in her PGY1 residency at Texas Health Resources Presbyterian in Dallas, Texas.

UTMB Dermatology Expands Dermatology Access in Galveston

UTMB Dermatology held its first 4-hour Saturday clinic in Galveston on January 10 ,2026 at the Stewart Road Clinic. This activity is completely voluntary for UTMB dermatology residents and dermatology trained fellows, and is considered “institutional moonlighting” with an hourly pay rate of $200 for dermatology residents and $200 for supervising dermatology fellows. Dermatology faculty are also able to volunteer to supervise residents. Those participating do not need any additional licensure or insurance over that provided by UTMB during their residency and fellowship training. Thank you Dr. Brent Kelly (Professor Dermatology) for all of your work to make this possible.

UTMB MS4 Publishes in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings

Congratulations to Madelyn Schmidt (UTMB MS4 and DIG President), Travis Dowdle (Dermatology PGY-3),  Georgiy Golovko (Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology), and Ayezel Munoz (Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology) on their recent publication. Their peer-reviewed publication, “Comparative risk of psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis patients on immunomodulators” was published as a brief report in Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings.

 

Citation: Schmidt, M., Dowdle, T. S., Golovko, G., & Munoz, A. (2025). Comparative risk of psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis patients on immunomodulators. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2025.2596529

Increasing Cost for Dermatology Residency Applications

According to recently published research from the School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, the cost for dermatology residency applicants has increased since 2021 largely due to the costs of away rotations and the costs of in-person interviews (Cutis 2025;116:216-217). The total average expenses in 2021 was $6235, while it more than doubled in 2024 to $13,087.

5% Salary Increase for UTMB Housestaff in 2026

Pending approval by the UT System Board of Regents, a 5% salary increase for UTMB Housestaff will go into effect for the 2026-2027 academic year:

Dr. Lindy Ross Certified in Pediatric Dermatology

Congratulations to UTMB Dermatology Assistant Professor Lindy Ross, MD for achieving board certification in the subspecialty of pediatric dermatology following examination by the American Board of Dermatology this year.

UTMB Interviews for Dermatology Residency Applicants

UTMB Dermatology will interview applicants for dermatology residency positions in January 2026. Invited applicants were from 14 different states or territories and 25 different medical schools (7 in Texas). 29 applicants were current or past rotators in the department, and an additional 11 applicants were non-rotators. 9 applicants had additional research degrees (PhD, MPH, or Master’s) in additional to MD degrees.

UTMB Named as Qualified Treatment Center for ZEVASKYN®, a treatment for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB)

Abeona Therapeutics® has announced that UTMB is New Qualified Treatment Center for ZEVASKYN® in Texas.

ZEVASKYN (prademagene zamikeracel) is a FDA-approved autologous gene therapy that is indicated for the treatment of wounds in adult and pediatric patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB). UTMB Dermatology Assistant Professors Drs. A. Munoz and L. Ross, along with Nurse Manager Jennifer Tribble, MSN, RN were instrumental in getting this new therapy available in Galveston.

 

UTMB 2026-2027 Mohs Fellow Announced

Congratulations to Renat Ahatov, MD, a current PGY4 UTMB dermatology resident for matching into the UTMB MSDO Fellowship starting in July 2026. He will be the 11^th UTMB Mohs fellow. We are all looking forward to working with you!

UTMB MS4 Publishes in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Congratulations to Madelyn Schmidt, UTMB MS4 and President of the UTMB DIG for her recent publication about tranexamic acid and melanoma risk in the highly regarded peer-reviewed journal, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Her UTMB co-authors are UTMB PGY3 dermatology resident, Dr. Marie Vu, UTMB MS3  S. Gandhi, and UTMB Professor Dermatology and Chair, Dr. Michael Wilkerson.  

The citation is: Schmidt M, Vu M, Smiti Gandhi, Wilkerson M. A retrospective cohort study evaluating the impact of tranexamic acid on melanoma risk. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2025 Nov;93(5):1301-1303. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2025.07.006. Epub 2025 Jul 8. PMID: 40639475.

Where are they now?

Ever wonder where UTMB dermatology residents practice dermatology when they graduate? Thanks to the efforts of two UTMB MS3s (Danielle Miller and Nikitha Adari), along with administrative support from Rey Lopez and Michelle Karn, two new maps in the Chair’s administrative offices show where our graduates practice. In addition, plans are underway to map where our fellowship trainees go with supspecialty expertise in dermatopathology and Mohs surgery, as well as those with combined training in dermatology and either dermatopathology or Mohs surgery at UTMB.

UTMB Hosting Japanese Dermatologist During December 2025

Please welcome Dr. Mana Myoshi, who will be visiting the UTMB Department of Dermatology for 2 weeks during December 2025 as part of the exchange program with Hokkaido, Japan's Tokushukai Hospital (TKH). It will be a great learning opportunity for everyone!

Dr. Erica Kelly Featured Speaker at Houston Dermatological Society Monthly Meeting

Congratulations to Dr. Erica Kelly (Clinical Professor, UTMB Department of Dermatology, and Director of the UTMB Cosmetic Dermatology Service) who was the featured speaker at the December 2025 Houston Dermatological Society Meeting on the topic “Estrogen Creams: Science or Hype?”

Congratulations Dr. Corley Pruneda!

Corley Pruneda, MD (UTMB’s 2024-2025 Mohs Fellow) successfully passed the American Board of Dermatology subspecialty examination in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery. She is the 9^th consecutive UTMB Mohs fellow to successfully pass this examination on the first attempt. Dr. Pruneda is currently in private practice in San Angelo, Texas.

UTMB PGY2 Dermatology Resident Publishes on Steatocystomas

Congratulations to UTMB PGY2 dermatology resident, Julien Bourgeois, MD for his recent co-authorship of the clinical review, “Steatocystomas: Update on Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management” in the peer-reviewed journal, Cutis 116(4):138-142, E3-E5, 2025.

UTMB Changes Dermatology Residency Interview Dates for 2026

Instead of interviewing in February as originally planned, UTMB Dermatology will now interview applicants for our dermatology residency program on Thursday and Friday afternoons in January (1/15, 1/16, 1/29, and 1/30). Departmental release of interview offers are expected to begin in early December.

UTMB DIG Hosts Biopsy Workshop

On Tuesday evening, DIG hosted a biopsy workshop where students learned about different biopsy methods and practiced shave and punch biopsies using bananas as skin models. Special thanks to Drs. Peter Nguyen (PGY-4), Kristen Kay (PGY-3), and Julien Bourgeois (PGY-2) for joining us to demonstrate proper biopsy technique!

UTMB PGY2 Dermatology Resident Publishes Research about Mohs on Social Media

Congratulations to UTMB PGY2 dermatology resident Fareen Momin, MD, and her coauthors UTMB MS3 Alekhya Gurram, PGY3 UTMB dermatology resident Travis Dowdle, and UTMB Dermatology Professor Richard Wagner, MD for their recently published peer-reviewed article about Mohs surgery. The citation for their publication is Momin, F., Gurram, A., Dowdle, T. S., & Wagner, R. F., Jr. (2025). Representations of Mohs surgery on social media. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2025.2571332

Texas Dermatology Society Fall 2025 - 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 Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico on October 3rd and 4th!

AWARDS

2nd Place Resident Podium Presentation: 

One Small Step for Man, One GIANT Leap for Dermatologists! Marie Vu, Smiti Gandhi, Frank Winsett, Brandon Goodwin, Bernard Gibson.

RESIDENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

One Small Step for Man, One GIANT Leap for Dermatologists! Marie Vu, Smiti Gandhi, Frank Winsett, Brandon Goodwin, Bernard Gibson.

RESIDENT POSTERS

Asymmetric Periflexural Exanthem in an Adult. Julien Bourgeois, Amanda Thomas, James Gao.

Androgenic alopecia is not associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease

risk factors: A retrospective cohort study. Alyssa Hansen, Katherine Benandi, Diego A. Ramos-Briceño, Francisco J. La Bella- Villanueva, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez.

Readability of Online Skin Cancer Resources: A Review of Content from Major

Dermatology Societies. Fareen Momin, Alekhya Gurram, Travis S. Dowdle, Renat Ahatov, Juan

Pinto-Cuberos, Richard F. Wagner Jr.

MEDICAL STUDENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Acne Vulgaris and Diet: An Umbrella Review Synthesizing Evidence from Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses. Andrew Spires, Katherine Benandi, Mary Cavanagh, Erica Kelly. 

Burned by Misinformation? Sunscreen Safety Discourse on Instagram is Driven by Misinformation. Shelby Devin, Lynchi Nguyen, Peter Nguyen, Erica Kelly.

Evaluating Virtual and Microscope-Based Dermatopathology Education. Luke Hamilton, Antonio Jimenez, Anthony Linfante.

Cost Analysis of the Dermatologic Care Provided at St. Vincent’s Hope Clinic. Jun Park, Megan Bradley, Andrew Spires, Alyssa Hansen.

Patient Perceptions of Scrub Color and Attire in Dermatology. Alekhya Gurram, Brinda Chellappan.

MEDICAL STUDENT POSTERS

JAK Inhibitors vs Dupilumab in Mycosis Fungoides: A 5-Year Mortality Comparison. Eric Cline,  Bethel Desta, Antonio Jimenez, Michael Wilkerson. 

Clinical and Treatment Patterns in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Concurrent Excoriation Disorder: A Retrospective Descriptive Cohort Study. Danielle Miller, Kristin Geh, Michael Wilkerson.

Brief Index of Dermatologic Lesions Identified Using High-Frequency Ultrasound. Kassianna Elizondo, Jun Park, Travis Dowdle, Frank Winsett. 

The Horse Collar Hidden in Plain Sight: A Case of Madelung’s Disease. Nikitha Adari, Mary Cavanagh, Brandon Goodwin.

Tympanostomy tube placement and subsequent atopic dermatitis risk in children with

recurrent otitis media: a propensity-matched cohort study. Katherine Benandi, Sofia Piperno, Harold Pine.

Intravascular Pyogenic Granuloma of the Popliteal Fossa: A Rare Clinical Presentation. Jun Park, Diego Ramos, Katherine Woolridge, Brent Kelly, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez.

Assessing The Success of Dermatology Interest Group Resources for Medical Students. Madelyn Schmidt, Jane Onyemachi, Juan Pinto-Cuberos, Anthony Linfante.

Paradoxical Immune-Mediated Conditions and Malignancies from Biologics in HS: A Systematic

Review. Jun Park, Casey Brusen, Donna Talavari, Kristen Geh, Kathleen Kroger.

Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors as Neoadjuvant Therapy for Mohs Micrographic Surgery in the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review. Smiti Gandhi, Marie T. Vu, Ria Kanotra, Frank Winsett.

Evaluating the Impact of Tonsillectomy on Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Retrospective Analysis Across Three Postoperative Intervals. Sofia Piperno, Katherine Benandi, Harold Pine, MD.

Investigating the Association Between Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia and Polycystic

Ovary Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using TriNetX. Bethel Desta, Mary Cavanagh, Brandon Goodwin. 

A Systematic Review of Scabies Misdiagnosis: Clinical Features, Common Pitfalls and Outcomes. Ria Kanotra, Casey Brusen, Joel Joy, Alyssa Hansen.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Microbial Contamination of Everyday Dermatology Tools. Luke Hamilton, Victor Teran, Kaitlyn Streight, Alyssa Hansen, David Garate, Antonio Jimenez, Janice M. Wilson, Brandon P. Goodwin.

A Comparative Analysis of Dermatologic Diagnoses Seen at Student-Run Free Clinics in the United States. Megan Bradley, Jun Park, Andrew Spires, Alyssa Hansen, Juan Pinto-Cuberos, Anthony Linfante. 

A systematic review of hormonal acne in transgender individuals: prevalence, mechanisms, and gender-affirming management strategies Andrew Spires, Katherine Benandi, Sheila Sharifi, Anthony Jimenez, John Trinidad.

Update on the 3 Different Dermatology Residency Tracks Offered at UTMB for the 2026 Dermatology Match

Applicants should be aware that UTMB Dermatology has decided not to offer a Categorical 2+2 Dermatology Residency in the 2026 NRMP, but instead will offer the same training as an Advanced (PGY2) 2+2 Dermatology Position that will be linked to a PGY1 year in the UTMB Department of Internal Medicine. The total number of years training at UTMB will be 5, that includes the PGY1 year in UTMB Internal Medicine and the 4 year 2+2 UTMB Dermatology Residency Investigative Track. It is listed as Dermatology/IM with the Program Code 1714080A2 in the NRMP.

 

UTMB will also offer 6 Advanced Track positions that are 3 year dermatology residencies that begin in July 2027, but the prerequisite PGY1 year may be taken at UTMB or in other programs.

 

In addition, UTMB will offer 1 Advanced Track position for applicants who will have completed their PGY1 position for the 2+2 UTMB Investigative Track Dermatology Residency that will begin in July 2026.

Stay Shady with DIG: September Hats for the Homeless Event

Thank you to all of our DIG volunteers for helping make our first Hats for the Homeless event of the 2025–2026 school year a success! If you are interested in volunteering at future events, join the Hats for the Homeless email list here: https://forms.gle/CJHPjhXiqf7t9h8v7

Pictured from left to right: Presley Limon (MS3), Suzanne Sajid (MS1), Kassianna Elizondo (MS2 & Stay Shady Chair), and Sarah Muir (MS4).

Recommended Reading for Medical Student Researchers

An article published in Dermatology Online Journal describing article processing charges associated with publishing manuscripts is of value to dermatology researchers interested in publishing their work. This manuscript describes the publication models of many dermatology journals, and can be beneficial for residents and medical students when selecting journals to submit their manuscripts. 

Journal link: https://doi.org/10.5070/D331365374

Community Service Guidelines for DIG Members

DIG members interested in planning community service events must first contact the DIG President and Vice President. All new ideas should be submitted through them before proceeding. 

The Department supports DIG-led educational activities; however:

• Clinical activities such as skin checks are not allowed
• Samples (e.g., sunscreen) cannot be provided
• The Department cannot provide residents or faculty for these events

Thank you for helping promote these guidelines! Please contact Madelyn Schmidt (mlschmid@utmb.edu) or Alekhya Gurram (algurram@utmb.edu) with any questions.

All UTMB Completing Dermatology Residents Achieve American Board of Dermatology Certification

The results of the annual applied American Board of Dermatology Applied Examination (July 2025) were released and all of UTMB completing PGY4 dermatology residents passed the board certification examination on their first attempt. Congratulations!

UTMB Student Published in JAAD

Congratulations to Christopher Thang (MS4) for his publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD)  (Impact Factor: 11.8)! His study investigated cardiovascular safety in non-scarring alopecia patients on low-dose oral minoxidil.

 

Study Link: https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(25)02715-X/abstract

 

Reference:

Thang CJ, Levine J, Garate D, et. al. Cardiovascular safety of low-dose oral minoxidil in non-scarring alopecia: a multi-center population-based cohort study using TriNetX. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Article in press.

Veterinary Drug Costs Less than Same Medications for People!

Congratulations to UTMB PGY3 Travis Dowdle, MD for his original recent peer-reviewed publication, “Bridging the cost divide: comparing veterinary and human dermatologic drug pricing in the US.” His UTMB co-authors were MS4 DIG President Madelyn Schmidt and Dermatology Assistant Professor Ayezel Munoz, MD. For further information, please see Dowdle, T. S., Schmidt, M., Remmert, N., & Munoz, A. (2025). Bridging the cost divide: comparing veterinary and human dermatologic drug pricing in the US. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2025.2534312

UTMB MS3 Publishes in SKIN

Congratulations to UTMB MS3 Alekhya Gurram (DIG Vice President) and her co-authors Dr. Mary Cavanagh (UTMB PGY4 Dermatology Chief Resident for Medical Student Research) and Dr. Lindy Ross (UTMB Assistant Professor of Dermatology) on their recent publication titled “Isotretinoin and Hair Loss: A Clinical Perspective and Literature Review” in SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine. 

 

Citation: Isotretinoin and Hair Loss: A Clinical Perspective and Literature Review. J of Skin. 2025;9(5):2584-2593. doi:10.25251/n5hj2f33 

UTMB Student Publishes on Artificial Intelligence

Congratulations to Christopher Thang (MS4) for his book chapter publication in Dermatologic Clinics, which examines applications of AI in dermatology to enhance clinical decision-making, diagnostic and prognostic processes, and health care operations. 

  

Reference: Thang CJ, Duffy C, Khattab S, Semenov YR. The Current State and Future Prospects for Artificial Intelligence in Dermatology. Dermatologic Clinics. 2025 Jul 22.

 

Link: https://www.derm.theclinics.com/article/S0733-8635(25)00040-3/abstract

Welcome back, Dr. Ross!

This week, UTMB Dermatology welcomed back Dr. Lindy Ross, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, who returned to campus following completion of a one year fellowship in Pediatric Dermatology at Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. We are all looking forward to working and learning from you again!