Editors



Current Editors: Fareen Momin and Jane Onyemachi

(Please email editors if there is blog-worthy news that you would like to see shared)

Past Editors: Andrea Francis, Renat Ahatov, Michael Phan, Elise Weisert, Michael Ryan, Keith Wagner, Tim Allen, Kristyna Gleghorn, Dung Mac, Alex Acosta, William Tausend, Sheila Jalalat, Rebecca Philips, Chelsea Altinger, Lindsey Hunter, Alison Wiesenthal, Leslie Scroggins, Mara Dacso, Ashley Group, Fadi Constantine, Emily Fridlington, Joslyn Witherspoon, Tasneem Poonawalla.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Participants and Donators for the National Psoriasis Walk: Houston May 10th

UTMB Dermatology Interest Group has made a team for the Walk to Cure Psoriasis fundraiser in Houston on May 10th. In addition, UTMB DIG is participating in a friendly "challenge" against the Dermatology Interest Groups at UT-Houston and Baylor. The psoriasis foundation will be giving a prize to whichever group that raises the most money for the organization. 

Please register at the link below. 

Please email Psoriasis Awareness Chair, Zachary Jones MSIII, at zjjones@utmb.edu if you would like to participate.

See you at the walk! 

Monday, April 28, 2014

No UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Projects Scheduled for 2014-2015 Academic Year

No UTMB MS3 students have applied to the UTMB Dermatology Honors Research Program for the upcoming 2014-2015 academic year. This is the second time (2007) since this dermatology research program was initiated in 2001 that there have not been any participants. 27 UTMB medical students have successfully completed this optional research program. 2010 saw the most participants in one year (4). Many participants have gone on to publish research conducted this program and have been recognized by the UTMB School of Medicine with competitive named graduation research prizes.

Most Popular Cosmetic Procedures

Data gathered by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for 2013 indicates that botulinum toxin is the most popular (3,766,148), followed by hyaluronic acid (1,872,172) and hair removal (901,571). Liposuction (363,912) trailed other less invasive procedures, including microdermabrasion (479,865) and photorejuvenation (456,613). Photorejuvenation accounted for the largest percent increase (35.3%). Please see Modern Aesthetics, March/April 2014, Volume 2, Number 2, pages 8 and 9 for additional information. $2.5 billion was spent on injectables. Women accounted for over 90% of these procedures.

Dr. Lindsey Hunter-Ellul Recognized as Outstanding UTMB Dermatology Resident

Lindsey Hunter-Ellul, MD has been recognized as the outstanding dermatology resident for the 2013-2014 academic year. UTMB departmental selections are placed in nomination for the overall UTMB Outstanding Resident Award. Selection criteria for institutional nomination include state and national leadership rolls, academic performance, volunteerism, education, and research conducted during residency. Dr. Hunter-Ellul was a previous DIG President and Editor-in-Chief.

Congratulations on this award!

2014 UTMB Department of Dermatology Annual MS4 Awards Announced

History of Dermatology Award: Sam Wallum (“Lasers in Dermatology”)

 

Dermatology in Cinema Award: Will Tausend (“And the Award Goes to: A Review of Academy Award Winning Best Pictures Featuring Skin Conditions”)

 

Edgar B. Smith Scholarship: Sheila Jalalat

 

Thomas Freese Award: Lindy Ross

 

Congratulations to all!

UTMB Medical Students Screened for Melanoma

UTMB second year medical students took advantage of a free melanoma screening clinic held by the UTMB Department of Dermatology faculty and residents last Friday. Thank you for offering this service!

UTMB MS4 Sheila Jalalat Awarded Dermatology Research Graduation Honors

Current UTMB DIG President, MS4 Sheila Jalalat presented her UTMB Dermatology Honors Program research on Friday, April 25, 2014 at 8 am in the UTMB dermatology conference room (4.130 McCullough Bldg) and was awarded Cum Laude 2014 graduation research honors from the School of Medicine. Her research topic was, “Dermatology Interest Group Blog: The Impact of Medical School Interest Groups and Web 2.0 Tools As a Resource for Students and Residents.” Her UTMB Honors Committee members were the Committee Chair, Dr. M. Peek (Preventive Medicine & Community Health), and ad hoc dermatology committee members Drs. R. Wagner (dermatology faculty advisor), S. Raimer (Chair, Department of Dermatology) and B. Kelly. Congratulations to Ms. Jalalat for expanding our knowledge about UTMB’s Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) Blog and for her excellent leadership over the past two academic years as UTMB’s DIG President. Her many organizational talents and skills will be missed by all of us in Galveston!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Dermatologists Still Most Satisfied Physicians

According to the 2014 Medscape survey (http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2014/public/overview#25 ), dermatologists are still the most satisfied physicians (65%), followed by  psychiatrists (58%). Surprisingly, plastic surgeons were the least satisfied overall (45%), with only 37% of them satisfied with their income.

UTMB MS4 Lindy Ross’ Dermatology Honors Research Awarded SOM Graduation Honors

UTMB MS4 Lindy Ross presented her dermatology honors research, “Perception and Influence of Jersey Shore on Tanning Behaviors,” at noon on April 21, 2014 in the dermatology conference room (4.130 McCullough Bldg). Her UTMB Honors Committee members were the Committee Chair, Dr. M. Peek (Preventive Medicine & Community Health), and ad hoc dermatology committee members Drs. R. Wagner (dermatology faculty advisor), S. Raimer (Chair, Department of Dermatology) and B. Kelly. Ms. Ross was awarded Magna Cum Laude research honors for her innovative research about media influence on intended indoor tanning behavior. Congratulations to Ms. Ross for this outstanding academic recognition by UTMB.

Galveston Weekend Beach Party Fails to Materialize

Despite excellent weather this past weekend in Galveston, the big beach party predicted by social media and the Houston Chronicle never happened.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Film About Nails Added to UTMB Skin Diseases in Cinema Course

The film, Touch: When Words Are Not Enough, has been added to the required film list for DERU-4007 and DERU-4051 starting in Period 11 of the current academic year at UTMB SOM. It will replace the film, The English Patient, because the class is now using the foreign film, The Skin I Live In, for thermal burn content. Touch addresses the importance of normal nails, and the industry built around them.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Possible Big Beach Party in Galveston this Weekend

According to Houston Chronicle reporter Craig Hlavaty, there may be unexpectedly large crowds in Galveston this upcoming weekend. Twenty years ago, Galveston beach parties attracted about 250,000 visitors, but for this event 35,000 are predicted. For additional speculation, please see “Social media talk indicates huge, unauthorized Galveston beach party planned”  http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/article/Social-media-talk-indicates-huge-unauthorized-5410224.php  Accessed 4/17/14.

Houston Chronicle Reporter Critical of UTMB Administration

Houston Chronicle reporter Harvey Rice’s front page article in the Sunday, April 13, 2014 issue of was critical of UTMB administration (pages A1 and A21). Mr. Rice is the Galveston Bureau Reporter for the Houston Chronicle. His other articles about Galveston are available at: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/author/harvey-rice/

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Stay Shady goes to Crenshaw Elementary School

On March 27, 2014, DIG volunteers Kristyna Gleghorn (MS1) and Dung Mac (MS2) went to Crenshaw Elementary School to do a Stay Shady presentation for a group of first and second graders and another group of third and fourth graders. This fun, interactive presentation was aimed to make kids aware that the sun can damage their skin and inform them how to protect themselves. A special appreciation goes out to the students of Crenshaw Elementary School for being such a great audience, and to our volunteers!


        DIG volunteers: Dung Mac (left) and Kristyna Gleghorn (right)

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Physician Medicare Payments for 2012 Now Public

This week CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) released records of physician Part B Medicare payments during 2012. This information is available at: http://projects.wsj.com/medicarebilling/?standalone=1

Friday, April 04, 2014

UTMB Dermatology Publishes Another Article About Prison Skin Disease

UTMB dermatology is a recognized leader in providing dermatology care to inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). In their most recent article (Jalalat S, Hunter L, Yamazaki M, Head E and Kelly B. An outbreak of candida albicans folliculitis masquerading as malassezia folliculitis in a prison population. Journal of Correctional Health Care 2014;20:154-162) UTMB dermatology researchers described a series of 5 clinical presentations of folliculitis due to candida albicans. The authors of this work are UTMB MS4 Sheila Jalalat, current UTMB PGY3 dermatology resident Lindsey Hunter-Ellul, former UTMB dermatology resident Mika Yamazaki, UTMB dermatology laboratory mycologist Betty Head, and UTMB Dermatology Associate Professor and Clinic Chief of Dermatology at TDCJ, Dr. Brent Kelly.

Galveston AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Raises $1,200!

This past Saturday, March 29th, the UTMB DIG held our annual Galveston AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk at the UTMB Alumni Field House track. UTMB students together with friends and families from the community participated and raised $1,200 for melanoma research and awareness! 

Special thanks to the AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk Co-Chairs, Lindy Ross (MSIV) and Trisha Patel (MSIV), and all of the walk participants for making this such a successful event!