Editors



Current Editors: Jane Onyemachi and Madelyn Schmidt

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

Past Editors: Fareen Momin, 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.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Recap of DIG meeting from 4/12/17

Officer Elections
Congrats to the new 2017-18 Officers! We know y'all will do a great job!
President - Timothy Allen (MS3)
Vice President - Keith Wagner (MS2)
Sun Protection Chair - Michael Ryan (MS1), Joshua Hays (MS3), Eric Mong (MS2), and Caroline Crain (MS1)
Melanoma Chair - Paige Hoyer (MS3), Ryan Lawrence (MS2), Eduardo Rodriguez (MS3), and Ben Falck (MS3)
Psoriasis Chair - Tara Akunna (MS3), Jacob Benavidez (MS2), and Morgan Arnold (MS3)
Fundraising Chair - Uloma Ibezim (MS2)

Advice from matched MS4s
Current MS4s Kristyna Gleghorn, Seena Monjazeb, and Jorge Ramon took time out of their busy schedules to offered advice for hopeful students. Some of the highlights included:
 
  • Application numbers
    • At minimum, applicants should have 8+ leadership/extracurricular experiences, 8+ research experiences, and 10+ volunteer experiences
    • Students should apply to all Derm programs (112) and between 10 and 40 Prelim/Transitional Year programs
    • Can use IM or Derm letters for Pre-lim or TY programs
    • Some programs may require a secondary
  • Letters
    • Make sure the writer knows you well and can write a strong letter
    • All Dermatologists should be from Academic medicine
    • If you need a letter from Internal Medicine, you can ask the Chair
  • Away Rotations
    • Be fun to work with while there
    • Do at least 1 out of state away
    • Do aways at programs that offer interviews to their rotators
  • Overall Advice
    • Be fresh/fun
    • Research the Programs before you go
    • Review your CV and research
    • Make sure to elaborate on your hobbies/interests
    • Some programs may want your Step 2 score (but it is ok to not release it)
  • Interview Questions
    • Wide variety of questions with topics that investigate your personality as well as your aspirations
    • Some examples include:
      • Why Derm?
      • Why not anything else?
      • How would you handle the following situation?
      • Teach me something in 60 seconds.
      • Tell me a joke.
      • Tell me a time you were unhappy with an attending or with a patient.
      • Tell me about a patient encounter where you failed, where you were unhappy, or where you did an amazing job. 
      • Why this program?
      • What would be your superpower?
      • What type of cheese, cereal, or wine would you be?
      • What do you want to be famous in Derm for?
      • What are your future plans?
  • Personal Statement
    • Should be less than a page with the format of: 
      • How you got interested
      • Why Derm?
      • What you give to Derm and your skills
      • What you want out of a program
  • What the interviews are generally like
    • General structure is 8-10 interviews that last 10-15 mins
    • Usually meet everyone in the program
    • Can be 2-on-1 or group-on-1
    • Always attend the night before dinner if possible (offers insight into the program and a chance to meet the residents the night before)
  • Stuff you should ask the Interviewers
    • How life is outside the residency
    • Where the program is going
    • Faculty accessibility
    • Do they offer feedback and/or autonomy
 

Upcoming Psoriasis Talk in Houston, TX (More than Skin Deep)
On 5/6/17, the Psoriasis National Foundation will host a speaker and breakfast in Houston from 930am-1230pm. It'll take place at the Holiday Inn Houston (S-NRG/Medical Center) at 8111 Kirby Drive Houston TX 77054. Please use the following link to receive a ticket to the event if interested. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/more-than-skin-deep-2017-houston-tx-registration-32279398550