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.

Friday, October 27, 2017

St. Vincent's Student Clinic Dermatology Night 11/2/17

Join UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty for the upcoming dermatology night (Thursday, November 2nd) at St. Vincent’s Clinic. Please see the calendar link below to reserve your volunteering spot:
When: Thursday, November 2nd 5:30-8:30PM (volunteers should arrive at 5:15)
Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550

Pseudo-Couples Matching: A Success Story?

Pseudo-Couples Matching is a phrase used to describe medical student couples and others applying for specialties that re not linked together through the NRMP. The two outlying specialties described in this observation are urology and ophthalmology, both with matches in January since they don’t participate in the NRMP. How one couple coped with a dermatology/urology pseudo-match is detailed in an by Roger Khouri Jr in the October 2017 issue of Journal of Graduate Medical Education (page 668). If you are wondering, they were able to get PGY1 years in the same institution, but will be separated “…a short flight away” during the remainder of specialty training. He notes that “…the 3 years of distance will be a challenge,” and questions, “Why, then, does our profession seem to ignore the human experiences of trainees?” Of course the same outcome (residencies in different cities) may occur to couples participating in the NRMP as well, depending on the rank lists the couples submit.

UTMB Dermatology Publishes Two More Articles in SKIN

SKIN: The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine (http://jofskin.org/index.php/skin) has published two more articles from the UTMB Department of Dermatology in its newest issue.
They are:

Hypertrophic Lichen Planus versus Well-Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Histological Challenge
Samuel P Haslam, Lindy S Ross,  Alison C Lowe,   Brent C Kelly

Hailey-Hailey Disease Complicated by Herpes Simplex Viral Infection
Morgan Arnold, Mai-anh Vu, Emily Grimshaw

Congratulations to our medical students, PGY1 house officer, dermatology residents, and faculty for their academic collaborations on these manuscripts. SKIN is a peer-reviewed, open-access publication that like Dermatology Online Journal, does not charge a publication fee to authors.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

DIG Needs Volunteers for St. Vincent's Health Fair

DIG is looking for 2-3 volunteers to manage an educational booth at the St. Vincent's health fair on November 11th, from 10:00am-12:00pm. The booth will have suncreen to pass out and information about sun safety. Please contact Michael Ryan (mpryan@UTMB.EDU) to sign up.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Dr. Janice Wilson is the Associate Program Director for the UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship

Our newest dermatology faculty member, Dr. Janice Wilson, is the new Associate Program Director for the UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship. She works with the UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship Director, Dr. Brent Kelly, and the Dermatopathology Fellowship Coordinator, Ms. Kimberly Cooper.

UTMB Dermatology Hosting the 25TH ANNUAL JOHN M. KNOX, M.D. MEMORIAL LECTURE on Saturday, November 11, 2017

UTMB dermatology residents and faculty have prepared interesting and educational virtual presentations of dermatology patients for the upcoming Knox Memorial Lecture. It is being held in UTMB Research Building 6 — Rm 1.206 on Saturday, November 11, 2017.
If you are able to attend, please RSVP to 713-526-1434. Meeting details are below:

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
Registration & Breakfast

9:00—10:30 a.m.
Patient Presentations
& Discussions

10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Questions

10:45 – 11:00 a.m.
BREAK

11:00 – 12:00 p.m.
Lecture—Dr. Joseph Ray, Director of Medical Genetics, UTMB


DIG Fall Bake Sale Sign-uP

On Monday, November 13th, DIG will be having its Fall Bake Sale from 12 to 2pm. Fundraising Officer Uloma Ibezim (ucibezim@utmb.edu) is asking available members to both help volunteer managing the table as well as bake goodies for the event. In addition, she is asking for a few of the more artistic members to help make a couple signs. If you have any questions or concerns, email her using the email above. Here is the link to the sign-up: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OvTP9HZ6CBolN11ogDikKnLNUpMdQY0A1JACc_tLL-E/edit?usp=sharing

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

More Than 3 Requires IRB!

Case reports are generally exempt from IRB review. However, if more than 3 cases are reported (“Series”) the UTMB IRB wants to know about it! Make sure that you get IRB approval or exemption for case series involving more than three patients!

Monday, October 16, 2017

New Stay Shady Volunteer Date on 11/9/17

UTMB DIG is excited to announce this year's first Stay Shady presentation for the 5th graders at Austin Middle School (1514 Ave N, Galveston, TX) at 8:30 am on November 9th! There will be a presentation by second year medical student Michael Ryan and afterwards students will break into smaller medical student run groups for a craft activity. We are looking for 5 additional student volunteers to come facilitate smalls group of about 20 students in which you will be making UV bracelets and answering student questions about sun protection. Please plan on arriving no later than 8:15 am and please be willing to stay until 9:30 am. No prior experience is needed in order to volunteer and all supplies will be provided! 

Contact Michael Ryan (mpryan@utmb.edu) to reserve your spot as a volunteer; spots are first come first serve. This is a wonderful opportunity to help educate the next generation of students about the importance of sun protection.

DIGA Resource for Dermatology Applicants

DIGA is a national resource for dermatology applicants that extends beyond our local UTMB DIG. Its website is http://derminterest.org/ UTMB MS4 Paige Hoyer is an officer (Residency Interview Database Director) in DIGA and can be contacted for more information about this organization.

UTMB Mohs Technician Receives Additional Training

UTMB Mohs Histotechnician Ms. Jeanne March attended the Mohs Technician Quality Assurance (MTQA) Training Initiative in October 2017 that was offered by the American Society for Mohs Histotechnology. Attendance at this customized training program was exclusively offered for technicians who current work for physician members of the American College of Mohs Surgery, where Dr. Richard Wagner is a Fellow. Training included lecture and lab instruction in mapping, inking, embedding, staining, cryosections, CLIA regulations, and laboratory troubleshooting.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Good News for UTMB MS4s Taking Away Dermatology Electives

In the past, UTMB did not give double elective credit to our medical students that took “Clinical Dermatology” at UTMB and the same elective with another dermatology department where they took an away rotation. No more! Now UTMB medical students can receive elective credit for an unlimited number of their away “Clinical Dermatology” electives! This is an important change, since the most frequently elective offered nationally by US dermatology departments is “Clinical Dermatology.” And more often than not, it is the only dermatology elective that they offer.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

DIG 10/11/17 Meeting Recap

Thank you to all members who were able to attend our fall meeting last night and a very big thank you to Dr. Wagner, who took time out of his busy schedule to speak to DIG members. Please see below for a quick recap of the meeting:

  1. Stay Shady (Michael Ryan; MS2; mpryan@utmb.edu)
    • Stay Shady is currently working on obtaining 8 dates (4 fall and 4 spring) to present Stay Shady to different schools in the area
    • Look for sign-up opportunities on the blog or by email
    • Contact Michael Ryan for more information
  2. Bake Sale Date (Uloma Ibezim; MS3; ucibezim@utmb.edu)
    • Tentatively scheduled for 11/13
    • Check your email for a sign-up document for members to donate baked goods
    • The fall and spring bake sale are used to help defray the cost of supplies for Stay Shady
  3. Volunteer opportunities
    • Melanoma Walk (Paige Hoyer; pehoyer@utmb.edu)
      • Paige Hoyer (MS4) is currently looking for either an MS1 or MS2 to help with planning the annual Melanoma Walk
      • Paige did an amazing job with the walk the past spring on the seawall and we would like to continue this!
    • Houston Psoriasis Walk (Jacob Benavidez; Jacobbenavidez7@gmail.com)
      • Jacob Benavidez (MS3) is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Psoriasis Walk
      • It will be on Saturday, March 10th, 2018
      • For more information, visit www.teamnpf.org/houstonwalk or contact Jacob
    • Be Joint Smart (Jacob Benavidez; Jacobbenavidez7@gmail.com)
    • DIGA Board and Regional Representatives (Paige Hoyer; pehoyer@utmb.edu)
      • Please check your email for a message about information on applying to be a member of the national DIGA board as well as volunteer opportunities from DIGA
      • For more information, please visit the DIGA website http://derminterest.org/About.aspx
    • Cast Away Cancer (Priscilla Ly; pfly@utmb.edu)
      • Cancer awareness event hosted by UTMB SGA and started by DIG member Priscilla Ly (MS3)
      • DIG is looking for volunteers to help create a skin cancer awareness poster and ways to both screen for and prevent skin cancer
      • Will be on 11/16 with free food and T shirts provided
  4. Q&A with Dr. Wagner
    • Dr. Wagner has been the Program Director for UTMB Dermatology for more than 15 years. Last night, he took time out of his busy schedule to come answer questions that DIG members had in order to become successful, competitive applicants. Topics included: overall information about applying, research, away rotations, and schedule recommendations.
      • Overall information about Dermatology
        • Almost all Dermatology residencies are 3 year Advanced positions
        • For the intern year, the ACGME allows Preliminary Internal Medicine, Preliminary Surgery, Transitional Year, Categorical General Surgery, Categorical Pediatrics, and Categorical OBGYN to count as a successful intern year
        • Applicants typically apply for Prelim - IM or Transitional Year; however, it is becoming more competitive to match into a Transitional Year
        • In addition, if an applicant is interested in a fellowship in dermatology (Pediatric Dermatology, Procedural Dermatology, or Dermatopathology), it may benefit to apply for a Pediatric categorical or a Surgery Prelim or Categorical position
        • In addition, applicants need to know that both the overall number and the quality of applicants increases every year
      • Research
        • Dr. Wagner recommends at least 10 abstracts, presentations, and publications combined in order to be a competitive applicant
        • The most important way to get research is to be present around the department and be proactive (done though electives or St. Vincent's)
        • Research is the expectation now by programs
      • Away rotations
        • One of the most important parts of the process because 50% of applicant match at their home program or places they did away rotations at
        • Because what a program values as important varies widely, away rotations allow both the program and the applicant to see if they are a "good fit" for one another
        • Things to consider are if other UTMB students have matched at a given program recently and the size/previous matches of different programs (smaller programs may prefer their own students versus larger programs who may cast a wider net)
        • In some instances, the away rotation can be better than the interview itself
        • Even if students are limited by their schedule, Dr. Wagner stresses that it is important to do as many away rotations are you can
      • Fourth year schedule recommendations
        • Do your best to avoid having rotations during interview season. 
        • If required, choose easier courses to do during interview season so that you may attend your interviews
        • Don't do away rotations during interview season (avoid December and January at all costs; Best to do them from July until early November)
        • Be prepared for conflicts when receiving interview applications because some programs interview on the same day. In that event, decide which one you have the best chance to match at
        • Talk to upperclassmen to figure out and decide on good electives and away rotations

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Reminder: Meeting today at 5pm

DIG meeting today in the 5th floor conference room for all DIG members. Topics for discussion include: Stay Shady dates/sign-up, Texas Derm Society recap, Fall Bake Sale, and upcoming volunteer opportunities. In addition, UTMB Program Director and DIG Faculty Adviser Dr. Richard Wagner will be present to provide general advice/recommendations as well as host an informal Q&A session.
 
What: Fall DIG Meeting
When: Wednesday, October 11th @ 5pm
Where: 5th floor conference room (5.124 McCullough)

Thursday, October 05, 2017

UTMB MS2 Michael Ryan Defends Dermatology Honors Research Thesis


UTMB MS2 Michael Ryan successfully defended his UTMB Dermatology Research Honors Thesis, “Dermatologic Depictions in Animated Movies,” on October 5, 2017.  He was awarded Magna Cum Laude graduation research honors. Members of Ryan’s ad hoc honors thesis committee were Drs. M. K. Peek,  R. Wagner (faculty advisor), B. Kelly, and J. Wilson. Congratulations to Michael for this outstanding early academic dermatology research recognition!




Congratulations Ms. Kimberly Cooper!

The UTMB DIG congratulates Ms. Kimberly Cooper. She was one of five UTMB Program Coordinators selected by UTMB GME to attend the 2018 Annual Educational Conference held by the ACGME. Ms. Cooper is currently the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program Coordinator (Dr. R. Wagner, Dermatology Program Director) and this July also became the Program Coordinator for the UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship (Dr. Brent Kelly, Dermatopathology Fellowship Director). The meeting is held in Orlando, Florida during March.

Dr. Uyen Ngoc Mui Returns to Texas

The UTMB DIG was pleased to learn that Dr. Uyen Ngoc Mui (UTMB SOM Class of 2016) has returned to Texas following her PGY1 year in Callifornia. She is currently a clinical dermatology research fellow working under Dr. Stephen Tyring at the Center for Clinical Studies.

Ultherapy Now Available at UTMB Bay Colony Dermatology Clinic

UTMB dermatologists have now completed Ultherapy training and the service is now available at the Bay Colony (League City) UTMB Dermatology Clinic. This ultrasound-based device was approved by the FDA in 2009 for noninvasive eyebrow lifts, and in 2012 for the treatment of neck and submental skin laxity.

Tuesday, October 03, 2017

UTMB Medical Students, Residents, and Faculty Present at Fall 2017 Texas Dermatological Society Meeting

Congratulations to all of the UTMB medical students (underlined below), residents, and faculty that presented at the fall meeting of the Texas Dermatological Society in Bastrop, Texas. The following presentations made the program:

Podium Abstracts

Michael P. Ryan, Vail Reese, Richard F. Wagner. Dermatologic depictions in animated movies.

Poster Abstracts

Tara Akunna, Chinelo Ikpeama, Michael Wilkerson. Pseudokeratoacanthoma associated with T. tonsurans tinea capitis.

Morgan Arnold, Adrian Subrt, Michael Wilkerson. A 68-year-old-female with diffuse dermal angiomatosis of the breast.

Jacob Benavidez, Lindy Ross, Brent Kelly. Atypical presentation of xanthomas in a patient with undiagnosed familial hypercholesterolemia.

Vlad Codrea, Katrina Kesterson, Bernard Gibson. A case of idiopathic annular lichen planus.

Caroline Crain, Chinelo Ikpeama, Michael Wilkerson. A 16-year-old female with a breast rash.

Maureen EzekorTimothy Allen, Chinelo Ikpeama, Erica Kelly. An 88-year-old male with an itchy rash.

Benjamin Falck, Kristin Wolf, Brent Kelly. Vesicular mycobacterium abscessus infection mimicking disseminated herpes zoster in a burn patient.

Josh Hays, Helen Malone, Chinelo Ikpeama, Brandon Goodwin, Richard F. Wagner. Reactive eccrine syringofibroadenoma associated with basal cell carcinoma: a histologic mimicker of fibroepithelioma of Pinkus.

Paige HoyerPriscilla Ly, Adrian Subrt, Brent Kelly. Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: a case report.

Lindy Ross, Michael P. Ryan, Brent C. Kelly. Calciphylaxis after kidney transplantation.

Michael P. Ryan, Helen Malone, Brandon Goodwin, Chinelo S. Ikpeama, Richard F. Wagner, Jr., Pseudohalo basal cell carcinoma.

Adrian Subrt, Katrina Kesterson, Michael Wilkerson. Evolution of a doxycycline-induced phototoxic rash with an unusual distribution.

William Tausend, Tara Akunna, Sharon Raimer. Asymmetric growth of feet in an adolescent female.

Keith Wagner, Brandon Goodwin. A novel weed whacker laceration pattern.

Katelyn Woolridge, Michael P. Ryan, Ashley Group. A rare variant of extraskeletal osteosarcoma presenting as a clinically benign subcutaneous neoplasm.

Tara Akunna, William Tausend, Sharon Raimer. Asymmetric Growth of Feet in an Adolescent Female.

UTMB medical students(Left to Right) Caitlin Pekowski,
Caroline Crain, Jacob Benavidez, Michael Ryan,
Andrew Armenta, Priscilla Ly, Maureen Ezekor

Monday, October 02, 2017

St. Vincent's Student Clinic Dermatology Night 10/5/17

Join UTMB Dermatology residents and faculty for the upcoming dermatology night (Thursday, October 5th) at St. Vincent’s Clinic. Please see the calendar link below to reserve your volunteering spot:
When: Thursday, October 5th 5:30-8:30PM (volunteers should arrive at 5:15)
Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550