UTMB Medical Student Publishes in JAAD Case Reports

Congratulations to Michael Ryan (MS4) for his recently published report "A telangiectatic nodule on the anterior shin" in JAAD Case Reports. This article was published under the "Images in Dermatology" section which allows for interesting cases to be presented in a clinical vignette format along with three multiple choice questions that are used to inform the reader about the topic at hand. The article can be found online at: https://www.jaadcasereports.org/article/S2352-5126(19)30555-7/fulltext#gr1 Can you figure out the Diagnosis?

Michael's co-authors are Drs. Seena Monjazeb (PGY-3 Dermatology Resident), Brandon Goodwin (Dermatology and Dermatopathology Faculty) and Kathleen Kroger (Dermatology Faculty). Congratulations to everyone on a job well done!

Applying to Multiple Specialties

Although probably too late for the current ERAS cycle, The Journal of Emergency Medicine offers sound advice and analysis for applicants considering applications to more than one specialty. Residency positions in emergency medicine have become much more competitive of late, akin to dermatology. More on this may be found at https://www.jem-journal.com/article/S0736-4679(19)30429-9/fulltext

Thoughts on Reducing the Cost for Dermatology Residency Applications

The December 2019 issue of Cutis (104;6:352-353) has an interesting Commentary about of some aspects of the dermatology application process from Dr. Aamir Hussain titled, “Reducing the Cost of Dermatology Residency Applications: An Applicant’s Perspective.” Some ideas for reducing the costs of dermatology residency applicants include the establishment of regional interviews (dermatology residency programs in the same geographic region would agree to interview in a timeframe that would allow applicants with multiple interviews in the same region to travel to that region only once and avoid the costs of multiple flights and other travel related inconveniences), and different regions would coordinate so that there were no competing regions interviewing at the same time). Capping the number of applications was also discussed, either by a “hard cap” (limiting the number of programs an applicant may apply to) or through imposition of an economic disincentive by charging higher application fees for applying to more programs than diminishing returns would suggest.

However, no mechanism for establishing a “hard cap” on the number of applications is suggested, and this strategy seems a bit unusual (most job openings do not place a limit on the number of applications they will review before selecting several candidates for interviews). The author does concede that placing a financial disincentive on additional applications above a certain number could favor more affluent applicants. However, several other approaches have the potential to decrease costs in the dermatology application process. Programs could opt to use Skype or telephone interviews instead of on-site visits, saving applicants travel costs. Rotators and home students could be interviewed during their dermatology rotations, a step that would eliminate a return visit for interview. Policy change at the NRMP that allowed programs to offer dermatology residency positions outside of the match would also decrease program need to interview additional applicants since the position would already be filled. Applicants may be able to limit applications if they had greater information about specific programs (how many residency positions are filled with internal applicants and rotators, how many of the current residents went to medical school outside of the region, how many of the current residents were AOA, what are the mean and range of the current resident Step scores, how many of the residents have additional degrees (MA, MS, MBA, MPH, PhD), etc.

2020 Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk

UTMB DIG is planning to participate in the 15^th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk to be held on the Galveston Seawall on Saturday, April 18, 2020 starting at 7 am. More information to follow. Please join us in this worthwhile fundraising event.

St. Vincent's Student Clinic Dermatology Night 1/16/19 (New Date)

Join UTMB Dermatology faculty and residents for the upcoming dermatology night at St. Vincent’s Clinic. 

Please note that this is not the typical 1st Thursday of the month; Dermatology Night has been pushed later in the month due to the holiday schedule.

Please see the calendar link below to reserve your volunteering spot.

When: Thursday, January 16th at 5:30-8:30PM (volunteers should arrive at 5:15)
Where: St. Vincent's House, 2817 Post Office Street, Galveston, Texas 77550

Volunteer link: http://stvsc.org/index.php/students/sign-up

Happy Holidays from UTMB

Dr. Sharon Raimer (UTMB Professor of Dermatology and former Department Chair) is in the center of this holiday photo with UTMB medical students, staff, and faculty, alongside her husband, Dr. Ben Raimer, President ad interim of UTMB. The group is photographed in front of the new Medical Education Center on campus.

Former UTMB Medical Student Returning to UTMB for Dermatopathology Fellowship

UTMB DIG is excited to learn that Dr. Drew DeCrescenzo (UTMB SOM 2017) will return to UTMB Dermatology for dermatopathology fellowship (2021-2022 academic year) once he completes dermatology residency at Baylor Dallas. We look forward to working with you again!

UTMB Mohs Match for 2020-2021 Academic Year Announced

Congratulations to UTMB PGY4 dermatology resident, Dr. Julie Croley for her successful match into the UTMB Department of Dermatology Fellowship in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology for the 2020-2021 academic year. The result was announced by the San Francisco Match.

Should I Rotate at an Away Dermatology Residency Program that does not Interview all Visiting Students?

Good question, one that now comes up regularly as programs that reportedly do not interview all rotators are becoming known. Is it worth rotating (time, money, and the opportunity cost of not being able to rotate at an alternative program where all away rotators are interviewed) when an interview cannot be counted on?  Historically the best chances for a dermatology match occur at an applicant’s home program and at programs where they have rotated and interviewed. Part of the analysis depends on how well the “audition rotation” went. This process benefits the applicant (“Is this a program that I would want to go to?”) and the program (“Is the applicant someone we would like to work with for 3 years?”) It is possible that after a rotation is completed, it is apparent to the program that the rotator would not be a good fit or the rotator decides that this is a residency where they would prefer not to train. Some programs will give interviews to all rotators, regardless of performance. Others will decline, saving the applicant time, money, and the potential opportunity to interview at another program if there is a conflict in interview dates.

UTMB GME Offering Two Separate Orientations for Incoming 2020-2021 House Staff

The two dates for 2020 are:

June 16-20 (2 days of GME Institutional Orientation followed by 2 days of EPIC Training)

July 1-6 (check in on July 1, followed by 2 days of EPIC Training and 1 day of New Employee Orientation on July 6); no orientation on weekend of July 4^th and 5th

Time Well Spent

The annual UTMB Dermatopathology Board Review, directed by Dr. Brent Kelly and his colleagues, will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2020 this year. Please plan to attend this informative one day intensive review class that is held on the Galveston campus, especially if the ABD or ABP certification examinations are looming,  or if the new dermatopathology core exam is coming up soon!  It is a good chance to get together with the UTMB dermatopathology review faculty, UTMB residents, Mohs fellow, and Mohs Program Director during breaks and lunch as well (the ABD Certification Examination in Micrographic Surgery is expected to become available in 2021)!

“Finding The Right Job”

Dr. Brett Coldiron’s recent column published in MDedge (11/17/19) is worthwhile reading for those currently interested in dermatology careers and for dermatology residents about to complete residency and are looking for a job. It is available at https://www.mdedge.com/dermatology/article/212372/business-medicine/finding-right-job

UTMB MS4 Publishes Case Report in SKIN

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Caroline Crain for her recent case report, “A case of widespread cutaneous metastases from esophageal adenocarcinoma” in Skin: The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine (Volume 3, Number 6, 2019. This publication is available online at https://www.jofskin.org/index.php/skin/article/view/592 Coauthors were Drs. Adam Nguyen (UTMB PGY4 dermatology resident), Janice Wilson (UTMB Assistant Professor of Dermatology), and Michael Wilkerson (UTMB Professor Dermatology).