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.

Monday, December 19, 2022

Association of Professors of Dermatology Residency Program Directors Section Recommendations regarding away electives

Recommendations regarding away electives
December 14, 2022 

Given recent changes to the residency application process to create a more sustainable and equitable process, the APD has considered options for limiting away dermatology electives for upcoming residency application cycles. 

In alignment with recommendations from the Organization of Program Director Associations (OPDA), the APD considers away electives important for many medical students. These rotations afford medical students the opportunity to gain additional exposure to dermatology educational experiences and programs and to assess different learning environments. Away electives allow students to interact with faculty outside of their home institution, which can foster mentorship and other networking opportunities. In particular, for students without a dermatology residency program at their home institution, away electives provide a unique opportunity for dermatology clinical experience and connection with academic dermatology faculty. 

For programs, away electives provide an opportunity for faculty to assess students’ performance in clinical environments and among teams as well as to highlight the culture and learning environment of their program. These experiences can contribute to the holistic evaluation of candidates applying for residency. As such, it is generally advised that these electives are completed early in the fourth year of medical school, prior to interview invitations. The utility of later rotations varies among programs. 

However, it is important to state that away electives are not required to receive an interview invite, nor do they guarantee an interview for a given program. It remains program-specific whether a formal interview offer is extended to all rotating students or whether interviews are conducted during an away elective. The APD recommends all programs are transparent with their policies regarding away electives and interviews. 

Recommendations for students 

Given the high costs associated with dermatology away electives and the continued potential for inequity that may impact outcomes of the dermatology residency match, the APD recommends the following guidelines to optimize dermatology exposure, education and evaluation for dermatology residency candidates in their fourth year of medical school: 

    - Most students should limit their experiences to up to 2 external “away” electives 

    - Students without a home dermatology program may consider completing up to 3 electives at external programs 

Recommendations for programs 

- Programs should consider funding opportunities for students that are underrepresented in medicine or from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. 

        o These may come in the form of program-specific funded electives, organizational/institutional funding, or mentorship awards/grants (eg AAD Diversity Mentorship Program or SOCS Observership Grant). Faculty can enroll as potential mentors through these organizations. 

- Faculty mentors are advised to counsel students to adhere to the recommendations above and to recognize that away electives are not required to match in dermatology and may not confer an advantage.

Friday, December 09, 2022

MS4 Publishes in The American Journal of Dermatopathology

Congratulations to Brenda Carrillo, MS4, for her recent publication "A Case of a Rare Histologic Variant: Cavernous Hemangioma–Like Kaposi Sarcoma" in The American Journal of Dermatopathology. Her co-authors are Dr. Haller, Dr. Soldano, and Dr. Keeling from Dell Dermatology. 

Thursday, December 08, 2022

2023-2024 UTMB Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery Fellow (Mohs)

Congratulations to Dr. Andrew Armenta, a current PGY4 dermatology chief resident at UTMB, for his successful match into the UTMB Mohs fellowship program! He will  be the 8th UTMB fellow in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery.

Tuesday, December 06, 2022

UTMB Dermatology Residency Interviews Offered

UTMB Dermatology issued interviews for dermatology residency interviews on Monday, December 5, 2022. Applicants for 21 medical schools (10 different states, countries, and the District of Columbia) received offers for interviews in February 2023. Non-rotator average Step 1 scores were 245 (range 226-261) and for Step 2 were 254 (range 228-267), with three AOA members.

Monday, December 05, 2022

Tonight: DIGA Webinar with Impact Melanoma @ 8PM EST

DIGA will be hosting a Webinar with IMPACT MELANOMA TONIGHT, December 5, at 8pm EST/ 5pm PST. 

Come hear about the nation's leading non-profit dedicated to melanoma prevention and early detection, their programs, and how you as a student can get involved.Here is the zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7168436273 to join!

Email diga.derminterest@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns.

Sunday, December 04, 2022

Lindy Ross, MD Recognized as UTMB’s December 2022 Clinician of the Month

Congratulations to Dr. Lindy Ross for her recognition by the UTMB Academy of Master Clinicians as the December 2022 Clinician of the month! She is an Assistant Professor in the UTMB Department of Dermatology. Please see https://www.utmb.edu/amc/COM/clinician-of-the-month

for additional information.

MS4 and UTMB Alum Publish in Pediatric Dermatology

Congratulations to UTMB SOM alum Natalya Gallaga and Brenda Carrillo, MS4, on their recent publication "Pediatric pulse dose corticosteroid therapy dosing and administration in the treatment of alopecia areata: A review of literature" in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatric Dermatology.  Their co-authors are Dr. Allison Good, Dr. Ayezel Munoz, and Dr. Lindy Ross. The publication is available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pde.15209 

Thursday, December 01, 2022

Dr. Kristyna Gleghorn Certified in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery

Congratulations to Dr. Kristyna Gleghorn! She is now certified by the American Board of Dermatology in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery (Mohs). She completed medical school, dermatology residency, and the Mohs fellowship at UTMB. She is the 6th Mohs fellow from the UTMB program to pass the Mohs subspecialty board on the first attempt. Her current private practice is in Tulsa, Oklahoma.