National DIGA Meeting Recap

The National Dermatology Interest Group Association held its annual meeting this past weekend in Miami, Florida in conjunction with the American Academy of Dermatology meeting.

UTMB was recognized for being one of only 7 schools who hold annual Miles for Melanoma walks and raise money for melanoma research.

This year, DIGA will be spearheading Psoriasis Walks with the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Please contact Alison Wiesenthal at officers@derminterest.org to become involved in the National DIGA.

First Dermatology Honors Project Approved for UTMB MS3

Congratulations to MS3 Lindsey Hunter for getting UTMB Honors Research Committee approval for her proposal entitled, "Photoactivated Rose Bengal in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells--A Mutagen?" Her thesis advisor on this research is Dr. Michael Wilkerson (UTMB dermatology faculty). Good luck on this basic science bench research!

Heiner Scheduled Dermatology Research Honors Thesis Presentation

UTMB MS4 Douglas Heiner has scheduled his dermatology honors thesis presentation entitled, "Preventing Ultraviolet Light Scalp Injury: Scalp Cancer Awareness and Protective Behaviors" for presentation on Monday afternoon, March 29, 2010 at 4 pm in the dermatology conference room (4.130 McCullough Building). Everyone on campus is invited to attend, particularly DIG members who are interested in learning more about research opportunities available through the UTMB Honors Research Program for our medical students.

One Week to Go!

"Match Day" is Thursday, March 18, 2010, just one week away. Good luck to all of UTMB's dermatology applicants this year!

2010 Galveston County Health Fair A Success for DIG!

This past Saturday was a huge success for DIG volunteers at the annual Galveston County Health Fair!

Volunteers provided educational handouts and activities on sun protection for well over 150 members of the local community. We had a lot of fun with the kids and adults who made sun visors and UV-bead bracelets at our booth. One lucky winner received the DIG doorprize, a basket full of sun protection goodies. Thanks to everyone who volunteered!

Special thanks to Derm Education Foundation & Aveeno for their support of this project and to MSIII Lindsey Hunter for her tireless efforts.

6th Annual AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk!

Join us in our walk against melanoma as DIG will be hosting its 6th annual AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk! All proceeds will go to AIM, the largest international melanoma organization focused on melanoma research, education, awareness, and legislation.

Date: April 17, 2010

Time: Registration is at 9 AM, Walk to start at 9:30 AM
Location: UTMB Alumni Fieldhouse Track
________215 Holiday Drive
________Galveston, TX 77555

-NO fee to participate, but everyone is encouraged to raise at least $50.
-Register by March 15th to receive a FREE t-shirt!
-Waiver, Pledge Sheet & Donations are due the day of the event.

-To register, click on the following link: http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-action/1158/1159/1167.html, and then click on the "Registration" tab.

-Not able to make it out to the event? Pledges can be donated online by clicking on the following link: http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/aim-for-action/1158/1159/1167/1265.html.

-If you know a participant collecting pledges, please submit your donation to them by check payable to "AIM."

We hope to see you there, and don't forget your sunscreen!

Questions? Please contact Janese Laster at jslaster@utmb.edu or Lindsey Hunter at lihunter@utmb.edu.

One Week to Go

Next Monday, March 15th, thousands of MS4s across the country will find out from the NRMP if they have matched for a PGY1 position starting in July and specialty training the following year. Good luck to all of our UTMB medical students who are applying for a dermatology residency! Students will not learn about the specifics of their match until Match Day on Thursday, March 18th.

Austin Dermatology AI Discontinued

Thanks to the UTMB DIG members who first reported the unavailability of the Dermatology Acting Internship in Austin (AI) earlier this year. The name of DER0-4013 has now been changed to "Advanced Clinical Dermatology-Austin" to reflect that this elective is no longer an AI.

UTMB Electives Committee Approves Dermatology Acting Internship (AI) for

Good news for rising UTMB MS4s! The UTMB Electives Committee officially approved the Acting Internship in Dermatology (DERU-4006) for the upcoming academic year. This popular course is now open to student enrollment. This elective was first developed in 2004 due to the initiative of a former UTMB medical student, Amy McClung, who has since completed dermatology residency at Baylor and practices in Austin, Texas. DERU-4006 has been continuously offered at UTMB since 2004, except for an interruption caused by Hurricane Ike during the 2009-2010 academic year.

It's Official!

Tuesday afternoon, March 2nd was the Grand Opening for the new UTMB Dermatology Clinic in League City (Bay Colony). UTMB President Dr. David Callender and Dean Garland Anderson were present, as well as Dermatology Department Chair Dr. Sharon Raimer, Dermatology Clinic Director Dr. Michael Wilkerson and dermatology faculty Drs. Bernard Gibson, Chris Berlingeri and Richard Wagner, and the dermatology clinic staff. Members of the League City Chamber of Commerce and other UTMB faculty and administrators, including Dermatology Administrator Patricia Birkmeyer were also there. The clinic is already doing very well in its first few months of operation. In February, more dermatology patients were seen at this new location than in the UHC UTMB Galveston dermatology clinic!

UTMB Considers Pay Raises for Residents and Fellows

PGY-2 dermatology residents could get a $1100 pay raise starting in September 2010 to $46,600 if a current proposal to raise housestaff salaries is approved. PGY3 residents would earn $48,208 and PGY4s would earn $50,037. PGY5 dermatopathology fellows would earn $51,424 under the plan to meet the 2009-2010 AAMC Southern Mean Salary at medical schools.

Information about the Austin Acting Internship (AI) in Dermatology for MS4s

Some MS4 DIG members have reported that the Acting Internship (AI) in Dermatology- Austin (DERO-4013) was not always offered each Period during the 2009-10 academic year as currently listed in the online UTMB School of Medicine Elective Brochure https://webmail.utmb.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=b74f9630969147f5bc5ab0aa6418a812&URL=http%3a%2f%2far.utmb.edu%2f04-05review%2fbdisplay.asp%3frec%3d383. UTMB enrollment services is now reviewing this matter. However according to enrollment services, Austin will continue to offer Clinical Dermatology (DERO-4014) to UTMB and visiting medical students.

New Innovations Comes to UTMB

New Innovations software was adopted by the UTMB Graduate Medical Education Office and went live yesterday on campus. Its purpose it to record resident work hours spent on campus. Each day residents record the time they spent in patient care and in educational activities in 15 minute increments. This new software will help UTMB satisfy the strict ACGME duty hours record keeping requirement for residents, although it has not been an issue for UTMB dermatology in the past. Hours spent at home studying on week nights or on weekends and on-call hours taken from home are not recorded.

UTMB Joins Texas Medical Center

Today UTMB became the latest component of the largest medical center in the world, the Texas Medical Center (TMC). The TMC has over 30 million square feet of built space used in all aspects of medicine, and includes 49 institutions. For more detailed information, please see the article from today's Galveston County Daily News http://www.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=210745e0a612eb08

UTMB Dermatology Reinstitutes Acting Internship

Good news for UTMB MS4s interested in a dermatology career! The UTMB Department of Dermatology has just requested permission to restart its popular Acting Internship (AI) in Dermatology (DERU-4006) that was suspended in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike (2008). UTMB is currently one of the few dermatology programs nationally to offer an AI. The course is limited to one MS4 during Periods 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in 2010. This timing allows UTMB faculty to write dermatology letters of recommendation for ERAS based on student performance during their dermatology AI. Students taking this course satisfy the UTMB graduation requirement for an AI during the MS4 year. MS4s interested in this AI should be able to preregister for it in the next several weeks if it is approved.

Dermatology "March Madness"

Yes, it's now officially March and time for the annual dermatology practice boards sponsored by the American Board of Dermatology. Every year participating programs offer their dermatology residents the practice board for dermatology knowledge assessment. Released scores let each resident taking the test and their program know how they tested compared to the same PGY level of dermatology training across participating programs. Doing well on the practice boards usually predicts success on the certification exam that dermatology residents may take upon completion of their residency. This year the practice board is on Thursday, March 25th. UTMB dermatology residents are excused from clinics for the entire day in order to take this test in Galveston. The UTMB DIG wishes everyone good luck on their exam!

Information for Visiting Medical Students Interested in "Away" UTMB Dermatology Electives

Doing an away dermatology elective as a visiting medical student can be confusing. How do I get registered? Are there any associated costs? Where will I live when I am on the rotation? Are dermatology interviews automatically given to visiting dermatology students? Should I bring my surfboard? At UTMB, our Registrar's Office (Enrollment Services, 409-772-1215) will help you schedule a dermatology elective with us in Galveston. For the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year, 4 week rotations begin on Monday, June 28th. A wide variety of interesting dermatology electives are offered. Applications from visiting medical students are now being accepted and applicants will be notified once all of the UTMB MS3 and MS4 students have preregistered, around May 1st. Yes, the UTMB Dermatology Department changed its interview policy late last year and now plan to automatically interview all visiting medical students during their dermatology rotation in Galveston as long as they have completed their ERAS http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/ application for the UTMB dermatology residency. For more information, please visit our Enrollment Services website: http://www.utmb.edu/EnrollmentServices/about/USVisitingMedicalStudents.html

Ranks Lists are in... Let's help next year's applicants!

Calling all seniors!

Let's help next year's students with their interviews and offer our advice from along the interview trail.

What questions did you get on your dermatology interviews?

We will compile a list to prepare our medical students for the upcoming application season.

Where did you interview? Help guide our future students about places to consider for their away rotations.

Thank you for your help with this project and best of luck to you all!

Please e-mail responses to Lindsey Hunter at lihunter@utmb.edu.

Passing Rates for the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) Certification Examination ("The Boards")

Does everyone pass the ABD Certification Examination on their first attempt? Sadly, no. Data published by the ABD this month indicates that for first time test takers who are taking the test during the same year they completed residency training, 4.5% failed the test in 2009. A higher percentages of this reference group failed in 2008 (4.9%) and 2007 (9.3%). For those repeating the exam and those who did not take the test right after completing dermatology residency, the failure rates were higher for all three years reported. This may be the reason why dermatology residents are studying all of the time during residency!

Rare Summa Cum Laude Dermatology Research Honors Awarded

Congratulations are in order for UTMB MS4 Audra Clos, who was awarded Summa Cum Laude Dermatology Research Graduation Honors for her UTMB Honors Research Program Thesis, "Characterization and therapeutic removal of amyloid deposits in cutaneous amyloidosis." This is only the fourth time that this honor has been awarded by the dermatology department, and the first such award since 2005. Nineteen UTMB medical students have completed the Dermatology Research Program since 2001, when this program was initiated.

DIG Success at Odyssey Academy Science Night

DIG members Michaela Marek and Kenne Ogunmakin enjoyed volunteering at Odyssey Academy's Science Night. The Odyssey students were excited to learn about sun-safe behaviors and make UV bead bracelets.

Thanks to our volunteers and to Odyssey for hosting us!

Want to set up your own Stay Shady! event? Contact our Community Service Officer Rebecca at rcphilip@utmb.edu.

What if I Don't Match into a Dermatology Residency?

Sadly, the national trend is that more and more qualified dermatology applicants are not matching. It is simply a matter of the math. Currently there are many more qualified applicants than available dermatology positions, and this gap seems to be increasing each year as more US medical schools open and established US medical schools continue to increase class size. Less than enthusiastic feedback from the Dean of Student Affairs early in the application cycle may be the earliest warning sign, based on previous medical student matching statistics from your school. Receiving few interview offers during the first dermatology application cycle may also signal difficulty matching.

Reapplication in a subsequent application cycle may be a consideration. Those considering reapplication should critically review their application. Reapplicants with a Step 1 score below the national dermatology average (240 but seemingly trending up) and not AOA may still find it challenging to get a residency position because of the initial applicant screening process at many dermatology programs and a limited numbers of interview spots. Clinical performance during the PGY-1 year is critically important for reapplicants, as is the type of program and the quality of the institution where the internship is taken. For reapplicants, dermatology program directors will usually want an evaluative letter from the PGY-1 Program Director or the Department Chair. Completing and publishing research started during medical school in peer-reviewed dermatology journals may also help some reapplicants match because it is recognized as difficult to accomplish during the internship year and shows strong continued motivation for a dermatology career.

Alison Wiesenthal Gets Grant for Health Fair!

Congratulations to our DIG Co-president, Alison Wiesenthal, for receiving a grant from the Dermatology Education Foundation & Aveeno.

This grant will support our activities at the Galveston County Health Fair on March 6th.

Please feel free to contact Lindsey (lihunter@utmb.edu) or Alison (acwiesen@utmb.edu) to volunteer at this event.

Great work, Alison!

DIG Meeting Recap 2-18-10

Tonight we had a great meeting. We discussed our upcoming community service projects including Miles for Melanoma (April 17th), Galveston County Health Fair (March 6th), and the Skin Cancer Screening (May 15th).

Thank you to Dr. Brent Kelly for his great lecture introducing us to dermatopathology.

We enjoyed having residents Dr. Mika Yamazaki, Dr. Neda Nosrati, and Dr. David Raimer, as well as our youngest DIG member, Austin Kelly. Thanks to all for joining us!

To get involved with DIG and our community service events, feel free to e-mail DIG co-President Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu.

Learn More about Experimental Cutaneous Amyloidosis

MS4 Audra Clos will present her UTMB Research Honors Thesis entitled, "Characterization and therapeutic removal of amyloid deposits in cutaneous amyloidosis" on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. on the tenth floor of the Blocker Medical Research Building (MRB) in Room 10.141. Everyone is welcome to attend, especially UTMB DIG members interested in laboratory research for their UTMB Research Honors Project. Refreshments will be served.

DIG Meeting Today! Feb. 18 5pm

Calling all DIG members!

Please join us today, Thursday February 18th at 5PM in the Dermatology Department conference room (4.112 McCullough Building) for our DIG meeting.

We are excited to have Dr. Brent Kelly present an introduction to dermatopathology and inflammatory reaction patterns.

Other items on the agenda include planning for upcoming events such as Miles for Melanoma, Stay Shady! presentations and the Galveston County Health Fair.

If you would like to attend the meeting but are not currently in Galveston, e-mail Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu, and I will set up a video or teleconference.

We hope to see you there!

Interview Faux Pas

The dermatology trail for most dermatology applicants is now over, ranking lists are being submitted to the NRMP, and Match Day is coming soon (March 18th). The UTMB DIG has compiled a list of interview faux pas from several dermatology programs that may be useful for future UTMB DIG applicants.

-Remember, residents and faculty at the program where you are interviewing may overhear you when you are speaking loudly on your cell phone outside of their offices. If they hear you say, "I can't wait to leave (name city or state)" it may not help create a positive first impression.

-Not all interviewers may want to look at the clinical pictures you took while on another dermatology rotation.

-Do not curse at the interview.

-Rehearsed responses may indicate insincerity if detected.

-Not interviewing with everyone on the interview list may signal lack of enthusiasm for that program (this is especially true for internal candidates and away programs that invite rotators to interview while still there).

-Not being in town the night before the interview when distance is an issue. Things can go wrong with same day travel arrangements, especially during the winter. If it is a risk you don't need to take (no interview at another program in a different city the day before where air travel will be necessary), it is safer to arrive in town the night before.

-Writing to programs after the interview that they are "at the top of my list," "in the top three," etc. This lets the program know that they are not your top choice.

UTMB DIG Co-President Coauthors Case Report!

Congratulations to Alison Wiesenthal, our UTMB DIG Co-President and coauthor of the recently published case report, "A firm plaque on the back of a newborn." The case report was published in the February issue of the Dermatology Online Journal.

Abstract:
We report a case of subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn (SCFN), a rare disorder in term or post-term neonates. Although it is often associated with hematological abnormalities such as anemia and hypercalcemia, SCFN in this patient presented with hyperbilirubinemia. The course of SCFN is generally benign and self-limiting, though may be associated with complications secondary to hypercalcemia.

To read more, click on the following link:
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/1602/unknowns/unknown1/wiesenthal.html

11th Annual UTMB Dermatopathology Review

The annual UTMB Dermatopathology Review Course is scheduled for April 10th and 11th this year. For more information please visit the following website: http://www.utmb.edu/dermatology/dermatopathology/Dermatopathology%20Review%20Course.html

Academic Qualifications of Outside Dermatology Applicants Interviewed at UTMB

The UTMB DIG was interested about the academic credentials of non-UTMB MS4 applicants interviewed for the dermatology 2010 NRMP. Twenty-six applicants visited Galveston for their February interviews this year. They came from 15 different medical schools in 11 states, one as far away as California. Their mean step 1 score was 249 (n=26) and ranged from 222-267. Their mean step 2 score was 259 (n=13) and ranged from 210 to 275. All were elected to AOA. One applicant was board certified in pediatrics. One applicant was currently in a dermatology research fellowship. One applicant had done an "away" dermatology rotation at UTMB. All had research/publications. Several had Master's Degrees in other academic disciplines before going to medical school.

This information may be helpful to UTMB DIG members in evaluating their competitiveness for outside interviews at similar dermatology programs.

Grand Opening of University Dermatology At Bay Colony

Although UTMB dermatology residents and faculty have been busy seeing patients at our new Bay Colony Clinic (2785 Gulf Feeway South, Suite 165, League City, Texas; telephone 281-534-3376) for several weeks, Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm will be its grand opening!

2010 Houston Dermatological Society Skin Cancer Screening May 15th

Calling all DIG Members!

Volunteer at the annual Houston Dermatological Society Skin Cancer Screening May 15th.

Help out at either of the two locations:

1) Screenings running from 10 am to 1 pm
University Dermatology at Bay Colony
2785 Gulf Freeway South, Suite 165
(next to 24 Hour Fitness at I-45 and FM 646).(281) 534-3376. Fax (281) 337-7035

2) Screenings running from 10 am to 12 pm
Stewart Road Family Health
6710 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX
(409) 744-4030

E-mail DIG co-President Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu to volunteer. Thank you!

Congratulations, Dr. Jennifer Vickers!

The UTMB DIG has learned that one of the current UTMB PGY-1 Department of Internal Medicine Residents has accepted a PGY-2 Dermatology Residency position at New York Medical College for July 2010. She will join another formed UTMB medical student, Dr. Laura Speck, who is also in dermatology residency at New York Medical College.

DermHub: Student-created Dermatology Website

DermHub (www.dermhub.com) is a medical student-initiated patient education portal and social networking community that centers around the skin. The site provides brief, concise descriptions of common dermatologic conditions in the hope that patients will better understand their diagnoses. DermHub also appeals to human interest by sharing individuals’ stories and providing dermatologists’ insights. In order to engage a wide array of readers, we reach out to individuals with normal skin by educating them about their largest organ, advocating skin care and sun protection, and explaining the ingredients found in products they may commonly use. DermHub is currently working on a sign-up feature that will allow for a more personalized reader experience.
DermHub is entirely student-run; we receive no outside funding or company endorsements. We are looking for dermatologists who are interested in contributing content (either individually authored or conducted in an interview format), serving on an Advisory Board, editing and reviewing posts, and/or recruiting interested medical students to participate in this educational endeavor. If you are interested in any of the above, or if you would like more information, please contact silvinapugliese@gmail.com.

DIG Meeting Thursday Feb. 18 5pm

Calling all DIG members!

Please join us Thursday February 18th at 5PM in the Dermatology Department conference room (4.112 McCullough Building) for our DIG meeting.

We are excited to have Dr. Brent Kelly present an introduction to dermatopathology and inflammatory reaction patterns.

Other items on the agenda include planning for upcoming events such as Miles for Melanoma, Stay Shady! presentations and the Galveston County Health Fair.

If you would like to attend the meeting but are not currently in Galveston, e-mail Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu, and I will set up a video or teleconference.

We hope to see you there!

Beach Run During Galveston's Mardi Gras Next Weekend

This year the Galveston YMCA will host a Beach Run during Mardi Gras on Saturday morning, February 6th. Additional information is available on their hotline number (409-763-4607), and their website is: https://webmail.utmb.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e2f562d583c41ba8edf4db2fe9c6995&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mardigrasbeachrun.com%2fdefault.asp

Join in on all the fun for a very good cause. And please remember the sunscreen!

Dr. Cameron Coury Completes UTMB Dermatology Residency

Congratulations to Cameron Coury, MD, who completes her dermatology residency at UTMB today. Dr. Coury was one of the combined 5-year dermatology/pediatrics residents, but following the closure of this combined residency program at UTMB in 2008 after Hurricane Ike, Dr. Coury continued residency training as a full-time dermatology resident at UTMB. She is joining a private dermatology practice in Richardson, Texas (Dermatology Specialists, office telephone 972-699-0000).

Dr. Mika Yamazaki made this flower arrangement.

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Heavy rainfall in Galveston this morning caused temporary street flooding around the UTMB campus this morning.

Volunteer for Science Night at Odyssey Academy

Join DIG at Odyssey Academy's Annual Science night:

When: February 17, 2010 5pm-7pm
Where: Odyssey Academy
2412 61st Street
What: Teach kids how to stay safe in the sun
Make UV Bead bracelets with the kids

Interested in participating? E-mail Alison Wiesenthal at acwiesen@utmb.edu.

False Health and Safety Claims about Indoor Tanning

The American Academy of Dermatology has issued a statement about the recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) action on indoor tanning health and safety claims. It is available at: http://www.aad.org/media/background/news/Releases/American_Academy_of_Dermatology_Lauds_US_Federal_T/