DIG First General Meeting Recap—8/29/24

 

 We had a great turnout during yesterday's meeting! The DIG would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Wagner and Dr. Jimenez for their informative session with our medical students about matching into a Dermatology residency. Below is a recap of the topics that were discussed, followed by general news and upcoming DIG events:

    Shadowing within the Department:

• A great way for first year students to rotate in the department is during the summer preceptorship program, however there are other opportunities such as through the Physician Healer Track (PHT) summer program, and on a case-by-case basis if there is space during the months of December-February or when there are low volumes of student rotators.
• Students will also get a chance to rotate for a ½ day during their POM 2 course and for a month through the dermatology clinical elective during their 3rd and 4th years.
• STVC Dermatology night is a great way for students to gain more exposure and hands-on experience.

    Research:

• Students that are interested in getting involved in research are encouraged to help write up case reports if there is an interesting patient they encountered while in clinic or at STVC. Additionally, students are encouraged to come up with their own research questions and direct their plans to the current Research Chief, Dr. Pinto-Cuberos, according to the UTMB Guidelines for Dermatology Research.
• The Honors Research Program at UTMB offers medical students advanced research training, leading to the conferment of Honors in Research at graduation. Administered by a faculty-led Steering Committee, the program requires students to submit an approved research proposal and commit significant time and effort, with some projects requiring up to a year of full-time work. Students are required to have successfully passed Step 1 prior to consideration for admission to the program. More information about the UTMB honors program can be found here: https://www.utmb.edu/meded/BSHSselectives/bdisplay.asp?rec=219
• When it comes to research, it is best to not make attempts to inflate your research numbers on your CV or ERAS, as this can be very obvious to residency programs.
• There is data available surrounding the average number of research experiences for matched applicants, however it is best that you engage in meaningful research that suits your interests and can be well explained if asked to do so during an interview.

     Grades, Honors, & Board Exams:

- It is really important that students aim to honor and high pass at least a majority of their clerkships. This is especially important now that Step 1 is P/F. UTMB Dermatology is using clerkship grades to aid in selecting away rotators.

• Obtaining GHHS & AOA can reflect positively on students, but not having this distinction will not hurt an applicant’s chance of matching
• Failing either Step 1 or Step 2 can significantly decrease a student’s chances of matching. Failure or having to repeat pre-clerkship courses can also be considered detrimental for a student’s chance of successfully matching, although not necessarily impossible.
• Every program is going to vary in regards to how much weight is placed on Step 2 performance, but in general, applications are viewed holistically and while Step 2 is important, it is not the only application metric that is reviewed.

     Home Dermatology Clinical Elective & Aways:

• The Chief Resident of Medical Student Education helps to serve as a liaison between the department of dermatology and current medical students. While in this role, Dr. Jimenez oversees the scheduling of student rotators, provides mentorship, and resources and support for medical students interested in dermatology at UTMB.
• The official Association of Professors of Dermatology (APD) recommendation for outside rotations is 2. Although the UTMB dermatology AI was officially removed in 2024, all UTMB students who are applying dermatology are strongly encouraged to complete a clinical elective in dermatology during their 4th year.
• Away rotations are a great chance to shine and show programs that you would make a great resident. Maintain professionalism, be as helpful as you can, and showing enthusiasm are ways to positively stand out. Contrarily, complaining or being indifferent can be viewed as a “red flag”.
• Make sure that whomever you ask for a LOR has had a chance to get to know you. Do not expect for faculty to be able to write a strong LOR after only working with you for a day or so.

 

General Advice:

• When on the interview trail, it is important to be yourself. It is a chance to show programs why you would make a great fit at that particular program and vice versa.
• There is not one single or sure-fire method that will guarantee that a student will match. Having great scores, or numerous research publications won’t guarantee your success either. If you do not successfully match the first time, complete your prelim year or research year and try again.  
• Dermatology is a very sought after field, and as a result, it is very competitive. Striving for excellence with a well-rounded application is your best chance for a successful match!

      General News and Upcoming Opportunities for Involvement with DIG:

• Application deadline for ALL posters/podiums for the TDS Fall 2024 conference is August 30, 2024 (TONIGHT). Deadline for RESIDENT abstracts for poster/podium is September 6, 2024
• AAD Application Deadline: September 11th
• Sign up to receive DIG blog email notifications or share DIG blog worthy news by emailing the current editors: Jane Onyemachi (jaonyema@utmb.edu) and Madelyn Schmidt (mlschmid@utmb.edu)
• Hats for the Homeless Volunteer Sign Up:
• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEz9sl_TC1FAj3QPDTT8DUly6J2sZPdZqpx6XnQnDBlkeToQ/viewform reach out to Victoria Katei (vnkatei@utmb.edu) with any questions.
• Volunteers needed for the Texas City Community Health Fair on Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 10am - 2pm. Please reach out to jaonyema@utmb.edu if interested.
• Sign up for the DIG mentor-mentee program: https://forms.gle/w8CAxqJP3aEaVVWj7 reach out to Melissa Marchan-Martinez (memarcha@utmb.edu) with any questions.
• AAD's Good Skin Knowledge Grant for public health and community initiative will be used to deliver a four-module lesson plan on skin, acne, sun safety, and more for children at Austin Elementary School this fall. Reach out to Jane Onyemachi (jaonyema@utmb.edu or Bethel Desta (bddesta@utmb.edu) for more info on how to get involved.

Upcoming External Dermatology Residency Programs Open/Virtual Houses

Attending open houses is a great way to get a feel for each dermatology residency program. Please see the following list of programs with upcoming open houses/virtual visits. Information on the respective zoom links and RSVPs can be found on their flyers.

University of California, San Francisco Dermatology Residency Program – 8/26/2024 5:30-6:30 PM PDT

SSM Health/Saint Louis University Dermatology Residency Program – 8/29/2024 6:30- 7:30 PM CST

New York Presbyterian/Columbia Dermatology Residency Program – 9/03/2024 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET

University of Oklahoma Dermatology Residency Program – 9/09/24 6:00 - 7:00 PM CST (and again on 9/26/2024)

Dartmouth Health Dermatology Residency Program – 9/10/2024 7:00 - 8:00 PM EST

Northwestern Dermatology Residency Program – 9/10/24 6:30 PM CST (general session) or 9/12/24 6:30 PM CST (research session) 

UT Health San Antonio Dermatology Residency Program – 9/25/2024 6:30- 7:30 PM CST

Georgetown University Dermatology Residency Program – 9/26/2024 8:00 PM CST

First General DIG Meeting

The Dermatology Interest Group will be having its first general meeting virtually on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. The meeting is open to all students interested in learning more about the field of dermatology and the general application process.

                                     

 

Topic: Dermatology Interest Group - Meeting

Time: Aug 29, 2024 05:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99430188106?pwd=NOcSAoFwUsEWin1irypYlzGiSzhnnD.1

 

Meeting ID: 994 3018 8106

Passcode: DIG_0829

 

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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aBtf542c

September 11 is the Deadline for 2025 AAD Posters at the Annual Meeting in Orlando

Please start preparing your poster abstracts to meet the upcoming September 11 deadline. For further information please visit https://www.aad.org/member/meetings-education/am25/faculty/abstracts Accepted posters will be presented March 7, 8, and 9 (2025).

UTMB Students & Faculty Featured in drugs.com News Article

Congratulations to UTMB students Christopher Thang, (Pre-MS4 Research Year) and David Garate (MS4) for having their recent JAMA Dermatology publication featured on drugs.com Professional News in association with HealthDay Reporting. Their project was conducted with UTMB faculty Dr. George Golovko, PhD (UTMB Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology) and Dr. Michael G. Wilkerson, MD (Professor and Chair of UTMB Department of Dermatology).

 

Drugs.com is the largest, most widely visited, independent medicine information website available on the Internet. The website provides independent, objective, comprehensive and up-to-date information in a clear and concise format for both consumers and healthcare professionals.

 

Drugs.com News Article:

https://www.drugs.com/news/direct-cgrp-inhibition-cuts-acne-rosacea-patients-migraine-120281.html

 

Link to Original Publication:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2820913

 

Citation:

Thang CJ, Lai J, Garate D, et al. Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Inhibition and Development of Acne and Rosacea. JAMA Dermatol. Published online July 10, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.2182

Vibrio Infections Rise in Galveston County this Summer

As reported in the Galveston Daily News on 8-2-24, infections with Vibrio 

appear to be on the rise in Galveston County this year. Last year at this time 2 cases were reported, but this year there have been 8 cases so far, mainly seriously infected wounds. This bacterium is often present in warm water after people participate in water-related activities such as swimming. Yesterday the Galveston County Health Districted alerted the public about this serious infection, especially those with an open wound exposed “to salt or brackish waters and is experiencing fever, pain, swelling, warmth or additional redness near the site” to seek “immediate medical attention.”

Sun Bus Volunteer Opportunities

Get involved with The Sun Bus!

Dr. Karen Nern, the medical director and co-founder of The Sun Bus (thesunbus.org), is looking for volunteers interested in promoting sun safety and skin cancer prevention! The Sun Bus is a 501C3 (Non-profit) mobile clinic whose mission is to reduce the burden of skin diseases, including cancer, through effective screening, education, and research programs. 

 

The Sun Bus is looking for medical students who are interested in volunteering throughout the 2024-2025 academic year, which can range from writing articles for the newsletter or creating social media reels! They publish a quarterly newsletter, perform human subjects and general attitude and behavior research, and have multiple social media channels to educate the public. This is a great way for you to give back to your community while also adding to your resume!

 

If you are interested in learning more about ways to get involved in The Sun Bus over the next year, please sign up below to get emails about both in-person and remote volunteer opportunities.

https://forms.gle/aSYXSV1S2WPsxErw7

UTMB MS4 Publishes Original Research in SKIN

Congratulations to UTMB MS4 Michael Adkison and his coauthors (Drs. Andrew Armenta, UTMB Mohs Fellow 2023-2024, Frank Winsett, UTMB Assistant Professor of Dermatology, and Richard Wagner, UTMB Professor Dermatology) for their case series, “Review of Tumor Margins for Lentigo Maligna with Staged Surgical Excision and Permanent Section en face Processing “ that was published in the July 2024 issue of SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine 8(4), 1672–1680. https://doi.org/10.25251/skin.8.4.5 Their article is available online at https://jofskin.org/index.php/skin/article/view/2578

UTMB Dermatology Clinical Professor Publishes Chapter in new Bologna Textbook

 

Congratulations to Dr. Sharon Raimer, former UTMB Professor Dermatology and Department Chair for her recent publication, Skin Signs of Abuse (Section 13, Chapter 90, Dermatology, 5^th edition, 2024) Her coauthors on this chapter were Drs. Lauren Raimer-Goodman and Ben G. Raimer. Dr. Sharon Raimer is currently UTMB Clinical Professor of Dermatology and regularly contributes to departmental academic meetings. Our weekly Kodachrome sessions (“Raimer Rounds”), where residents develop differential diagnoses based on unknown clinical photos under expert faculty guidance, were named in her recognition of the immense impact she has made in our Department of Dermatology and are a regular feature of our afternoon Academic Friday activities.

DIG Present at UTMB Student Involvement Fair

The Student Involvement Fair took place this morning, officially kickstarting orientation week for the Class of 2028. Officers from DIG were present to speak to first year medical students eager to learn more about the organization and how to get involved throughout their time at UTMB. Their first course of medical school, Gross Anatomy & Radiology (GAR), will start a week from today. Welcome first year students!

Pictured from left to right: Jane Onyemachi MS4 (DIG President) & Andrew Spires MS2 (DIG Psoriasis Walk Chair)

UTMB MS4 Publishes Interprofessional Review on Trichotillomania in Skin Appendage Disorders

Congratulations to current UTMB DIG President Jane Onyemachi (MS4) and her co-authors for publishing their work within Skin Appendage Disorders titled Bridging the Gap Between Dermatology and Psychiatry: A Review on Quality of Life in Trichotillomania and Special Considerations in Management. Her co-authors are Caroline Nguyen (MS4), Lynchi Nguyen (MS2) and Drs Olivia Chukwuma (PGY4 Chief Resident for Academics) and Ayezel Munoz-Gonzalez (Assistant Professor). This review highlights the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of managing TTM, emphasizing the clinical utility of screening tools for assessing its impact on quality of life. The article is available online at (DOI:10.1159/000539563).

UTMB Dermatology Faculty Acknowledged from Awardee

Quincy Seigel, MD (UTMB SOM 2024), selected as a “40 Under 40” recipient by the Galveston Daily News this year, acknowledged the impact of dermatology faculty Drs. Brent (Professor Dermatology) and Erica Kelly (Professor Clinical Dermatology) in mentoring her through her medical career journey. She wrote, “Dr. Brent Kelly and Dr. Erica are UTMB dermatologists who inspired my love of the field and have encouraged me every step of the way.”

UTMB MS4s Publish in JAAD

Congratulations to David Garate, MS4 and Christopher Thang, MS4 for their co-first authorship publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) (Impact Factor: 12.8) with Dr. George Golovko, PhD and Dr. Michael Wilkerson, MD (Professor and Chair of Department of Dermatology).

 

Reference: Garate D, Thang CJ, Lai J, Golovko G, Wilkerson MG, Barbieri JS. Benzoyl peroxide for acne treatment is not associated with an increased risk of malignancy: a retrospective cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol. Published online July 11, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2024.07.011

 

UTMB Awarded Competitive Pediatric Lectureship

UTMB DIG is looking forward to these upcoming pediatric lectures! Thank you Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD)!

UTMB Publishes Review of 3D Models for Mohs Surgery Education

Congratulations to current MS4 and UTMB DIG President Jane Onyemachi and her co-authors for their review titled 3D models for mohs micrographic surgery: a review on its use in patient education published in Archives of Dermatological Research. Her coauthors were Juan Pinto-Cuberos, MD (PGY4 Chief Resident for Medical Student Research), Danielle Miller (MS2), Richard Wagner, MD (Professor Dermatology), and Frank Winsett, MD (Assistant Professor of Dermatology). The article is available online at  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-024-03211-w.

Congratulations Dr. Brent Kelly

Brent Kelly, MD, Professor Dermatology, received an “Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award” from the UTMB John P McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine at their 23rd Annual Osler Oration on July 12, 2024. Congratulations Dr. Kelly!

TDS Fall Meeting September 27-28, 2024

The TDS Spring meeting will take place September 27-28, 2024 at the Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop, TX and the resident abstract competition applications are now open!

You can find links for the applications on the resident conference page as well as Fall 2024 guidelines and more information.  RESIDENT WEBPAGE LINK HERE

Applications for both the poster and podium competitions are due: August 30, 2024

Abstracts for both poster and podium competitions are due: September 6, 2024

Poster PDFs are due: September 6, 2024

Prizes for the PODIUM competition are:

1st - $1000

2nd - $600

3rd - $400

 

Prizes for the POSTER competition are:

1st - $500

2nd - $300

3rd - $200

Registration for the conference will open by July 19, 2024

UTMB MS4 Publishes in JAMA Dermatology

Congratulations to Christopher Thang, MS4 for his first-authorship publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Dermatology (Impact Factor: 10.9) with co-authors David Garate (MS4), Dr. George Golovko, and Dr. Michael Wilkerson, MD (Professor and Chair of Department of Dermatology).

Citation: Thang CJ, Lai J, Garate D, et al. Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Inhibition and Development of Acne and Rosacea. JAMA Dermatol. Published online July 10, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.2182

UTMB Dermatology Residents Recognize Ramon Sanchez, MD for Teaching

 

Each year UTMB Dermatology Residents vote to recognize the community dermatologist who contributed educationally to their training over the past academic year. This year they awarded Dr. Ramon Sanchez the annual Community Dermatologist Award for Excellent Teaching. Congratulations Dr. Sanchez!

Dr. Frank Winsett Receives 2024 UTMB Dermatology Teaching Award

Congratulations for Dr. Frank Winsett, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at UTMB for his recent teaching award, the UTMB Dermatology Residents’ Award for Excellent Dermatology Teaching.

Tropical Storm Beryl

Due to the potential for strong winds and flooding, all UTMB clinics are closed and in person classes and clinical rotations are canceled for Monday, July 8.

DIG Blog 20th Anniversary and Logo Change

The DIG blog was established in 2004 and has been highlighting accomplishments from medical students, dermatology residents, and faculty in addition to providing up to date information on dermatology related events for 20 years. Thank you to the students, residents, and faculty that have been involved in this organization, and to Dr. Wagner for consistently supporting the DIG blog over the years.  

 

Mr. Reynol Lopez has designed a new logo for the UTMB DIG blog. Please continue to email the current DIG editors for blog-worthy news that you would like to see shared.

UTMB Chief Dermatology Resident Publishes Research Letter about Mohs Tourism

Congratulations to UTMB PGY4 Chief Resident for Medical Student Research Juan Pinto-Cuberos, MD for his recent letter (“Mohs Micrographic Surgery Tourism: Can We Accurately Verify Credentials of International Surgeons?” that was published in Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (2024;17(7):16-18.  This publication is available at https://jcadonline.com/letters-to-the-editor-july-2024/   His coauthors were Drs. Andrew Armenta (UTMB Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellow 2023-2024), Frank Winsett (Assistant Professor of Dermatology), and Richard Wagner (Professor Dermatology).

2024 PGY4 UTMB Dermatology Resident Research Award

Congratulations to Dr. Emily Williams for departmental recognition for having the best dermatology research by a PGY4 dermatology resident. Her scholarly project researched leadership curriculum in dermatology residency programs.

UTMB Dermatopathology Fills 1 of 2 Dermatopathology Fellowship Positions for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

Congratulations to Dr. Mary Cavanagh, a current UTMB PGY2 dermatology resident,  for accepting a UTMB dermatopathology fellowship for the 2026-2027 year. 

UTMB MS4s Publish in Allergy, European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Congratulations to David Garate, MS4 and Christopher Thang, MS4 for their co-first authorship publication in Allergy, the official journal of the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  (Impact Factor: 14.71) with co-authors Trevor Murphy (MS3), Dr. George Golovko, and Dr. Michael Wilkerson, MD (Professor and Chair of Department of Dermatology).

 

Citation:  Garate D, Thang CJ, Murphy TL, et al. Evaluating alopecia areata risk among patients with seasonal and food allergies: A multicenter cohort study. Allergy. Published online June 16, 2024. doi:10.1111/all.16199

Dermatology Advanced Elective DERU-4006

The Acting Internship in Dermatology has been discontinued but a new course with a similar curriculum has been added for medical students planning on a career in dermatology. It is available during Period 1 through Period 8. For further information see https://www.utmb.edu/meded/ElectivesBrochure/bdisplay.asp?rec=499

UTMB Dermatology Collaborates on Merkel Cell Carcinoma Publication

Congratulations to Dr. Travis Dowdle (incoming PGY2 UTMB dermatology resident this July) and Richard Wagner (Professor Dermatology) for their recent publication about comorbidities associated with Merkel Cell Carcinoma {Verma KK, Dowdle TS, Panchal S, Dhavala M, Joshi TP, Tarbox MB, Wagner RF Jr. A retrospective case-control analysis of various comorbidities associated with Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024 Jun 8;316(7):355. doi: 10.1007/s00403-024-03026-9. PMID: 38850315.} This is their second research publication this year about this type of skin cancer.

UTMB Dermatology Resident Selected for International Mission

Congratulations to Dr. Elise Weisert, a current PGY3 UTMB dermatology resident, for her selection to join an international mission with ISDIN to provide dermatology care to patients with albinism in Mozambique this fall. 

Dr. Anthony Linfante Honored by UTMB AOA

Congratulations to Anthony Linfante, Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology, as the 2024 Keynote Speaker on May 31, 2024, the day prior to the SOM graduation for the Class of 2024. Dr. Linfante spoke about how patient care should be individualized.