Congratulations Dr. Antonio Jimenez!

UTMB PGY3 dermatology resident Dr. Antonio “Tony" Jimenez has been accepted into the funded one month Harvard Dermatology VisTA Scholar program for visiting dermatology residents (see https://www.harvard-derm.com/vista-scholar-program for additional information). He will rotate at the Harvard Hospitals later this year. We are excited to learn more about this exciting educational opportunity once he returns to Galveston!

2024 NRSA TL1 Training Core

Description: Students who are accepted into the fellowship program, sponsored by the Institute for Translational Science (ITS) TL1 Training Core, will participate in an 8 week inter-professional translational research study design and team leadership course in conjunction with a laboratory research experience in their first year. Each student will receive a stipend (~$4,392) to participate in both activities.

The inter-professional translational research design course includes graduate, medical, and dual degree (MD/PhD) students and uses a combination mini-lectures, small group discussion and in-class active learning exercises to guide students through the processes of identifying a translational research opportunity (e.g., gap in current clinical practice), generating a testable hypothesis, and reviewing the scientific and clinical literature in order to develop the rationale and experimental approach to address the hypothesis.

Students will work in mixed small groups (teams). In addition to discussions on the basics of experimental study design (including basic biostatistics), core competencies of team leadership, oral and written communication and multidisciplinary team collaboration are addressed. The capstone projects are: 1) a small translational research proposal developed by the inter-professional group addressing a clinically relevant problem, and 2) a poster presentation on your research rotation project at the annual SRP poster session.

 

Application: Interested students must apply to be considered for this program and associated stipend. By February 29,2024, please submit the following items via this link: TL1 Training Core Application for SOM Students (utmb.edu)

 

Eligibility: All nominees (trainees) must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of appointment. Faculty mentors who are not currently affiliated with this TL1 Training Program must be approved and added as a Training Program Faculty Mentor. JSSOM students must be in their first year of school and participating in the Summer Research Program (SRP).

 

Questions should be directed to Jonathan Hommel, TL1 Director at jdhommel@utmb.edu or Donna Adams, Program Director, Translational Research Education at djadams@utmb.edu. 

Additional link to application: https://redcap.link/SCiTRTL124

Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day - Texas

A UTSW medical student, Alejandra Nitsch, is working with Dr. Rebecca Vasquez to organize a Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day in Texas. As part of this process, she working to compile a planning committee with a representative from each of the Texas Medical Schools. This event originated in Massachusetts and was designed to introduce dermatology trainees to relevant advocacy and health policy work. Since its start, DTAD has expanded to 11 states and we will be starting Texas’ first DTAD event this year. As part of this process, she is compiling a planning committee consisting of a representative from each Texas medical school. If you are interested in having a role inn this this inaugural event, please fill out the short application attached by Wednesday, February 28th by midnight.

 

Please find the application here: https://forms.gle/dU597XAB369aV3pA6

 

If you have any questions, please contact me by email at alejandra.nitsch@utsouthwestern.edu.

18th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk

Hey everyone! Dermatology Interest Group, Plastic Surgery Interest Group, and Skin of Color Dermatological Society are teaming up with the AIM at Melanoma Foundation to organize the 18th annual Steps Against Melanoma walk! It is a 1-mile walk/5k run to support those impacted by melanoma and contribute to ongoing research efforts. We are putting together committees to help coordinate and fundraise for the event. If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please fill out this form by March 1st!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDO8Djoq9AHzK5uVE0QfEY4Y5tt3Ux9x9niJcC70YQGvb3FA/viewform

In the meantime, you can register/donate now on the AIM website:

https://support.aimatmelanoma.org/event/steps-against-melanoma-galveston-2024/e559704

If you have any questions, please reach out to Bethel Desta! 

Applying Dermatology with Dr. Jimenez and Dr. Weisert

 

Zoom link will be provided in the UTMB DIG GroupMe. Hope to see MS3s there!

UTMB Co-authors Research about Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Congratulations to Drs. Travis Dowdle (incoming PGY2 UTMB dermatology resident in July 2024) and Richard Wagner (Professor Dermatology and Program Director of the UTMB Dermatology Residency and the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (Mohs) Fellowship Programs for their recently published research article, “Nationwide Case-Control Analysis of Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Associated Skin Cancer Comorbidities: An Examination of the All of Us Database” in the peer-reviewed and indexed (PubMed Central) journal, Cureus. Their co-authors were Texas Tech medical students Kritin Verma (first author), Sumoni Verma (student, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Austin, Texas) and Baylor medical student Tejas Joshi. The article is available at https://www.cureus.com/articles/220480-nationwide-case-control-analysis-of-merkel-cell-carcinoma-and-associated-skin-cancer-comorbidities-an-examination-of-the-all-of-us-database?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transaction#!/

65th Annual National Student Research Forum

The 65th Annual National Student Research Forum will be held on April 20th, 2024. More information about the conference can be found here: https://www.utmb.edu/nsrf/home 

UTMB Mohs and Dermatopathology Collaborate on Publication

Congratulations to UTMB Dermatology Assistant Professor of Dermatology (and 2022-2023 UTMB Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellow), Dr. Fank Winsett and his collaborators for their recent publication in the peer-reviewed Dermatology Online Journal (“Symptomatic perineural and intraneural invasion of the trigeminal nerve and subsequent abducens nerve palsy by cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma”). Dr. Winsett’s co-authors were Drs. Andrew Armenta (current 2023-2024 UTMB Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellow), Kristyna Gleghorn (2021-20232 UTMB Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellow), Brandon Goodwin (UTMB Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology), Brent Kelly (UTMB Professor Dermatology and Dermatopathology Program Director), and Richard Wagner (UTMB Professor Dermatology and Program Director of Dermatology and the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship). Their article is available online at https://escholarship.org/uc/item/35g1j48f

DIG Officers and members participated in the Annual St. Vincent’s Health Fair on January 27th, 2024

Every year, the St. Vincent’s student committee and St. Vincent’s House organizes the St. Vincent’s Health Fair, a FREE event for the whole family where health screenings, vaccinations, winter clothing, blankets, fresh produce from the Galveston County Food Bank, and a warm meal from “The Chosen Ones Outreach” Ministries are provided to families!

The event was held at the Walker Norris Island Community Center on Saturday, January 27^th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 

This year, DIG officers and members attended and participated in DIG’s booth titled “Sun Protection and How to Prevent Skin Cancer.” DIG officers and members talked to the community about skin cancer facts, prevention, common myths, and sun protection. We handled out flyers in both English and Spanish and provided the community with free sunscreen and skincare items! 

Written translation and Spanish Interpretation were provided by our DIG Diversity Chair and Certified UTMB Spanish Interpreter – Melissa Marchan-Martinez, MS3. 

A huge thanks to Cynthia Hallmark, MPH, Program Director of Community Outcomes and Evaluation at the Institution of Translation Sciences and Sealy Center for providing DIG with sunscreen samples!! Also, a huge thanks to Student Life at UTMB for graciously printing out the flyers!! 

                                                       

Here are the members that attended the fair:

Top Left: Meagan King, MS1
Top Right: Andrew Spires, MS1
Bottom Left: Melissa Marchan-Martinez, MS3
Bottom Right: Alekhya Gurram, MS1

H4H

The dermatology interest group stayed shady this Saturday 1/27 with their monthly hats for the homeless event!

Pictured (Right to left): Lynchi Nguyen (MS1) and Uneeb Ullah (MS1)

If you are interested in participating in future events please fill out the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnSGk3p8tM9T6AxkGzMMG5bBILHlMHoSthtMoq3YFfXeskwA/viewform?usp=sf_link

DIG Suture Workshop with Dr. Winsett and Dr. Ahatov

Thank you to Dr. Winsett and Dr. Ahatov for helping the Dermatology Interest Group host a suture workshop for medical students on January 26th 2024. The event was attended by around 20 medical students. Students were able to learn simple techniques and receive tips and strategies to instill confidence about suturing. 

National Psoriasis Foundation Starlight Soirée

Join NPF and the Greater Houston psoriatic disease community for the inaugural Starlight Soirée - an evening of inspiration to raise awareness and critical funds to fuel research to get us closer to a cure. We are thrilled to honor leaders from the local community who have made an incredible impact with their support and leadership to advance NPF's mission.

 

When

           April 6, 2024

6:00 to 10:00 p.m. CT

 

Where

Omni Houston Hotel

Houston, TX

 

They likely need about 8-10 volunteers.

 

Volunteers will be needed from about 2pm – 10:30pm.  Dress code is cocktail attire, or just all black.  Here is some brief info on the various roles we needed.

Event Set-Up: Assist with set up at event site the day of the event, typically several hours before the event starts. Could include helping with the unloading vehicles, carrying boxes of supplies into the venue, hanging banners, decorating tables, setting up silent auction and wine wall.

Registration / Check-In: Assist with checking in guests for the event, using out online platform OneCause 

Silent Auction Attendant: Monitoring the silent auction to assure the items are not taken or damaged, assisting guests with process and questions they may have about the silent auction and items, assuring guests are following the bidding process. We have a video training for this! 

Wine Wall Attendant: Assisting guests with the purchase of wine, addressing questions about the process and tracking wine purchases so that name and bidder number are noted for each bottle purchased.

Paddle Raise Trackers: Monitor the Commit to Cure (aka paddle raise) from different vantage points in the room, tracking and noting each time a bidder raises their bidder card for a designated donation amount.

 

End of the event: Check out guests, hand out auction items and clean up venue space.

 

Stay tuned for more information from DIG Co-Chairs Shayan Ravanassa and Sebastian Certuche. 

DIG Suture Workshop with Dr. Winsett

Hello Everyone! 

Please fill out the form below if you are interested in participating in the suture workshop on Jan 26th at 5 PM. Dr. Winsett along with few residents will be present to help students learn suturing skills. The workshop will be hosted at the Dermatology Conference Room on the 5th Floor McCullough Building. 

This event is on first-come bases. We will have a waitlist for other interested students. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejd-zbqyJvtzXGvuI37KY6Bq0P9TSqtckHbTmqwOzrjlP4nA/viewform

Please contact Isabelle Bergman (ibbergma@utmb.edu), Maggie Fitzgibbon (mmfitzgi@utmb.edu), Fareen Momin (faamomin@utmb.edu) or Jane Onyemachi (jaonyema@utmb.edu) if you have any questions! 

We hope to see you all there! 

Dermatology Interest Group Holiday Donation Drive Extended!!

Happy New Year! 🎉

The Dermatology Interest Group is thrilled to announce that we are extending our holiday donation drive through the month of January!

What We're Collecting:

We're focusing on sun protective items to help those who might not have access to these essentials. If you have any gently-used or excess items, please consider donating:

 

- Long sleeve shirts

- Sunscreen

- Sunglasses

- Hats

 

Donation items can be found near entrances of the 1st floor of the HEC and Graves buildings. If you have any of these items lying around or perhaps some you don't use, your donation can make a significant impact on someone who needs it!Let's make this drive a success and spread some warmth and protection this winter! Thank you for your generosity!

ACGME 2024 Continued Accreditation for UTMB’s Dermatology Residency and Fellowship Programs

The ACGME Dermatology Review Committee met this month and determined that the UTMB Dermatology Residency Program and our fellowships in Dermatopathology and Micrographic Surgery/Dermatologic Oncology receive “Continued Accreditation” for 2024. This committee meets annually and cionducts ongoing program evaluations for all dermatology residency program and their associated fellowships accredited by the ACGME.

UTMB Students & Dr. Wilkerson Publish in JAAD

Congratulations to co-first authors David Garate (MS3), Christopher Thang (MS3), and Dr. Michael G. Wilkerson, MD (Professor and Chair of Dermatology) for their publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD).

 

Garate D, Thang CJ, Damsky W, Rosenbach M, Golovko G, Wilkerson MG, Barbieri JS, Granuloma annulare is associated with an increased risk of hematologic malignancies: A multicenter cohort study using TriNetX., Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2024), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.028

UTMB Students Publish in Archives of Dermatological Research

Congratulations to David Garate, MS3 for his recently published manuscript in the Archives of Dermatological Research Journal with co-authors Trevor Murphy (MS2), Shayan Ravanassa (MS2), Dr. George Golovko, Dr. Alyssa Hansen, MD (Research Fellow), and Dr. Michael Wilkerson, MD (Professor and Chair of Department of Dermatology)

Citation: Garate, D., Murphy, T.L., Ravanassa, S., Golovko, G., Hansen, A., Wilkerson, G. Atopic dermatitis is associated with an increased risk of central sensitivity disorders: a retrospective cohort analysis. Arch Dermatol Res 316, 56 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02795-z

UTMB MS3s Featured on AAD and Monthly Top 10 list of Elsevier Practice Update Dermatology

Congratulations to UTMB students Christopher Thang and David Garate for being featured on the front page of Derm World Weekly (December 13, 2023 Issue) by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) for their research on isotretinoin: https://www.aad.org/dw/weekly/december-13-2023

 

Christopher and David were also featured on the Monthly Top 10 list of Elsevier Practice Update Dermatology (December 1, 2023) for their project:

https://www.practiceupdate.com/journalscan/110366/3/4?elsca1=emc_enews_top-10&elsca2=email&elsca3=practiceupdate_derma&elsca4=dermatology&elsca5=newsletter&rid=NTY1NDAwNzUyNjk5S0&lid=20845175

 

Thang, C.J., Garate, D., Golovko, G. and Barbieri, J.S. (2023), Isotretinoin exposure does not appear to be associated with risk of adverse male sexual health outcomes in acne patients. Int J Dermatol. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.16865

Congratulations Dr. Frank Winsett!

Dr. Winsett, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at UTMB, was recently notified by the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) that he passed the subspecialty certification examination in Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery on the first attempt. Congratulations on this great academic achievement!

Acting Internship in Dermatology Eliminated for 2024-2025 Academic Year

At UTMB and many other medical schools, an acting internship (AI) is a graduation requirement. Recently UTMB reviewed its Acting Internships and eliminated the Dermatology AI as an option. MS4s interested in a dermatology career are most likely to take their AI in internal medicine at UTMB going forward, although other CORE specialties such as surgery and obstetrics are also options, among others. The former Dermatology AI may now be offered as an advanced clinical elective for 2024-2025, but will not count as an AI required for graduation.

2020 UTMB SOM Graduate Matches into UTMB 2024-2025 Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship

The UTMB DIG is excited to learn that Corley Pruneda, MD, a 2020 UTMB SOM graduate and current PGY4 dermatology resident at Texas Tech, has matched into UTMB 2024-2025 Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship. We look forward to learning from you in July!