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

Recommendations regarding away electives:

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.

Thinking about a research year? Look at these opportunities:

Check out this fellowship spreadsheet made by DIGA: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1q6rKR0emDDM6twbyT2L3s7_CmsAz8ks8saRUs8Ryl40/edit#gid=0

San Antonio Fire Department: Free Skin Cancer Exams Volunteer Opportunity

San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) is hosting a cancer prevention fair in January and is wanting volunteers to help out with free skin cancer screening exams. They are teaming up with Family Medicine physicians, residents, medical students, and dermatologists to put on this event.

• Tentative details:

• Location: SAFD Fire Training Academy. 300 S Callaghan Rd, San Antonio, TX 78237

• Weekend #1: Sat Jan 14th and 15th from 10am-4pm.

• Shifts: 2 hour shifts (10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm)  

• Weekend #2: Sat Jan 28th and 29th from 10am-4pm.

  • Shifts: 2 hour shifts (10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm)  

• Duties:

• Learn basic skin cancer screening exams. Work with family medicine residents, family medicine attendings, and dermatologists to do skin cancer screening exams for firefighters. Educate firefighters on skin cancer and prevention. 

• Sign up link:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g0KG_mkhUlVFBGzF_1muWI8WV_L0QOdCYmeMkl-aMyU/edit?usp=sharing

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) 2023 Annual Meeting: Medical Student Abstract Acceptances

UTHSCSA medical students will be well-represented at the AAD 2023 annual meeting. Congratulations to all who had their abstracts accepted! View the students’ projects below:

Assessing the Impact of Volunteer Training at Dermatology Student-Run Free Clinic (Oral presentation and ePoster)

• Tue Felix Nguyen BS, Anaya Shah BS, Bahar Momin BBA, Katerina Papanikolaou BS, Moses Alfaro BSA, Pavela Bambekova MD, John Browning MD

Disseminated AIDS-related Kaposi Sarcoma with Negative HHV-8 Testing (Oral presentation and ePoster)

• Elizabeth Long, Maryann England, Lauren M. Sadowsky, MD, Pavela Bambekova, MD, and Robert T. Gilson, MD.

Evaluation of a Monkeypox Educational Intervention in a LGBTQIA+ Student Run Free Clinic (Oral presentation and ePoster)

• Moses A. Alfaro BSA; Victoria Ayodele BA; Jiwon Park BA; Emily Quach BA; Yuming Ren BA; Clark Gravell MD; Sean Garcia MD

Analyzing Follow-Up Rates and Barriers to Care at Student-Run Free Clinic (Oral presentation and ePoster)

• Bahar Momin BBA; Tue Felix Nguyen BS; Anaya Shah BS; John C. Browning MD

Predominant Dermatological Conditions in Female-to-Male Transgender Patients at Pride Community Clinic (Oral presentation and ePoster)

• Moses A. Alfaro BSA; Linh Tran BA; Emily Quach BA; Yuming Ren BA; Tue Felix Nguyen BS; Sean Garcia MD

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma with perineural involvement treated with Mohs micrographic surgery (ePoster)

• Moses A. Alfaro BSA; Lauren M. Sadowsky MD; Joshua L. Owen MD, PhD

Assessing the Impact of a Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Awareness Program in GED Students (ePoster)

• Moses A. Alfaro BSA; Sofia A. Muzquiz BA; Ruoxuan Su BSA; Morgan Fletcher MD; Sandra Osswald MD

UT Health San Antonio - Dermatology Residency Interview Updates

24 applicants have been invited to interview for the 3 residency spots available for entry year 2024 at UTHSCSA-Department of Dermatology. Interviews will take place December 9th, 2022 and January 20th, 2023.

DIGA: IMPACT Melanoma Webinar!

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.

Bridging the Diaper Gap CSL Project

UTHSCSA medical students, Maryann England, Ashley Chakales, and others are spearheading a community service learning project (CSL) called “Bridging the Diaper Gap”. This project focuses on distributing baby diapers, wipes, and diaper cream to women/families in need! They also provide education on diaper rash, how to prevent it and when to make a doctors appointment. The target community has been Lytle, Texas (20min outside of SA) and they are expanding to the RBG clinic in downtown San Antonio. Their previous conference poster is posted below! Great job to these students working to serve our community!