Dermatology Residency Program

The residency program provides excellence in Dermatology training.

Who we are

The residency program provides excellence in Dermatology training and is primarily based at the University of Texas Medical School, Houston. The Department of Dermatology and its faculty are integrated between the University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston Medical School and MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). Close affiliations with MDACC, Hermann Hospital, and LBJ County Hospital provide a diverse clinical experience.

Our program

Our faculty, comprehensive curriculum, patient diversity, and clinical experiences are the strengths of the residency program.

We offer more full time faculty than residents, a rare ratio that exists in only the best programs in dermatology. Our faculties have been recruited for their excellence in Dermatology, patient care, education and research. Many are nationally recognized leaders in their fields. Our faculties have been diversely trained, are board-certified, and offer expertise in dermatologic surgery, cutaneous oncology, dermatopathology, immunodermatology, pediatric dermatology, autoimmune disorders, contact dermatitis, basic research, and cosmetic dermatology.

Of great importance is our mission to educate and train the best in dermatology residents. We design a comprehensive curriculum that is constantly enhanced with resident and faculty feedback. Conferences occur every weekday and include “Kodachrome” conference, Textbook review, Grand Rounds, Dermatopathology, Journal Clubs, and Didactic lectures. Topics are selected and integrated to cover virtually all of Dermatology. Many of these conferences are held jointly with the dermatology program at Baylor College of Medicine, located within one block of us.

The best teachers are often our patients. Our diverse patient population (Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States, with strong African-American, Hispanic, and Asian (Far East and Middle East) populations) at varied institutions offers a wealth of pathology. Our residents provide care at MDACC- a premier cancer center, LBJ - a County hospital, Hermann hospital- a primary teaching facility for UT-Medical School, and several outpatient clinics. Both common, rare, and complex skin conditions are treated at all of these facilities. A hospital consultation service occurs at MDACC and Hermann, and imparts invaluable inpatient skills to our trainees. Active teaching by our faculty occurs at all rotations and is synergistic with our curriculum.

While we focus on training outstanding clinical dermatologists, we also encourage academic development through participation in clinical studies, clinical and laboratory research. The Department currently offers two post-graduate fellowships. The majority of our residents publish articles and present at state and national meetings. Most of our residents seek private practice, with 20% pursuing academic careers. This trend is consistent with most dermatology programs. Fellowship training is encouraged. Many graduates have proceeded with fellowships in Dermatopathology, Mohs surgery, and Laser & Cosmetic surgery.

Our city

The Texas Medical Center, with its member hospitals and universities, is the largest in the world and has a 13 billion dollar impact on the economy of Houston. Houston http://www.houston-guide.com/ is the fourth largest city in the U.S., affording all of the amenities of a cosmopolitan environment. We are known for our hospitality, numerous restaurants, charming neighborhoods, and reputation for technology and innovation. There are three airports serving a diverse cultural community (population is 39.8 percent Hispanic, 29.1 percent Caucasian, 24.3 percent African-American and 5.9 percent Asian). Recent enhancements include a revival of downtown, a modern metrorail system, and the move to Houston of several major corporations. The climate is great year-round, with only occasional freezing and certainly no snow in the winter. Although the humidity is famous in the summer, we all work in air-conditioned buildings!

Candidates for Residency

Our dermatology residency positions are highly coveted and competitive. Only 10% or less of received applications are selected for interviews. Preferences are given to graduates of medical schools accredited by LCME (Liaison Committee for Medical Education). Unlike other programs, we seriously consider candidates who have already had advanced training in specialties such as internal medicine or pediatrics. Accepted applicants are usually in the top quartile of their medical school class and are geographically diverse. We do not consider residents who volunteer to work in unsalaried situations. All applicants must pass part I of the USMLE examination within 3 attempts prior to acceptance. Residents must pass part II by the end of their PGY-1 year and part III by the end of their PGY-2 year, within the guidelines for Texas licensure. Trainees must complete at least a one-year PGY-1 internship prior to entering our three-year dermatology residency program. The PGY-1 year may be in pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, transitional, or other broad-based disciplines acceptable to the American Board of Dermatology.

How to apply & Dates to remember

For our fellowship positions see information under those headings.

We offer fifteen dermatology residency positions in the three-year program (five positions per year). The deadline to apply for one of our five PGY-2 dermatology positions (to begin in July 2010) is December 1, 2008 and the national match will occur in March 2009. The internship (PGY-1) and dermatology residency (PGY-2 to 4) programs are not linked. Candidates may apply to separate institutions or geographies for their internship and residency. Internships in internal medicine or transitional year are most common, but we accept others that are acceptable to the American Board of Dermatology, see http://www.abderm.org/residency.html. It is expected that all resident candidates will meet the criteria of the Board. Interviews will occur from November 2008 through January 2009. We strictly follow the rules of the NRMP matching program. You must enroll at http://www.nrmp.org/ . All applications must be sent electronically through the national ERAS program at http://www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm.

The residency coordinator is Irene Morales (Irene.M.Morales@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-8330) and the residency program director is Ronald Rapini MD. We look forward to considering your application.