Queen Lane Campus
2900 Queen Lane
1st Floor, Room 100
Phila., PA 19129
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
& Friday 8:30a.m. - 5:00p.m.
215-991-8762
Fax: 215-991-8132

Hahnemann Campus
Office of Student Life, Suite 1106, NCB
Wednesday 9:00a.m. - 4:30p.m.
215.991.8762

Dermatology

Pathway Director

Herbert Allen, M.D.	Office #, Campus
herbert.allen@drexelmed.edu	(215) 762-5550

Drexel Fourth Year Discipline Based Pathway System

Pathways Overview
Dermatology Pathway Overview (Student Handbook)

Pathway Director's Advice On Commonly Asked Questions

Click on each question below to see the response:

How important is it for a student to have completed some type of research to match in this specialty? When should the research be done? Does it have to be specialty specific?

It’s important, and it does not have to be specialty specific. Our number one candidate last year did research on Alzheimer’s Disease.

Are research opportunities available in your department?

Yes, each current pathway student has had one or more than one projects with our department. Two had poster presentations at Discovery Day. Others have had case reports and case series. We have an ongoing appreciation of unusual dermpath presentations and an interest in Women’s Health dermatologic problems, as well as common dermatologic problems such as eczema and tinea.

Lissette is our administrative assistant, and she is an excellent conduit to our faculty and residents. (215) 762-5557

Are shadowing opportunities available?

Yes.

Lissette is our administrative assistant, and she is an excellent conduit to our faculty and residents. 215 762 5557

Are away rotations essential to a successful match in your specialty?

Very important; students this year have arranged away rotations at Wake Forest, U Florida, CHOP, and Jefferson.

Any other advice you wish to share?

The derm match is so competitive (we had 421 applicants for our 3 spots last year) that you need high grades, high board scores AND a legitimate backup plan. When our number one student in the class does not match, one can appreciate how treacherous the derm match is.

Go to the Drexel Careers Development Center for information on residency planning, match results, FREIDA (lists of residency training programs across the country) and more.

Drexel and Clinical Site Residency Programs

Drexel University College of Medicine Dermatology

Drexel Medical Student Interest Group

Dermatology Interest Group

Specialty Description

A dermatologist is trained to diagnose and treat pediatric and adult patients with disorders of the skin, mouth, external genitalia, hair, and nails, as well as a number of sexually transmitted diseases. The dermatologist has had additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin, the management of contact dermatitis and other allergic and non-allergic skin disorders, and in the recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic (including internal malignancy) and infectious diseases. Dermatologists have special training in dermatopathology and in the surgical techniques used in dermatology. They also have expertise in the management of cosmetic disorders of the skin such as hair loss and scars and the skin changes associated with aging. (Source: http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/pub_dermatology.htm)

Time Requirement

See ACGME for current requirements: http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/home/home.asp
The residency training for dermatologists is three to four years. The three year program must be preceded by a year of broad-based clinical training (PGY-1). Practice in a dermatology subspecialty requires one additional year of training.

National Organizations

The national specialty organizations can provide medical students with excellent resources as well as updates on current activities within the field, conferences, and on-going research opportunities and research funding.

Subspecialties

Dermatopathology
Pediatric Dermatology

Residency Application and Match Info*

	National Statistic	DUCoM
Average Application Count by Specialty (2008)	56**	63
Mean Number of programs ranked in matched specialty (2008)	7***	N/A
Application Services	ERAS
Matching Program	NRMP
Drexel Match Data -- 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011

*The number of applications and programs ranked will vary based on many factors. Students should seek advice from their Pathway Advisor and/or the Career Development Center in conjunction with the data above.
**Data drawn from 2008 United States Graduates (USG) ERAS Statistics for Residency Specialties. 17Jun2009.
***National Resident Matching Program Characteristics of Matched Seniors, 2006-2008. 17Jun2009.

AAMC - Careers in Medicine

General Information: http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/pub_dermatology.htm
(Log in for more helpful data to include: Personal Characteristics / Match data / Residency Requirements / Workforce Statistics / Compensation)

Specialty Specific Opportunities

For external research, volunteering, educational, and other opportunities check the Career Development Center's pages on Research and Community, Educational, and Externship Opportunities. Most of these opportunities are summer programs however some are available throughout the year.