Dermatology

Residency Information

The Division of Dermatology resident training program offers a three year position that begins July 1 of each year. Two or three residents are chosen each year to begin the second July after acceptance.

At the University of Kansas, we believe that dermatologic training rests in patient exposure. Our program provides primary and tertiary dermatologic care to the residents of metropolitan Kansas City, as well as tertiary care to a large area of the Midwest. We staff clinics at the following locations:

• University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City, Kansas)
• University of Kansas Hospital (Mission, Kansas)
• Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, Missouri)
• Kansas City Veterans Administration Medical Center (Kansas City, Missouri)
  
  More info about the affiliated hospitals.

Areas of Interest and Specialty

The dermatology clinic patients seen everyday represent a wide variety of dermatologic entities, however, because of the tertiary nature of our institution, many patients are referred because of the special interest of our faculty. These include:

• Occupational Medicine/Contact Dermatitis
  A significant number of our patients undergo patch testing to over 300 available antigens in our clinic. The resident gains knowledge and clinical skills in applying and interpreting patch test. In addition, residents learn how to obtain needed information from any of a variety of manufacturers, how to handle Workmen's Compensation cases, and the specifics of Workmen's Compensation laws in Kansas, Missouri, and other states.
• Photomedicine
  Residents gain detailed instruction in the diagnosis and treatment of light-induced disorders, such as photoallergy, phototoxicity, and other photosensitivity diseases. Residents also learn how to select and administer ultraviolet radiation to patients needing phototherapy. This includes training in the determination of minimal erythema doses (MEDs) of UVA, UVB, and visible light. Photopatch testing, using the North American Contact Dermatitis Group's photoallergen tray, is also available in the clinic.
• Hair and Nail Disease
  Residents obtain detailed knowledge of dermatologic and non-dermatologic diseases which can affect the hair and nails. Instruction in the appropriate culturing and biopsying of these adnexal structures is provided.
• Psychocutaneous Disease
  This group of patients offers the resident a challenging aspect of cutaneous medicine. The resident learns the physical and emotional manifestations of this destructive disease, and also to use medications to improve not only the dermatologic component but the psychologic aspects of the illness.
• Dermatologic Surgery
  Residents perform surgery daily. Simple procedures are performed within the general dermatology clinic. Intermediate surgery is performed at K.U. and at the V.A. on Friday mornings. Second and third year residents also participate in Mohs micrographic surgery on selected Tuesdays (see Schedules for more detailed information).
• Clinical Research
  The Division has an active clinical trials unit engaged in a number of studies. First and third year residents participate in these studies as subinvestigators and thus gain expertise in the content and conduct of clinical drug trials.
• Pediatric Dermatology
  Residents receive exposure to this sub-specialty of dermatology during the first and second years of residency.

Teaching and Learning Experiences

Besides the clinical experience, residents are exposed to a host of didactic teaching sessions. These sessions consist of resident and faculty driven experiences. The following is a list of the conferences which all residents are expected to attend:

• Textbook Review
  A resident directed course, Textbook Review, is held twice a week. Residents review selected readings from Andrews' Diseases of the Skin (Andrews', et al) on Tuesday afternoons. A series of board-type questions are answered to reinforce the pertinent information in the text. On Thursday afternoons, the residents review chapters of Histopathology of the Skin (Lever, et al). These readings are correlated with the Andrews' readings to reinforce pathology with the clinical data. Selected portions of other dermatologic texts are incorporated as desired by the residents. Of course, residents are expected to read other relevant text on their own.
• Journal Club
  The faculty and residents meet weekly for Journal Club. Selected articles are assigned from among the leading dermatologic journals including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Archives of Dermatology, British Journal of Dermatology and many others. Articles are reviewed by the club for scientific merit, content, and relevance.
• Core Curriculum in Basic Sciences
  A one-hour basic science lecture is given weekly by either the faculty, resident staff, or dermatologists from the surrounding area. Pathophysiologic correlation is stressed. Although the curriculum annually covers the broad area of basic scientific dermatology as specified by the American Board of Dermatology, it is constantly re-evaluated and updated so as not to be repetitive.
• Dermatopathology Case Reviews
  The more challenging and interesting biopsies are presented weekly during this conference. This is a faculty guided conference in which residents examine and explore the pathological and clinical manifestations of dermatologic diseases. This provides for lively discussion and excellent clinicopathologic correlation for what are typically rare and/or unusual cutaneous diseases. Second year residents also are expected to work with a staff dermatopathologist 1/2 day a week and review interesting dermatopathology slides from the surrounding community.
• Kansas City Dermatological Society
  The Kansas City Dermatological Society meets for one-half day every month. The group consist of the residents and faculty from KU and dermatologist from metropolitan Kansas City and Topeka. The meetings begin with a one-hour didactic lecture presented by world-renowned authorities in various studies of dermatology. The day is finished off with a patient-based conference where interesting patients from KU and the local community are presented for diagnostic and therapeutic consideration. Typically, the residents receive an additional one hour lecture by the speaker prior to this meeting.
• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
  First and third year residents are expected to attend and present at the winter session of the American Academy of Dermatology Meeting. The cost of attending this meeting is covered by the Division.
• Conferences
  At the discretion of the Program Director, second and third year residents have five academic days per year to attend conferences other than the annual AAD meeting. Depending upon the nature of the resident's involvement in these conferences, the cost of attending the meeting may be paid for by the Division.

Resident Benefits/Stipends