Program Goals

UVM Dermatology residency graduates can practice independently, displaying clinical excellence in caring for both pediatric and adult patients, and have a strong grasp of dermatologic surgery and dermatopathology. Through faculty example, it is hoped that all graduates are inspired to consider serving as academic dermatologists or in medical leadership roles at some point in their careers. UVM Dermatology cultivates and prioritizes an atmosphere of mutual respect between residents and faculty.

Education and Conferences

Dermatology Professor's Rounds / Grand Rounds: Held monthly, this conference begins with live patient presentations. A written protocol is presented for each patient brought to Professor's Rounds and photos are obtained. All patients are seen in the dermatology clinic space. Following this, a presentation is held in our conference room. Residents are called upon to offer descriptions and differential diagnoses. The history and pathology from the case are then reviewed, the diagnosis (when applicable) is presented, and suggestions for treatment are entertained. As a teaching exercise for the resident this conference is invaluable. It allows the resident to grow as a clinician and diagnostician. The conference is also useful to our faculty and community physicians, allowing for the presentation of challenging cases for diagnosis and treatment.

Thursday Afternoons:

1. Basic Science Lectures: A one-hour weekly conference covers basic anatomy, cutaneous physiology, biochemistry, photobiology, cytokines and inflammatory mediators, immunobiology, genetics, infectious agents, superantigens, cutaneous pharmacology, pathophysiology of the basement membrane, and other topics fundamental to the study of dermatology. A faculty member will be present for each conference, however the conferences will be prepared by and given by the residents.
2. Journal Club: Journal articles from JAMA Dermatology, The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery are reviewed weekly. The goals of journal club are to learn about new aspects and advances in dermatology and to read the literature in a critical fashion.
3. Dermatopathology CPC: Each week following Journal Club the residents and attendings review selected (interesting) cases from the prior week by comparing clinical photos and case histories with pathology slides
4. Unknowns/ Kodachromes: This is a weekly conference following CPC. A resident or member of the faculty presents 15-30 challenging cases for differential diagnosis. Residents are called upon to describe lesions, formulate a differential diagnosis, and prune the differential to their favored diagnosis.

Friday Mornings:

1. Dermatopathology Didactic Instruction: A formal course is held weekly to instruct our residents in the basics and nuances of dermatopathology. The goal is to teach the resident to function independently in dermatopathology.
2. Dermatopathology Unknowns: A weekly review of high yield and challenging cases selected by dermatopathology faculty. Residents and fellows practice describing key pathology features and generate differentials.
3. Other Basic Science Lectures: Weekly lectures which cover topics from Wolverton: Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy, Spitz: Genodermatoses, and CME topics from The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Professional Meetings: The residents will attend various professional meetings. Currently residents attend:

Stowe Eastern Winter Dermatology Conference (annual)

Atlantic Dermatology Conference (PGY-2)

American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting (PGY-3)

In addition, residents will be encouraged to attend and present at other conferences during their three years.

In summary, residents will be active participants in numerous conferences designed to educate them in all aspects of clinical dermatology and the basic science underlying the disease mechanisms. The formats chosen for our conferences allow for independent thought, self-learning, and didactic training. Attending physicians will be held responsible for ensuring a high quality of education, while relying heavily on resident input.