Resident Rounds: Part I: Program Spotlight: The University of California, Irvine Department of Dermatology Residency Training Program

June 2011 | Volume 10 | Issue 6 | Features | 593 | Copyright © June 2011


Nazanin Saedi MD, Amy Reinstadler MD, Sam Truong MD, Kristen Kelly MD

Abstract

Resident Rounds is a new section of the JDD dedicated to highlighting various dermatology departments with residency training programs. Resident Rounds will feature three sections: (1) a program spotlight, highlighting pertinent information about the department and residency training program; (2) a section presenting study materials used by residents at the program; and (3) a section designed to highlight recent interesting cases seen at the institution. This issue of Resident Rounds features the University of California, Irvine Department of Dermatology Residency Training Program. The editor of Resident Rounds is Omar A. Ibrahimi, MD, PhD. Dr. Ibrahimi is a recent graduate of the Harvard Combined Program in Dermatology and currently a fellow in Mohs, Laser and Cosmetic Surgery at the University of California Davis. If you are interested in highlighting your training program in a future issue, please contact Dr. Ibrahimi at omar.ibrahimi@gmail.com

table 1
The University of California (UC) Irvine Department of Dermatology is the largest dermatology program in Southern California. Each year, five new residents are chosen, for a total of 15 residents in the program at any given time. The program has one procedural dermatology fellow, who spends a year extensively training in Mohs, laser, and cosmetic surgery, and has one or two clinical research fellows who spend two years involved in clinical investigation.
The residency program offers the benefit of seeing patients in a multitude of settings and is designed to help residents and fellows treat the breadth of dermatologic conditions. Residents work at the following locatons: the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Long Beach; UC Irvine Medical Center; Orange County Kaiser Permanente clinical centers; the UC Irvine Dermatology Center; the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; and the Beckman Laser Institute. Senior residents also run clinics for students at the University Health Clinic.
During all three years, residents spend time at the VA and participate in the busy general dermatology clinics and consult service as well as enhance their surgical skills. Senior residents act as the primary surgeons in the weekly Mohs cases.
Clinics at Kaiser provide an introduction to the managed care setting. Kaiser offers a unique opportunity for residents to have their own patient panel, but with the support and oversight of the Kaiser faculty and staff. Residents spend 10 weeks at Kaiser each year, as well as one half day a week in Kaiser continuity clinics during the second and third years.
The program has many subspecialty clinics with world-renowned leaders in their fields, with clinics that specialize in immunobullous disorders, psoriasis, pigmented lesions, pigmentary disorders, vascular disorders, contact dermatitis, laser and cosmetics, Mohs surgery, and pediatric dermatology.
The residents are particularly fortunate to work at the Beckman Laser Institute, a world renowned research and clinical laser institute that specializes in advanced translational research related to laser and light devices. Residents participate in both clinical and research work.