Part I: Program Spotlight: The University of Pittsburgh Residency Program in Dermatology

January 2015 | Volume 14 | Issue 1 | Features | 65 | Copyright © January 2015


Kristen Lo Sicco MD, Mona Sadeghpour MD, Laura Ferris MD PhD, Lisa Grandinetti MD

Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Abstract
Resident Rounds is a section of the JDD dedicated to highlighting various dermatology departments with residency training programs. Resident Rounds includes 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 Pittsburgh Residency Program in Dermatology. The editor of Resident Rounds is Dr. Ali Alikhan. If you are interested in highlighting your training program in a future issue, please contact Dr. Alikhan at alialikhan1@yahoo.com.

INTRODUCTION

The University of Pittsburgh Residency Program in Dermatology is a core part of one of the largest dermatology departments in the nation with 15 faculty members and 6 diverse clinical sites, including the Veterans Affairs Hospital. This combined with the Department’s basic and translational research base, which is now ranked in the top 10 nationally for NIH funding, enable us to continue providing one of the most well-rounded dermatology residency programs in the United States.
Our educational focus is to train physicians and future leaders in the field of dermatology. Additionally, our program emphasizes mastering core competencies in medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning, and improvement in addition to interpersonal and communications skills, professionalism, and system-based practice.
The University of Pittsburgh Department of Dermatology incorporates a broad range of clinical services, research, and teaching activities. Clinical training is divided into monthly rotations split among six diverse sites as well as a continuity clinic held weekly. The residency is based at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital Campus, which houses many of the subspecialty clinics that provide residents with exposure to complex medical dermatology.
Our department continues to grow, increasing access to clinical services while providing comprehensive care including general dermatology, complex medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, inpatient adult and pediatric consultation services, dermatologic surgery, cutaneous oncology, cosmetic dermatology, and dermatopathology. Residents also participate in a variety of multidisciplinary clinics with our faculty caring for patients with challenging diseases including cutaneous lymphoma and melanoma, psoriasis, immunobullous disease, hair and nail disease, wound healing, and most recently, the first gastrointestinal dermatology clinic that provides coordinated care to inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease patients with associated dermatologic conditions.
table 1
Residents receive hands-on experience in procedural dermatology, including Mohs and non-Mohs dermatologic surgery, toxins, fillers, and the use of ablative and non-ablative lasers. In addition, residents spend one to two months per year on the pediatric dermatology service, which includes general pediatric dermatology; pediatric surgery and laser clinic in addition to an active pediatric inpatient and teledermatology consult service.
Our research activities span a broad range of investigative endeavors. These include basic science research in: cutaneous biology, immunology, tumor biology, gene therapy, and cutaneous imaging in addition to translational programs in vaccine design, viral and tumor immunotherapy and cutaneous gene delivery. We lead numerous clinical investigations of novel therapeutics including the use of immunomodulators and immunotherapies for the treatment of melanoma, psoriasis, and