Program Spotlight: Georgia Health Sciences University

February 2012 | Volume 11 | Issue 2 | Features | 240 | Copyright © February 2012


Christina Brennan MD, Jack L. Lesher Jr. MD, Loretta Davis MD

Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA

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 Georgia Health Sciences University. The editor of Resident Rounds is Omar A. Ibrahimi MD PhD. He is currently the Director of Cutaneous Laser and Cosmetic Surgery and a Mohs surgeon at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Ibrahimi is also a Visiting Scientist at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. If you are interested in highlighting your training program in a future issue, please contact Dr. Ibrahimi at OIbrahimi@jddonline.com.
The Section of Dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), Georgia Health Sciences University (GHSU) in Augusta, GA is one of only two cutaneous research and teaching programs in the state of Georgia. The Dermatology Training Program was established in 1967 with the first group of residents graduating in 1970. Since its inception, the program has graduated 154 residents. It is a three-year training program and currently offers 3 positions per year. Notably, the founder of the Department of Dermatology, Dr. Graham “Skee” Smith, also founded the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology at MCG.
Medical student education is an important aspect of the program. Residents give monthly lectures to rotating medical students while playing an active role in teaching students in the clinics. Residents at this training program are exposed to a wide spectrum of medical and surgical dermatology through outpatient clinics and inpatient consults at GHSU hospital and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. The program offers rotations in Mohs micrographic surgery as well as experience with procedural dermatology, including Botox,® fillers and lasers. Dermatopathology is learned at bi-weekly group sessions as well as through individual monthly rotations. The residents participate in weekly educational conferences, including book review, morphology, basic science and kodochromes. They prepare monthly presentations for the Cutaneous Tumor Board (a joint meeting of cancer specialists on campus), the Lupus Conference (a joint meeting with Rheumatology and Nephrology), Journal Club, and Dermatology Grand Rounds.
The residency program is active in local, state, and national dermatologic societies. Locally, residents attend and present cases at the Augusta Dermatologic Society meetings. Annually, the GHSU and Emory residents are involved in a friendly competition, presenting cases at the Georgia Society of Dermatologists' meeting while vying for the coveted Donald Abele award. Additionally, several residents present posters at the annual Southeastern Consortium for Dermatology meeting and cases at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting, particularly the Gross and Microscopic Symposium. This past year, one resident presented her ongoing psoriasis research in Wuhan, China.
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