Resident Rounds: Part I

July 2012 | Volume 11 | Issue 7 | Features | 870 | Copyright © July 2012


Michael S. Digby MD and Nicole M. Owens MD FAAD

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 San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium. 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 SAUSHEC Dermatology Residency Program began in 1996 when the San Antonio based Air Force and Army dermatology programs combined. The program currently consists of 21 residents—12 Army and 9 Air Force. The program has a total of 13 Army and Air Force faculty members.
The mission of our program is to train and produce outstanding clinicial dermatologists to provide care to military members and their families all over the world. Our program also strives to produce dermatologists who will contribute to academic dermatology and serve as military medical leaders. Our graduates currently serve in 23 different states and eight foreign countries. Graduates serve in clinic/hospital settings both stateside and overseas and in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We have a very structured curriculum and demanding clinical responsibilities. We spend most of our time seeing in-and out-patients at Wilford Hall and Brooke Army Medical Centers. Brooke Army Medical Center has the only burn unit in the region where we see most of the regions' TEN and severe immunobullous patients. Inpatient experience is enhanced by a rotation at UTSW, Dallas during which we work as part of their inpatient consult team. We get additional exposure and hands on training in dedicated laser, phototherapy, patch and pediatric dermatology clinics. We can participate in humanitarian missions, to include trips to Surinam, Peru, Mauritania, and Haiti.
We have great surgical case loads given the large number of retirees in our area. The Mohs surgeons are always available for direct and indirect supervision. We operate weekly beginning our third week of residency and deliver the full range of cosmetic services to our own patients. We have a great deal of hands on laser training to include fractional CO2 laser, fractional Er:Yag, both Q-switched and long-pulsed Alexandrite and Nd:Yag, and PDL lasers and a BBL platform. Many of us are involved in ongoing laser research
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studies. Our research using fractional CO2 to revise scars has been especially beneficial to our soldiers returning from combat with severe burns or other life limiting contractured scars.
As residents, we also participate in teledermatology, which receives consults from all over the world from combat to naval operations. We provide dermatology consult services to soldiers who serve remotely. Our dermatopathplogy training is top-notch with weekly teaching sessions all three years.
We are proud of our dermatology residency program as one that facilitates our growth as dermatologists, challenges us academically and clinically while maintaining a collegial atmosphere.

Disclosures

The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Thomas M. Beachkofsky MDCapt, USAF, MC, FSDermatology Resident59MDOS/SGO5D, Dermatology Clinic2200 Bergquist Dr, Suite 1Lackland AFB, TX 78236-9908Phone: 210-292-3376E-mail: thomas.beachkofsky@us.af.mil