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
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
