In 2002, the Department of Dermatology at Pennsylvania
State University was established by Dr. James Marks after
Dr. Donald Lookingbill founded the division in 1975. The
dermatology residency program was started in 1982 with one
resident per year. It has currently grown to 3 residents per year
with an additional track dedicated to training physician scientists
(Figure 1). The purpose of the physician scientist track is to promote
research skills in addition to clinical proficiency in individuals
interested in an investigative dermatology career. Our graduates
have embarked in careers both in academic and community
settings and in all aspects of dermatology, including pediatrics,
pathology, cosmetics, surgery, and medical dermatology.
The department is proud of its high faculty to resident ratio,
with 13 full-time academic faculty. Together, they have diverse
areas of expertise to enhance learning experiences, including
pediatrics, contact dermatitis, hair, acne, cosmetics, dermatopathology,
inflammatory skin conditions, and skin oncology.
The department is committed to developing well-rounded physician
leaders with a passion for patient care and lifelong scientific
curiosity. From the start of training, residents are established as
the primary provider for their patients in their continuity clinics.
This allows residents to cultivate long-term, meaningful relationships
with their patients. Residents acquire real-world training
by managing their own patients with the guidance of faculty
experts. Continuity of care allows residents to appreciate the
natural history of disease, impact of therapy, and evolution of
care. Residents change their schedules yearly so they experience
the practice styles of all the faculty preceptors.
Residents have half a day of surgery clinic each week, which
is filled with their own patient cases as well as cases referred
by other providers. Residents also get significant experience
with the challenges of acute outpatient care with one half day
per week spent in the Open Access Clinic.1 Inpatient care is
also an important part of residency training. Residents direct
the inpatient consult service for at least 1 month each year.
Resident development is supported through a comprehensive
curriculum, utilizing various education methods from lectures
to unknown sessions. Residents have a weekly dermatopathology
conference, where interpretive knowledge is honed
and refined. Our Mohs micrographic surgeons also present
a series of procedural topics. Residents are given dedicated
time for in-depth experiences with our dermatopathologists
and surgeons yearly. During the third year, residents are given
time to tailor an elective to their personal interests. Residents
regularly attend grand rounds at the Geisinger Medical Center
and in Philadelphia. In addition, we host our own monthly
grand rounds and visiting professors are invited 3 to 4 times
annually to further enrich the learning process.
