Frequently Asked Questions:
As a resident, what is your favorite part of the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Dermatology?
The residency program exposes you to every aspect of dermatologic care and has many subspecialty clinics including complex medical dermatology, inpatient dermatology, teledermatology, psoriasis, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, pigmented lesions, hair & nail, pediatric, immunobullous, transplant, cosmetics, and Mohs micrographic surgery. We graduate with a higher sense of comfort and the ability to practice independently in our desired practice area after being exposed to these subspecialties. Additionally, the presence of multiple clinics across the Pittsburgh area facilitates research and scholarly activity in our desired subspecialty with an experienced mentor.
What do residents like to do for fun in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is a city in southwest Pennsylvania that sits at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. The city has become a hub for healthcare, education, and technology industries, and it is also a city with a lot of fun activities. Pittsburgh's 165 parks allow for unlimited outdoor activities and recreation, and diverse restaurants and nightlife throughout the downtown, Squirrel Hill, South Side, Shadyside, and Cultural Districts. In 2019, Pittsburgh was deemed “Food City of the Year” by the San Francisco-based restaurant and hospitality consulting firm. Furthermore, we are also home to multiple museums, rich history in arts with Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts and the Benedum Center, the Pittsburgh Zoo, and PPG Aquarium. Lastly, our faculty and residents also love to attend sports events and cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates. Overall, there is something for everybody in Pittsburgh, whether you are single or have a family, and this is all possible while living in an affordable and one of the most livable cities as ranked by The Economist.
What specialty clinics are available at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC?
- Complex medical dermatology
- Teledermatology
- Psoriasis Clinic
- Pigmented Lesion Clinic
- Hair & Nail Clinic
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma
- Immunobullous Diseases
- Transplant dermatology clinic
- Cosmetics
- Mohs micrographic surgery
Where are the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Dermatology clinics located?
To see a map of our clinics, please visit the following link. We cover multiple clinics and hospitals throughout our residency program. This provides us with exposure to multiple subspecialties and to develop an area of specialized interest/expertise.
What are some of the didactic opportunities at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC?
Our didactic curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC includes weekly, half-day didactic sessions covering clinical and basic-science lectures given by members of the faculty and residency. The Department of Dermatology also has resident-driven monthly grand rounds, which provide the opportunity for residents and faculty to interact and present interesting cases for discussion. Additionally, the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Department of Dermatology and the Pittsburgh Academy of Dermatology Lecture Series include bi-annual Grand Rounds and eight additional lectures per year from leaders in the field.
How large is the department of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC?
UPMC is one of the largest Dermatology departments in the nation with 17 clinical faculty members, 9 research faculty members, and 8 combined clinical/research faculty members. Our department sees patients at 6 clinical sites.
Where do graduates of the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC end up?
Over the last 10 years, we have had 62 graduates; 21 of whom have pursued a fellowship in dermatopathology, Mohs surgery, pediatric dermatology, or procedural/cosmetic dermatology. 19 of our graduates (14 in the last 6 years) have joined academic positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of California Irvine, University of Colorado, Tufts University, New York University, Florida Atlantic University, Johns Hopkins University, and UPMC. 5 of our graduates are now serving in Director roles, including Associate Program Director, Director of CTCL, Director of Skin & Cancer Unity, Director of Dermatopathology Laboratory, and Director of Contact Dermatitis Clinic. We have a long history of high-achieving residents and pride ourselves in mentoring and supporting residents of all career-paths and interests, including private practice, fellowship, or academic dermatology.
What is the inpatient experience like at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC?
Department of Dermatology residents acquire extensive experience in inpatient dermatology while covering UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Montefiore, UPMC Western Psychiatric, UPMC Magee-Womens, and UPMC Shadyside Hospitals. Residents spend 6 months throughout the program covering inpatient services. Our graduating residents are comfortable managing inpatient dermatology consults while learning about complex and rare dermatoses that are frequently linked to systemic illnesses. We also have one of the largest teledermatology programs that cover hospitals throughout Western Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Our residents spend 2 months gaining teledermatology exposure.
Are there opportunities for resident-led clinics and activities?
We pride ourselves on being a resident-driven program -- residents are important to the success of our department! Our residents have been responsible for initiating our transplant clinic, leading our medical education initiatives for medical students, and launching a global health program that covers San Lorenzo, Honduras, and Lilongwe, Malawi. We are always open to new ideas, and our ability to make these ideas a reality is what makes us most unique as a residency program.
What global health opportunities exist at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Dermatology?
Currently, at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Dermatology, we offer the ability to participate in annual trips to San Lorenzo, Honduras, and Lilongwe, Malawi. Our program in Honduras is organized in conjunction with the Global Brigades organization and allows 2 residents and multiple medical students to participate. Our dermatology global health program in Lilongwe, Malawi is organized in conjunction with the UPMC Department of Internal Medicine. This permits us to not only see patients at the outpatient skin center in Lilongwe, but we are also able to do inpatient consults at Kamuzu Central Hospital. The opportunity is unique because it allows residents to experience the diagnosis and management of local dermatology pathology, build sustainable global health healthcare systems, educate local healthcare officers, and lead projects of your own.
Are there opportunities for community service at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC?
Yes, we have a global health program with clinics located in San Lorenzo, Honduras, and Lilongwe, Malawi. We also have received a grant for a rural outreach program and host local free clinics, including the Birmingham, Squirrel Hill Health Center, and Organization of Chinese American Medical Clinics.
What is the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Department of Dermatology’s stance on diversity and anti-racism?
As stated in our mission statement, our department is serious about our commitment to providing a diverse and inclusive environment for our residents, and treating patients of all backgrounds equally with respect and dignity regardless of race, skin color, age, gender, sexual orientation, or religious belief. In response to recent events, our program has established a resident-led Anti-racism and Equity Working Group. This group has actively raised awareness about the importance of diversity and healthcare equity by incorporating skin of color photos in our weekly didactics, sponsoring our residents to attend the annual Skin of Color conference, and hosting quarterly grand rounds that specifically address concerns about racism in our specialty. Thus far, our quarterly grand rounds have covered the history of racism in medicine and addressed microaggression in the workplace. Our goal is to educate our residents and faculty on the importance of diversity in the treatment of our patients, addressing microaggression, and the critical need of recruiting underrepresented minorities and residents from diverse backgrounds.