The Washington University Division of Dermatology residency program offers a comprehensive clinical curriculum that gives residents extensive experience in general and medical dermatology as well as in sub-specialty settings (pediatric dermatology, micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology, and dermatopathology) throughout all three years of training. Residents gain foundational skills during PGY2, with progressive autonomy in a variety of clinical settings and additional exposure to specialty clinics throughout PGY3 and PGY4. With a mix of high-volume outpatient clinics in urban and suburban settings, a hospital-based adult and pediatric dermatology consult service, a hospital-based outpatient clinic for underinsured patients, and an associated VA Hospital, our residency program provides an incredibly well-rounded clinical education for residents.
Sample block schedules
Med/gen derm | VA | Surgery | Peds | Dermpath | Specialty | Consults | |
PGY2 | 7 months | 2 months | 1 month | 1 month | 1 month | ||
PGY3 | 5 months | 2 months | 2 months | 1 month | 1 month | 1 month | |
PGY4 | 2 months | 2 months | 1 month | 2 months | 1 month | 2 months | 2 months |
Clinical rotations
Medical and general dermatology
Residents rotate through our high-volume outpatient clinics at the BJH Center for Outpatient Health and Washington University West County Dermatology. In these clinics, residents are assigned to work with core faculty members and are involved in all aspects of caring for patients with a variety of dermatologic diseases. Residents will also participate in surgical procedures, such as biopsies, electrodessication and curettage, and excisions. Residents also rotate through our hospital-based resident continuity clinic monthly, where they care for their own panel of patients, many of whom are underinsured.
VA
The dermatology clinic at the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Hospital – John Cochran Division is staffed by Division of Dermatology faculty as well as community attendings, who work closely in supervising our residents daily. Washington University dermatology residents exclusively work in this VA clinic. During PGY3 VA rotations, residents are responsible for managing the procedure clinic, which involves scheduling and performing surgical procedures on benign and malignant neoplasms.
Surgery
Our surgery rotations occur at both the Center for Dermatologic & Cosmetic Surgery in our West County location and at the BJH Center for Outpatient Health. During these rotations, residents participate in the care of patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery, excisions, and cosmetic procedures, including injectables, lasers, peels, and sclerotherapy. Residents often work with the MSDO fellow as well as co-residents, and have the opportunity for hand-on exposure to surgical and cosmetic procedures.
Pediatric dermatology
Pediatric dermatology clinics staffed by residents exclusively occur at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. There, residents work with our pediatric dermatologists to care for children with inflammatory skin diseases, genetic disorders, and congenital or acquired neoplasms. Additionally, during the PGY3 pediatric dermatology rotation, residents attend the monthly multi-disciplinary Vascular Anomalies Clinic.
Dermatopathology
While rotating on dermatopathology, residents are engaged in preview of cases, signout, teaching with both faculty and the dermatopathology fellow, and self-study of an extensive collection of teaching slides. Residents on this rotation also participate in monthly dermatopathology journal club.
Specialty clinics
While PGY4 residents have dedicated time rotating through the Division’s specialty clinics, all residents will gain exposure to these clinics during their 3 years of training. Specialty clinics are mostly housed at the BJH Center for Outpatient Health and include:
- Cutaneous lymphoma (multidisciplinary)
- Melanoma and pigmented lesions (pediatric and adult clinics)
- Oncodermatology
- Alopecia
- Vascular anomalies (multidisciplinary)
- Skin of color
Inpatient consults
PGY4 residents spend two months during the year managing the inpatient consult service, which covers both adult and pediatric patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, respectively. The adult consult service is staffed by Dr. Amy Musiek while the pediatric consult service is staffed by all of our pediatric dermatology faculty. The inpatient consults rotation is a busy but rewarding service, where residents care for medically complex patients and are expected to communicate clearly with primary and other consulting teams.