Derm-Related Opps for Premeds

[237392]

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Hey!
I was wondering if you guys could please suggest ANY opportunities for undergrad students interested in derm, including research, volunteer, shadowing/mentoring, etc.... I would really really appreciate it if you could suggest some summer opps as well as things I can get involved in throughout the school year related to Dermatology. Thanks! 🙂

 

[Mariah246]

1. Get into medical school.

2. Keep the derm stuff quiet. You'll catch enough flak for it as a medical student. They get a whiff of that before you get into medical school and they'll eat you alive.

 

[237392]

1. Get into medical school.

2. Keep the derm stuff quiet. You'll catch enough flak for it as a medical student. They get a whiff of that before you get into medical school and they'll eat you alive.

Really? Because I've talked to several dermatologists already and they thought it would actually help me to be this motivated and eager. In fact, I'm alsready doing research.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Really? Because I've talked to several dermatologists already and they thought it would actually help me to be this motivated and eager. In fact, I'm alsready doing research.

Yeah, think about Dermatology and work on it, but don't broadcast it. Your classmates will probably find out, but most of them will be cool about it (but you will probably catch a flack about it from a few).

However, in third year, the correct answer for when asked by an attending (in ANYTHING but a derm elective) is "I haven't decided yet?" Why? Attendings and residents can either blow you off (at best) or antagonize you (at worst). This is especially important when you consider these people will be giving you your grades based on how they perceive your performance. If they are colored by the bias they have against those going into "lifestyle" specialties, it may affect your grade.

 

[laxman310]

Yeah, think about Dermatology and work on it, but don't broadcast it. Your classmates will probably find out, but most of them will be cool about it (but you will probably catch a flack about it from a few).

However, in third year, the correct answer for when asked by an attending (in ANYTHING but a derm elective) is "I haven't decided yet?" Why? Attendings and residents can either blow you off (at best) or antagonize you (at worst). This is especially important when you consider these people will be giving you your grades based on how they perceive your performance. If they are colored by the bias they have against those going into "lifestyle" specialties, it may affect your grade.

The above is very true, thank you for elaborating peepshowjohnny. Even if your reasons for going into derm are to find a cure for melanoma, chances are it wont come across nicely.

Derm, more than radiology, anesthesia, or optho, sadly, is seen as less of a necessary specialty, even by attendings. I mean, most attendings in medicine/surgery actually have daily interaction with the first two mentioned, and at least monthly interaction with optho. When was the last time your team called a derm consult?

And you better have a better answer than lifestyle/hours/pay when academic derms ask you why you are interested.

 

[Mariah246]

Really? Because I've talked to several dermatologists already and they thought it would actually help me to be this motivated and eager. In fact, I'm alsready doing research.

Awful advice. Just awful. Short of winning the Nobel Prize, there's nothing you can do as a pre-med to boost your resume.

As most, I'd recommend shadowing to see if you really like it beyond the obvious reasons.

 

[Mariah246]

Yeah, think about Dermatology and work on it, but don't broadcast it. Your classmates will probably find out, but most of them will be cool about it (but you will probably catch a flack about it from a few).

However, in third year, the correct answer for when asked by an attending (in ANYTHING but a derm elective) is "I haven't decided yet?" Why? Attendings and residents can either blow you off (at best) or antagonize you (at worst). This is especially important when you consider these people will be giving you your grades based on how they perceive your performance. If they are colored by the bias they have against those going into "lifestyle" specialties, it may affect your grade.

Very true. I kept it quiet as a 3rd year but it's hard to do as a 4th year.

I've had attendings literally stop teaching once I revealed my career plans. I can only shudder at what an angry, bitter resident would do if I had revealed this as a 3rd year.

Unfair, but what can oyu do?

 

[Long Dong]

Very true. I kept it quiet as a 3rd year but it's hard to do as a 4th year.

I've had attendings literally stop teaching once I revealed my career plans. I can only shudder at what an angry, bitter resident would do if I had revealed this as a 3rd year.

Unfair, but what can oyu do?

Yeap had ones of those bitter angry medicine resident as a 3rd year, said to me "so you think your smart huh?" when I revealed that I was considering it. Even though I aced the shelf, no honors was to be had because my eval by said resident was average. Keep it to yourself or say you haven't decided yet to those that aren't in derm. There are alot of angry bitter people in medicine with fragile egos who are envious.

 

[Palintology]

Very true. I kept it quiet as a 3rd year but it's hard to do as a 4th year.

I've had attendings literally stop teaching once I revealed my career plans. I can only shudder at what an angry, bitter resident would do if I had revealed this as a 3rd year.

Unfair, but what can oyu do?

I disagree. Once you're in med school I think it can actually work to your advantage to be honest. People will assume you're smart and that you need H level grades. I think the above reported stories are more rare than these posters would make it seem. I was always honest about what I was interested in and I think people respected my candor. I had several attendings and residents say they appreciated that I was honest with them as they are used to medical students either a) lying and saying they are interested in whatever rotation they're on, or b) saying "I don't know yet," which is pretty obvious code for a ROAD specialty. I got some playful ribbing from a rheumatology attending when I told her I was interested in derm, but she ended up coming up to me later on and saying "a lot of us wish we'd gone into derm." Surgeons are all vindictive, bitter *******s, so that might be the one rotation on which to keep your mouth shut.

Also, I think most specialties at least undestand the importance of consultative dermatology. Particularly those in medicine, peds, and their respective subspecialties.

 

[Mariah246]

People will assume you're smart and that you need H level grades

It depends how you view the world.

If they're out to get you, they know you need H level grades and will relish in the opportunity to stomp on you.

If they're nice, decent people, then it may help.

Either way, it never helps to announce those intentions as a pre-med.

 

[oracle07]

I didn't lie during 3rd year rotations.

I did get tons of flack during surgery. I didn't H surgery but I didn't do poorly either. My numerous non-H's didn't seem to hurt me. It's funny because the surgery clerkship director's comment in my dean's letter was very concise. "Does not want to do surgery. Otherwise good student."

Medicine and OBGYN people were actually interested in helping me... giving me patients I might be interested in.

I think medicine was genuine. OBGYN -- I could never tell if they were being fake nice or real nice.. but I still did fine and matched.

 

[goodies]

as a pre-med, do research in something wound related, cancer related, or path related... and make sure to PUBLISH by the time you graduate. it'll be good for ur med school app and you can also put it on your residency app.

first day of medical school, then think about derm. study your ***** off and then start derm research at the end of first year. with a previous publication in wound, cancer, or path already under your belt, you will have more credibility in seeking research opportunities and pursuing derm.

don't even think about derm till you get into med school. just get in first.

People will assume you're smart and that you need H level grades. .

this is more relevant to third yr obviously rather than to pre-meds. the first half of the year, i kept my mouth shut about derm... acting like i wasn't sure what i was going into yet. latter half of the year, depending on which residents/attendings... i would tell them i wanted to do derm, worked my ***** off, and got excellent evals because they assumed i was smart and needed to honor everything. so this is partially true, but you have to be smart about who you tell it to...and you have to be willing to work hard to meet their expectations of a 'derm applicant'

 

[237392]

The above is very true, thank you for elaborating peepshowjohnny. Even if your reasons for going into derm are to find a cure for melanoma, chances are it wont come across nicely.

Derm, more than radiology, anesthesia, or optho, sadly, is seen as less of a necessary specialty, even by attendings. I mean, most attendings in medicine/surgery actually have daily interaction with the first two mentioned, and at least monthly interaction with optho. When was the last time your team called a derm consult?

And you better have a better answer than lifestyle/hours/pay when academic derms ask you why you are interested.

Ok, thanks guys, I think I see where you are coming from a little better now... but the research that I'm participating in isn't all the shallow superficial stuff, and currently it is heavily centered on melanoma... so if the research I'm helping out with is serious, will that help?

 

[Derm1210]

In agreement with the post from goodies above....research in melanoma will really help, just make sure you're not being scutted around the lab and that you will really be able to get your name on a publication. You can often end up working in basic science and not getting credited on any pubs. It may help to tell the person that you're working with that you're interested in writing up the research (if it's at that stage).

 

[Derm1210]

Also, I do think that showing early and consistent interest in derm (even starting in undergrad) can be helpful.