Dermatology Fellowship? Really?

[lowbudget]

Not to hijack (yet another boring) thread about how much $ FP's make, but...

If I start a huge FP practice and make everyone is the practice refer derm cases to me I could work as a dermatologist!

You know, funny you mentioned that. There's a new fellowship program (unaccredited) for family physicians in dermatology.

http://www.rja-ads.com/classifieds/annals/career-detail.php?AdID=5726
http://www.aafp.org/fellowships/10000.html

Saw it a while back and thought it was interesting.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I think it's a wonderful opportunity for someone interested in learning more derm. But, like all fellowships in the FM world, it really should be viewed as *advanced* training as opposed to remediation for weaknesses in FM residency programs. Hopefully the first fellow will be able to shed some light on what they learned over/beyond the residency level.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Octagonecology]

Seems like it would be a good deal for FP docs serving in rural/remote areas where their patients might otherwise not have access to Derm care...

I doubt it would be a good way to "backdoor" into Derm though...

 

[MOHS_01]

Would appear low utility, low yield, and overall worthless to me. Potential risk for "the blind leading the blind" -- no one with any more formal training than the fellow serving as mentor. Primary care docs, if interested, can already perform a great deal of basic dermatologic services without any fellowship. Will they be dermatologists? Of course not. Not even close, but one does not have to do a residency in dermatology to handle most acne, psoriasis, rosacea, etc.

 

[EdibleEgg]

Wow.... I guess if you are one of the FEW people that really love derm, but didn't match, this could be a chance to get more exposure. However, I've done quite a bit of work with underserved populations, and the patients often need skills that I don't have. But, I have never thought to myself, "Gee, if I had just had another year of derm training this patient's life would be so much better." You should be able to care for greater than 95% of derm problems after an FM residency.

 

[andwhat]

Would appear low utility, low yield, and overall worthless to me. Potential risk for "the blind leading the blind" -- no one with any more formal training than the fellow serving as mentor. Primary care docs, if interested, can already perform a great deal of basic dermatologic services without any fellowship. Will they be dermatologists? Of course not. Not even close, but one does not have to do a residency in dermatology to handle most acne, psoriasis, rosacea, etc.

lol what is "not even close to a dermatologist"

 

[Black Bile]

lacking skill in coding and billing?

 

[PharmaTope]

lacking skill in coding and billing?

good question, how could they bill and earn like a dermatologist? i dont see how that possible

 

[bronx43]

good question, how could they bill and earn like a dermatologist? i dont see how that possible

Derms make money on their volume. Unless a FP can get that many derm patients everyday, he/she can't make derm money.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Derms make money on their volume. Unless a FP can get that many derm patients everyday, he/she can't make derm money.

I recently read an article where some "under cover news team" posed as patients (over the phone) trying to get an appointment with a dermatologist, and the wait times ranged from 30 days to months just to get in and see one. If you hung a shingle as as "fellowship trained dermatology expert" I don't think volume would be your problem .... I think still needing to refer out for certain stuff would be.

 

[RLMitchell1]

I only just learned this, (on a Derm elective right now) but some of the more prestigious Derm programs actually go out of their way to choose residents that have completed training in another general specialty. In the UCSF post-transitional year class right now they have 1 Boarded in Peds, 1 other in IM. I believe a third year completed a Family Medicine residency. One of the big wigs in the department did a FM residency first too and is a huge proponent of supporting derm interest in those in primary care. She also does a lot of global health derm and swears up and down that her Family Med training was integral to her work, and that she still practices as a primary care doc in much of her international work.

No idea how this works with the gov only funding 5 PGYs, maybe the derm students can make enough $$ for the institution that it does not matter?

 

[Loupa337]

I only just learned this, (on a Derm elective right now) but some of the more prestigious Derm programs actually go out of their way to choose residents that have completed training in another general specialty. In the UCSF post-transitional year class right now they have 1 Boarded in Peds, 1 other in IM. I believe a third year completed a Family Medicine residency. One of the big wigs in the department did a FM residency first too and is a huge proponent of supporting derm interest in those in primary care. She also does a lot of global health derm and swears up and down that her Family Med training was integral to her work, and that she still practices as a primary care doc in much of her international work.

No idea how this works with the gov only funding 5 PGYs, maybe the derm students can make enough $$ for the institution that it does not matter?

So is there a strict limit to a total of 5 PGY's limiting physicians from let's say doing family then pursuing a residency in derm??