Dermatopathology

[Spiker]

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I am kinda curious with all those overlap in medicine so I just got a few quick question.

So from what I gather it is easier to match from Dermatology side than Pathology, but alot less Dermatologist apply. Is it safe to say that Dermatology resident essentially gets the spot if he really want to? What about for Pathology how hard is it for them? success rate?

Also if you do both dermatology and dermatopathology, can you refer to yourself? (I thought it is kinda frowned up one if not illegal?) Would other dermatologist refer to you? Wont they be afraid that their patient may jump the train.

I realize that those are super newbie question, but toss me a bone if you can! 🙂

 

[asmallchild]

I am kinda curious with all those overlap in medicine so I just got a few quick question.

So from what I gather it is easier to match from Dermatology side than Pathology, but alot less Dermatologist apply. Is it safe to say that Dermatology resident essentially gets the spot if he really want to? What about for Pathology how hard is it for them? success rate?

Also if you do both dermatology and dermatopathology, can you refer to yourself? (I thought it is kinda frowned up one if not illegal?) Would other dermatologist refer to you? Wont they be afraid that their patient may jump the train.

I realize that those are super newbie question, but toss me a bone if you can! 🙂

Granted my experience is limited to my home program and the program where I did an away rotation but it varies from program to program regarding dermpath fellowships.

One program typically looked in-house and the other program made it a point to take one fellow from a dermatology residency and one fellow from a pathology residency. Either way, I believe it's a fairly competitive fellowship but I would surmise it might be a bit trickier from the path side given many dermpath fellowships are overseen by the derm program and not the path program. (Connections)

If you are board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, you can certainly "refer" to yourself. Again, my sample size is limited but I've found that those (in academics at least) who have completed the dermpath fellowship tend to pursue that almost exclusively, merely leaving one day or even a half day of actual derm clinic in their schedule.

 

[doctalaughs]

Granted my experience is limited to my home program and the program where I did an away rotation but it varies from program to program regarding dermpath fellowships.

One program typically looked in-house and the other program made it a point to take one fellow from a dermatology residency and one fellow from a pathology residency. Either way, I believe it's a fairly competitive fellowship but I would surmise it might be a bit trickier from the path side given many dermpath fellowships are overseen by the derm program and not the path program. (Connections)

If you are board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, you can certainly "refer" to yourself. Again, my sample size is limited but I've found that those (in academics at least) who have completed the dermpath fellowship tend to pursue that almost exclusively, merely leaving one day or even a half day of actual derm clinic in their schedule.

Easier from dermatology, but then again most derm residents are ultra competative already so may be self-selecting.

Absolutely can read your own slides. No different than a cardiologist reading his own patient's echocardiograms - it's in your scope of practice. Some regular dermatologists without a fellowship also read their own slides (esp on the west coast); I would be wary of this but should be ok except maybe for pigmented lesions.

 

[caffeinegirl]

Every program is different..there are some programs which prefer pathologists, others that prefer dermatologists, and others which want a mix of derm and path people. So, it depends. At the end of the day, it comes down the quality of candidate. Since derm residencies are more competitive, then the pool of dermatologists may have better credentials than pathologists. However, pathologists from reputable programs are at the same level as dermatologists..again, it all depends.
Also, not all dermatopathology sections are in the pathology or dermatology department; and just because a section is in dermatology it does not mean that they will give preference to dermatology candidates.
Plus, most programs fill with internal candidates, from derm or path.
As for signing out slides, you do not need a dermatopathology fellowship to do so, either as a dermatologist or pathologist. In the West Coast, many dermatologists read their own slides. However in this era of litiginous medicine, most pigmented lesions are referred to a dermpath-boarded physician.

 

[Spiker]

What exactly is different about west coast?

 

[caffeinegirl]

Dunno..cultural difference/tradition I suspect.