Getting in to a derm residency...how to?

[Mara]

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Hey everyone!
I recently did a tag-a-long with a dermatologist and absolutely fell in love with the field of derm.! However, I'm already a 3rd year and have a pretty average resumee. No AOA, no killer board scores, no research...
If I'm now thinking about applying for a derm. residency, how sould I proceed in order to be a competitive applicant?
Also, does anyone know about programs that have you do a year of research and then accept you into their residency programs? Are they competitive, too?

Thank you!

 

[ny skindoc]

The first thing to do is is to explore possibilities within the Derm dept at your own med school. If you can do electives and get to know people there, that is your best shot by far although a tough one with average grades and no research.Once you are applying to outside institutions you will be in direct competition with many stellar applicants from all over. Derm programs are all highly competitive many if not most of them have opportunities for doing research fellowships after med school.Doing a fellowship does not guarantee anything,it is highly unlikely you will be promised a residency spot in advance..People have done these without getting a derm program although it is a powerful boost to an application and many have landed spots in this fashion.It is by no means an automatic "in".If you do a fellowship you will still need faculty who know and like you and will support your application strongly or else do a fellowship at a top level place with well known faculty and publish something substantial.

 

[PathOne]

You don't say WHY you like derm. If it's skin diseases, rather than patient contact, you could try going the alternate route of dermpath. It's A LOT easier to get into a path residency, and you could then do a dermpath fellowship. However, note that this does not make you a dermatologist (although you can do derm rotations) and that dermpath is increasingly competitive, even for dermatologists. But it will give you some years to prove yourself and do research, which could help shift focus from your scores and grades.
I agree with previous poster that you could try to do research and then try out for a derm residency. However, the problem is that there's a lot out there with 97-99th percentile USMLE's, AOA's and sky high GPA's PLUS published research.
But if it's what you want to do, then start setting yourself apart from the rest. Best of luck.

 

[megsMS]

ny skindoc,

I sent you a private message if you have time to read it; I would really appreciate it if you're not too busy.

Thanks!

 

[aggiecrew]

does a derm research fellowship have similar hours and pay to a pgy-1 derm resident?

thanks!

 

[ny skindoc]

does a derm research fellowship have similar hours and pay to a pgy-1 derm resident?

thanks!

There is no standardized fellowship,its up to you to negotiate.The pay can be very little,far below resident compensation or comparable to it.It usually comes out of a programs research/grant allocation.The work hours are not bad,but if you plan on impressing people at the program I would put in whatever time it takes to do a worthwile project and publish.

 

[syperidot]

Does going to a well known medical institution as opposed to a state med school hold any weight when applyin to derm residencies??? Or do u stand a good shot as long as u do well academically and get good letters of evaluations, etc.

 

[ny skindoc]

Does going to a well known medical institution as opposed to a state med school hold any weight when applyin to derm residencies??? Or do u stand a good shot as long as u do well academically and get good letters of evaluations, etc.

Going to a school with a well known Dermatology dept- faculty will generally carry more weight than overall school reputation.A lesser name school known to be a top place for Derm can still be a boost, Jefferson is such an example.Clearly big name institutions do carry clout and a large number of applicants from Harvard,Yale in recent years have gotten into Derm.Its less clear that this is the case for other schools even prestigious ones.A state med school with a solid derm dept/residency program is generally a good bet as a large percentage of derm applicants ~40% end up matching into their home program.Overall, I agree ones ability to get into Derm will hang on their individual qualifications.A look at the derm match lists from the past few years shows a large number of people from so called "no-name" med schools matching into derm,sometimes from med schools with no derm programs at all!

 

[2006MD]

Is derm really as competitive as I've read it to be? Or is it only that way for the top programs?

 

[wooo]

yes, its that competitive at EVERY program!

 

[pharmer]

How competitive is an applicant w/ excellent grades (state med school), >230 Step 1 board score, but NO research (has never even seen the inside of a lab), w/ a doctorate in pharmacy to boot (just throwing that in there for my own sake)? Does one absolutely need research to be competive?

 

[ny skindoc]

How competitive is an applicant w/ excellent grades (state med school), >230 Step 1 board score, but NO research (has never even seen the inside of a lab), w/ a doctorate in pharmacy to boot (just throwing that in there for my own sake)? Does one absolutely need research to be competive?

Research for many programs is not essential,but its a way of getting to know people and establish contacts which is critical (for some programs research is essential).Your grades are competitive but cannot be counted on in and of themselves to get you in.