Graduate Medical Education
MSC11 6093
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-5156

Phone: (505) 272-6225
Fax: (505) 272-5184

email

Graduate Medical Education

Dermatology Residency

The University of New Mexico Dermatology Training program is composed of two participating institutions: the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Mission Statement

The mission of the dermatological residency training program at the University of New Mexico is to train clinical scholars in dermatology The ideal resident completing the program should possess both superb clinical skills, judgement, demeanor, and professional ethics with a level of scholarship and critical thought necessary to allow for the highest quality of dermatological patient care for the present and the future. The training program should serve as a resource for Bernalillo county and the state of New Mexico for the management of dermatological problems of all types, particularly those of a tertiary nature. In addition, the program should serve a pivotal role in the education of medical students and practicing physicians in the state for issues of dermatological interest or concern.

Goals and Objectives

The residency program is of a fairly simple design. Residents spend four mornings per week at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC). Residents are expected to attend weekly dermatopathology conferences, both at the Department of Dermatology and at the VAMC. Residents are expected to attend the weekly textbook conferences, conducted in the department library. Residents spend three afternoons per week in dermatology clinic and one morning in surgery at UNM. Residents also attend a Thursday afternoon clinic at the University of New Mexico Student Health Center. Residents are also expected to attend weekly journal club meetings at the VAMC conference room. Grand Rounds are conducted every Friday morning and attendance is mandatory. In addition, attendance is required at all state dermatological society meetings, and participation in patient presentation is mandatory. Call is assigned on a weekly basis, and is split up evenly between the four residents. All call is backed up by the attending assigned for the week, and is printed one month in advance. Two residents per month will be assigned for inpatient consults at the VAMC and at UNMH.

PGY2 (RYl) residents approach their year in a predominantly clinical manner. Their major goal is to establish the fundamental skills necessary to provide sound medical care for the patient and a foundation for the development of surgical skills. Expertise in general care medicine is mastered during this year. These skills are acquired by both repetition of clinical and surgical tasks, as well as a continual exposure to more and more complex tasks and responsibilities. Chief resident and faculty supervision assist in this educational endeavor.

PGY3 (RY2) residents learn the fundamentals and pertinent specifics of the disciplines of dermatology during this year. During this year the resident is exposed to increased responsibility regarding patient care. The resident assumes a gradually increasing clinical responsibility throughout the clinical portion of this academic year.

PGY4 (RY3) residents assume managerial responsibilities, consistent with that of a senior resident. Being the most senior resident, they assume a significant increase in responsibility. During this academic year, the managerial skills of the RY4 resident are enhanced by the teaching and supervision of other residents and medical students. A refinement of medical and surgical skills, equivalent to the level of training, is expected. RY3 residents also achieve ultimate chief resident status by assuming total responsibility of the high volume UNM and VAMC service. Supervisory, managerial, and clinical skills are refined during this year. Chief residents are expected to sit for the Dermatology Board Examination the year following their chief resident year, and to pass the exam.

Each resident should:

• Prepare at least two papers for submission to a journal or for presentation during training.
• Take the annual in-training examination and score above 30%.
• Own and read three major general textbooks of Dermatology as used in our Textbook Conference.
• Attend conferences and visiting professorships scheduled for residents, be on time, and have presentations organized prior to conference. All residents should attend and have a case ready to present for the Friday Morning Grand Rounds.
• Keep accurate surgical logs, which may be available for review by the program director at any time. Updated logs will be requested and reviewed yearly.
• Attend all conferences.

Contractual Relationships

The University of New Mexico has successfully negotiated a contract that expands its services to include the primary care of VAMC dermatology patients. This contract establishes that the UNM dermatologists are responsible for dermatological care at the VAMC. The Chair of Dermatology at UNM is also the Chair of Dermatology at the VAMC.

The VAMC contractual relationship provides greater control over resident education and financial support, and significantly increases case load. All of these things strengthen resident education.

General Description

The American Medical Association Residency Review Committee (RRC) on Dermatology and the American Board of Dermatology have approved the Dermatology Residency Program at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Affiliated Hospitals for three years of training.

The primary objective of this program is to produce highly competent and caring clinical dermatologists. However, the program has sufficient latitude to also allow preparation for a successful academic career as well. Besides clinical research, in which all trainees must participate, there are opportunities for basic science research in a variety of related disciplines. Our training program utilizes the newly designed dedicated outpatient facilities at an offsite location as well as facilities of the University of New Mexico Student Health Center, the Albuquerque Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the University of New Mexico Cancer Research and Treatment Center. These diverse institutions provide the dermatology residents access to patients with an excellent mix of both common and unusual dermatological problems to ensure a well-rounded clinical experience.

A proportion of each individual's training is spent at each of the affiliated hospital and clinical facilities. The clinical, academic, and administrative responsibilities for trainees increase each year so that the third-year resident serves as chief resident and helps to supervise the junior residents and medical students. Residents attend various outpatient clinics during all three years of training and serve as consultants for hospitalized patients.

Dermatology Services at UNM Affiliated Hospitals

UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO OFFSITE CLINICAL FACILITIES: Three regular clinics and one surgical clinic are held weekly at our dedicated clinical outpatient facilities. A mix of both private and medically indigent patients are seen in these clinics where outpatient dermatological visits total approximately 11,000 per year. Primary dermatological inpatients and consultations for patients with dermatological conditions hospitalized on other medical and surgical services are also seen on the inpatient wards at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTER (VAMC): Trainees attend three regular clinics and one surgical clinic each week. Over 6,000 dermatology outpatients are seen each year at the VAMC. These include patients with a variety of both common and unusual diseases, with a particular emphasis on skin malignancies and difficult management problems. Numerous dermatology consultations are also provided for VAMC inpatients as well as care for hospitalized patients with primary dermatological problems.

Application/Interview Process

Applicants should be certain that they meet the requirements of the American Board of Dermatology and are encouraged to write directly to the America Board of Dermatology to obtain a copy of the eligibility requirements. Applicants are also reminded that credit is no longer given for prior specialty training and that all residents are required to spend three years in training.

All applicants must register with the National Residency Matching Program.   All applicants must apply through the Electronic Resident Application Service (ERAS). The following documents are required.

• Personal Statement
• Curriculum Vitae
• Official Transcripts
• National Board Scores
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
• Matching Program Number
• Completed Application
• Official Dean's Letter

ECFMG applicants also need to provide proof of proficiency in the English language.

Applications are not considered complete until all of the above materials have been received through ERAS. Applicants are encouraged to contact Sheryl Howarth, Program Coordinator, to inquire about completeness of their files via e-mail at dermatology@salud.unm.edu.

R. Steven Padilla, M.D., M.B.A., Chair, Residency Director

Sheryl Howarth, Program Coordinator
University of New Mexico
Department of Dermatology
MSC 07 4240
1021 Medical Arts Ave. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87131-5231
Telephone:  (505) 272-6000
Fax:  (505) 272-6003