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.
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 superb clinical skills, judgment, demeanor, and professional ethics with a level of scholarship and critical thought necessary to allow for continued high quality dermatological patient care. The training program serves as a tertiary referral center for the state of New Mexico. In addition, the program serves a pivotal role in the education of students and physicians.
The American Medical Association Residency Review Committee (RRC) on Dermatology and the American Board of Dermatology has approved the Dermatology Residency Program at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Affiliated Hospitals for three years of residency 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 UNM Children's Hospital, 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 sites provide the dermatology residents access to adult and pediatric patients with an excellent mix of both common and unusual dermatological conditions.
A portion of each resident's training is spent at each of the affiliated hospitals and clinical facilities. The clinical, academic, and administrative responsibilities for trainees increase each year so that the third-year residents serve as chief residents who help to supervise the junior residents, medical students, and rotating residents from other disciplines. Residents attend various outpatient clinics during all three years of training and serve as consultants for hospitalized patients.
The residency is organized around outpatient clinics. All residents spend four mornings per week at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), one of which is dedicated to surgery. The university has four to five afternoon clinics per week and one morning in surgery at UNM. Residents also attend a Thursday afternoon clinic at the University of New Mexico Student Health Center and a Friday afternoon clinic at the UNM Children's Hospital. There are three half days per month of protected academic time. Residents are expected to attend weekly dermatopathology conferences, typically held at Tricore Labs; weekly textbook and journal conferences are conducted in the department library and didactic sessions occur daily. Grand Rounds are held every Friday morning and attendance is necessary. In addition, attendance is required at all state dermatological society meetings; all residents present formal patient care presentations. Call is assigned on a weekly basis, and is split up evenly between the six residents. All call is backed up by the attending assigned for the week, and is printed one month in advance. One resident per month is assigned for inpatient consults at the VAMC and at UNMH. That resident also participates in outpatient pediatric procedures under general anesthesia at the Children's Hospital.
PGY2 (RYl) residents focus their preliminary year on clinical matters. 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 dermatologic 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 expand the fundamentals and pertinent specifics of the discipline of dermatology during this year. The resident assumes a gradually increasing level of clinical responsibility throughout the academic year. During this year the second year resident has a four week core dermatology rotation.
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. 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 (lasers, classes, cosmetic, flaps and graft surgery) 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.
Additional resident activities:
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO OFFSITE CLINICAL FACILITIES: Five regular clinics and two surgical clinics are held weekly at our dedicated clinical outpatient facilities. A mix of adult and pediatric, privately insured 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 generated for VAMC inpatients which include guidance of care for hospitalized patients or diagnosis of new dermatological problems. Residents obtain significant surgical experience at the VA.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: New Mexico's only dedicated Children's Hospital, is an academic medical center with health care providers expertly trained to deliver the most advanced neonatology and pediatric care in New Mexico. Trainees participate in once a week pediatric/adolescent dermatology clinic in this setting (the bulk of pediatric patients are seen at our dedicated dermatology facilities). Dermatologic consultations on hospitalized pediatric patients are also seen on the inpatient pediatric and neonatal wards. Residents participate in a quarterly multidisciplinary pediatric Vascular Lesions Clinic and also perform supervised surgical and laser procedures on pediatric patients under general anesthesia in the Children's Hospital operating suites.
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 to be complete before we will review.
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 Michele Barth, Program Coordinator, to inquire about completeness of their files via e-mail at dermatology@salud.unm.edu.
Barrett J. Zlotoff, M.D., Residency Director
Michele Barth, MAOM,, Residency 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
