Penn Dermatology’s educational programs include a pathophysiology of skin disease course as part of the core curriculum for medical students, as well as a popular four-week clinical rotation in dermatology for third- and fourth-year medical students.
Directors:
- Derm 200: James Treat, MD
- Derm 300: Katherine Steele, MD
The medical student teaching program fully reflects the strengths of the Department. Most of the faculty have some direct or indirect input into our medical students’ education program. The medical students’ interaction with Dermatology occurs predominantly in the following three courses:
A required course of the Pathophysiology of Skin Disease for first year medical students is part of Module 2 of the Core Curriculum. Almost our entire full-time faculty and all of our dermatology residents are involved in teaching this course. Although an overview of the Pathophysiology of most common skin disease is reviewed, emphasis is placed on each student developing an ability to observe and describe skin disease, on developing the ability to recognize signs of potential serious skin disease and developing a sensitivity for the unique problems of patients afflicted with skin disease.
Director: James Treat, M.D.
Third and fourth year medical students are offered a four week clinical rotation in Dermatology. Four slots are available every four weeks during the year. Students are expected to learn to diagnose and treat common skin diseases. During this rotation they are involved in all clinical aspects of our department. They participate in our dermatology outpatient clinic in faculty outpatient private practices, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Veterans Affairs hospital, and on the inpatient consult service. They also attend dermatology grand rounds and all departmental lectures. Finally, Dr. Micheletti directs a clinical slide conference for the medical students twice monthly, and senior residents provide two additional one-hour lectures. First priority is given to requests from Penn medical students for this elective. Because these four available slots are usually filled, requests from outside students are difficult to accommodate. However, outside students can sometimes fill unused slots. All outside requests should be directed to the Registrar’s Office:
These requests must be made at least three months ahead of time so necessary paper work can be completed prior to the rotation.
Director: Katherine Steele, M.D.
Dermatopathology – The objective of the course is for students to obtain an intensive exposure to all aspects of dermatopathology involving the microscopic diagnosis of skin tumors and inflammatory diseases. Students will spend the majority of time reviewing skin biopsies at a multi-headed microscope with the Dermatopathology Faculty and Fellows. The course will allow the students to attend dermatopathology and clinical dermatology lectures and conferences that incorporate clinicopathological correlation. It is preferred that the student takes an elective in Dermatology or Surgical Pathology prior to this course.
Director: Carrie Kovarik, MD
Finally, the department of dermatology arranges clinical exposure for Penn Medical Residents, Penn Primary Care Residents, Penn Emergency Medicine Residents, and Penn Family Practice Residents. These rotations are filled by each respective department, and the rotations are not available to residents outside the University of Pennsylvania Medical System.
Should you need assistance:
Derm 300 Resident Coordinator
Linda Zhou
linda.zhou@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Derm 300 Course Director
Katherine Steele, MD
(610) 888-6881
katherine.steele@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Department Education Program Manager
Mary Beth Forte
(856)873-6061
marybeth.forte@uphs.upenn.edu
Chief Residents
Ronald Berna, MD
ronald.berna@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Stephanie Cho, MD
sungkyung.cho@pennmedicine.upenn.edu