Dermatopathology Rotation

Duration

Dedicated training in dermatopathology is provided once a week while assigned to the Bone-Soft Tissue-Skin service distributed throughout the AP Resident’s first and third years of residency and a two week required dermatopathology rotation. In addition, senior residents and surgical pathology fellows can choose to participate in dermatopathology electives.

Duties and Responsibilities of Residents

Residents are scheduled for once a week, Monday afternoon, dermatopathology sign-out when covering the Bone-Soft Tissue-Skin service. Third year residents assigned to the autopsy service are expected to attend dermatopathology sign out on Mondays and Tuesdays as time and duty requirements permit.

All AP residents regardless of assigned rotation are required to attend the didactic lecture series presented monthly by the dermatopathologist in the Department of Pathology.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of teaching glass slide collections that illustrate a broad spectrum of neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. These collections are located in the dermatopathologist’s office in the Department of Pathology and in the Dermatopathology Laboratory in the Department of Dermatology. The teaching collections are constantly updated and increased by faculty.

Time permitting, residents are encouraged to attend morning dermatopathology signout in the Department of Dermatology.

During elective or required rotation time in dermatopathology, residents are encouraged to attend weekly Dermatology Grand Rounds in which live patients are examined, their pathology reviewed and management discussed in the Department of Dermatology and attend the Cutaneous Oncology Tumor Board which meets on Monday evenings at 5:30pm.  Residents are encouraged to attend one of the dermatology clinics in order to see first-hand the gross pathology of skin lesions as well as to become familiar with methods used for biopsies and excision of skin lesions.

Supervision and Evaluation

Time permitting, the resident will preview and make a preliminary diagnosis on the dermatopathology cases prior to meeting with the attending. Evaluation of diagnostic skills will be performed at that time.

The dermatopathologist will complete evaluations for each resident similar to other subspecialities.