Dermatologist

Dermatologist: is trained to evaluate and manage both pediatric and adult patients with benign and malignant disorders of:

  • skin
  • hair
  • nails
  • adjacent mucous membranes

Additional training and experience includes:

  • Diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin.
  • Management of contact dermatitis and other inflammatory skin disorders.
  • Recognition of the skin manifestations of systemic and infectious disease.
  • Dermatopathology.
  • Surgical techniques used in dermatology.

These specialists are also involved with cosmetic disorders of the skin which include hair loss, scars, and skin changes associated with aging.

Quick Facts

Competitiveness: Highest

Length of training: 4 years

Number of residency programs: 106

Number of residents in training: 883

Number in U.S. currently Board Certified in specialty: 8,854

First year median compensation: $160,000

Mean number of hours per week in patient care activities: 44.4

Residency Information

Getting into this residency is extremely competitive and most applicants have: AOA (an academic honor), high USMLE scores, research, and published articles. You will need to complete a 1 year internship, followed by a 3 year residency in this specialty .

After completing your residency there is the possibility to subspecialize:

  • Dermatopathologist: an expert in the microscopic diagnosis of diseases of the skin.
  • Pediatric Dermatologist: has additional training and expertise in skin diseases which occur more commonly in children.
  • Clinical and Laboratory Dermatological Immunology: uses specialized laboratory procedures to diagnose disorders characterized by defective responses to the body's immune system.

Why Choose

Doctors who enter this specialty enjoy the diversity of the work and favorable working conditions, they are in control of their schedules. For instance, you will see skin disorders affecting patients of all types and rarely will there be night call or long hours.

Many doctors in this specialty acknowledge that high pressure/emergency work or specialities which deal with seriously ill patients were not attractive choices for them.

Typical Schedule

If you're looking for a basic 8-hour day then this is your specialty. You will spend most of your time in an office setting and occasionally be called to the hospital for a consultation. If there is a problem it can be handled over the telephone in most cases, your patients are, "intelligent and highly motivated." Lastly, you will deal with acne, psoriasis and eczematous dermatitis, but be aware surgical procedures make up a significant portion of your work.

If You're Interested

This is an extremely competitive specialty and you will have to know early in your medical school career if you want to enter this medical specialty.

You will want to have some experience so taking electives, doing research, or spending time with a community dermatologist will boost your standing.

Since dermatology is relatively small, getting to know the Chair of the Department will help when it comes to writing a letter on your behalf for residency program directors (those letters of recommendation never end).

For such a competitive specialty it is also a good idea to have a backup plan in case you don't get in.

I've heard if you are an okay candidate for an extremely competitive medical specialty then it means you should be a very good candidate for a less competitive specialty.

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