Department of Dermatology

Dermatopathology Fellowship Program

The UTMB Dermatopathology Fellowship Program accepts two new trainees each year for a one-year fellowship. The program is fully accredited by the American Boards of Pathology and Dermatology and is administered by the Departments of Dermatology and Pathology. Trainees attend conferences listed in the schedules of both departments, act as consultants for residents and faculty of both departments, and participate in the teaching of dermatology and pathology residents with review and interpretation of dermatopathology cases.

Fellows acquire special competence in this subspecialty in order to pursue a career in academia or private practice. Supervision is conducted by the faculty in charge of each of the rotations the fellow undertakes. An evaluation of the progress of the fellow is performed during the middle of the year and upon completion of the fellowship year.

Fellows sign out cases daily from the Dermatopathology Labs at UTMB, as well as cases from outside laboratories. Over 35,000 cases are accessioned each year. The trainee also reviews Mohs frozen sections with the Dermatology Mohs surgeon. The fellow becomes familiar with the specific markers for epithelial, mesenchymal, neural and hematopoietic tissues, as well as immunofluorescence. The fellow also trains students and residents in dermatopathology, takes photographs for presentation at conferences, and organizes the unknown case conferences.

Trainees with backgrounds in dermatology spend the equivalent of four months in pathology, surgical pathology, hematopathology, cytology, molecular diagnostics and special techniques. They are also assigned at least ten cases each day for gross description, sign-out with the faculty and final diagnosis during the surgical pathology rotation. Other duties in pathology include training of residents in dermatopathology, taking photographs for presentation at conferences, and organizing unknown case conferences.

Trainees with backgrounds in pathology are assigned to clinical duties in the dermatology clinic where the fellow will function as a first-year dermatology resident under the supervision of faculty or upper level residents, for a minimum of one thousand patients. Fellows are required to attend dermatology teaching conferences and to do the appropriate reading as required for these conferences. The trainee takes biopsies, does small surgeries, potassium hydroxide preparations, cultures, Tzanck smears, and mineral oil preparations for parasites on the patients. The fellow attends yearly mycology, bacteriology and entomology conferences.

Research. The fellow is required to work on at least one scholarly project, which is to be completed during the fellowship year or shortly thereafter. Typically they will be involved in poster presentations and oral presentations at several regional and national meetings.

Applications are being accepted for the 2023 - 2024 academic year. Deadline to submit applications is November 15, 2021.

Application requirements are as follows:

  • complete CAP
  • three letters of reference including on from the program director of you most recent program
  • USMLE official transcript
  • personal statement
  • AOA status (must indicate of bottom of application)
  • Current CV
  • Not mandatory but suggested that pathology trained candidates have an additional fellowship (i.e. hematopathology, cytopathology or surgical pathology, etc.)

Please send completed materials to: dermpath@utmb.edu

After reading the above requirements, if you still have further questions, please contact Sarah Zarazua at  slzarazu@utmb.edu