Figuring out Interest in Derm

[vicinihil]

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I'm sure you guys get this question quite a lot but I'm currently a 3rd year more than half way through my rotations (ends at the end of April) and still haven't really found anything that screams THIS IS IT. I'm interested in diagnostics and seeing patients more on an outpatient setting. I'm not 100% sure if Derm is for me yet but I'm wondering how you guys went on to find out it was definitely what you wanted to do.

Seeing how Derm is very competitive, derm related research and "showing interest" are aspects of the application I'm afraid I don't have and not sure if I'll have the time for. I've done research in the past in different fields (Cardiac MRI and Anesthesia) with numerous non-first author publications, awards, and conference presentations.

How did you guys find out and if you guys found out late, how did you quickly show interest during 4th year? Did you find out that derm was for you during your Derm rotation? I plan on doing one in May or June so I can have some time to find out.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[smiley737]

I'm sure you guys get this question quite a lot but I'm currently a 3rd year more than half way through my rotations (ends at the end of April) and still haven't really found anything that screams THIS IS IT. I'm interested in diagnostics and seeing patients more on an outpatient setting. I'm not 100% sure if Derm is for me yet but I'm wondering how you guys went on to find out it was definitely what you wanted to do.

Seeing how Derm is very competitive, derm related research and "showing interest" are aspects of the application I'm afraid I don't have and not sure if I'll have the time for. I've done research in the past in different fields (Cardiac MRI and Anesthesia) with numerous non-first author publications, awards, and conference presentations.

How did you guys find out and if you guys found out late, how did you quickly show interest during 4th year? Did you find out that derm was for you during your Derm rotation? I plan on doing one in May or June so I can have some time to find out.

Thanks for the advice!

I do think that having had some sort of derm-related exposure (whether derm related research, or extended clinical experience in derm) greatly helps your chances, both in getting stronger LORs from derm faculty and getting interview invites when you apply. If you have a strong application, you still might be able to get into a derm program w/o much derm exposure. Otherwise I know it's quite popular for people to take a year off after 3rd year to do some derm-related research/experience to make connections, get derm publications, and LOR's. If you're dead-set on not taking a year off, then it might be good to try to build connections w/derm faculty throughout the rest of 3rd year, perhaps by seeing if you can work in clinic with them during your freetime. And yes, a big way to figure out if you really like derm is to actually experience it - the more and the earlier the better.

 

[N-Surge]

I began considering Derm during my first M3 rotation in IM. My next rotation was Surgery w/ two weeks of Neurosurgery, another field I was considering. Pediatrics followed, and it was during this rotation I settled on Derm (Jan. 21-22, 2008). After this I set up Derm away rotations during April that same year for the Summer months. I did a total of 9 weeks during my M4 year and loved it. The rest is history. 🙂

 

[vicinihil]

so you figured this out during IM and Peds? What sorts of things did you see that made you settle on derm. Did you see a lot of skin cases that interested you during this rotation?

 

[N-Surge]

so you figured this out during IM and Peds? What sorts of things did you see that made you settle on derm. Did you see a lot of skin cases that interested you during this rotation?

Where I trained, we didn't have in house Dermatology consults. In fact, when I suggested a Dermatology consult I received the impression that this was an odd request. Now I know, first hand, it happens. 🙂

So yes, my initial exposure to Dermatology came through managing skin problems on other rotations without Dermatology consults. I helped work up a patient for MF on the wards during my IM rotation. Patient with Red Man Syndrome, we managed it. It's been a while, but I think I also recall seeing Kawasaki's during one of my evening Peds drop in clinics. During Surgery, I helped excise a hidradenitis superativa fistula. Also had more exposure to skin conditions during my time in a medical student ran free clinic, where the staff were mostly FPs and NPs.

 

[werd]

i decided on derm during my 4th year rotation, but had been thinking about it during 3rd year. i met with someone in the department in late winter to express interest and make sure i was doing the right things. i think it's difficult to know completely before doing your rotation, unless there's an active interest group or a lot of derm presence in your hospital.

in general it's a good idea to get to know your department and residents a little; it's easy to do little things like stopping by for a conference or getting involved in a case report, etc. i'd do your rotation in may (they give preference to people interested in derm) especially if you're unsure what specialty to apply to.