Dermatology Electives

This elective will be available every month except as noted. Students will be expected to acquire the skills needed by a primary care physician or surgeon to evaluate dermatological problems independently. Orientation location will be at the West Haven VA Medical Center. Outpatient experiences will include the West Haven VA Medical Center, the Adult and Pediatric Yale Primary Care Clinics, and possibly the Yale University Health Services. These clinics will expose the student to a variety of primary and referral dermatology services that treat inflammatory and neoplastic skin diseases. To gain an overview of the specialty, students will also have exposure to dermatologic surgery and dermatopathology. One day a week (Wednesday), students will participate in departmental Grand Rounds and educational conferences. Reading and review of assigned materials will be required in preparation for a series of case discussions led by faculty. A formal presentation on a topic of the student’s choice will be required in the final week. The goal of the course is to ground students in the fundamentals of dermatologic physical examination, diagnosis and treatment.

Length of Rotation: 4 weeks (maximum-2 students per rotation; additional students must be approved by the dept.) 2 weeks is available by approval from the dept. Please note: Any student applying to a dermatology residency should arrange to take the Dermatology Inpatient Consult Elective as well, which should be completed prior to October 1 of the application year.

Scheduling Restriction(s): Not offered 6/19/23 to 7/14/23

Student’s Class Level: 3rd, 4th, 5th year

Prerequisite(s): N/A

Visiting Students: no

Learning Objectives

Any student applying to a dermatology residency should arrange to take the Dermatology Inpatient Consult Elective. This elective should be completed prior to October 1 of the application year.

This elective will be available every month except for December. In this rotation, students will work as an integral member of the Dermatology consult team, comprised of a dermatology resident and attending. Clinical settings will include the Yale-New Haven Hospital adult and pediatric wards, intensive care units, emergency rooms and urgent care services as well as the Smilow Bone Marrow Transplant Day Hospital.

Students will be exposed to dermatologic disease requiring inpatient admission, systemic disease with cutaneous manifestations, and skin complications among hospitalized patients. Students will learn how dermatologists approach these patients, including: initial evaluation, workup, and differential diagnosis building; role of biopsy and histologic evaluation; and treatment plan design. Under resident supervision, the student will evaluate a new consult patient each day and follow this patient for the hospital course. The student is expected to read intensively on relevant disease processes and will formally present this patient to the attending on rounds. Additionally, the student should research disease and management-related questions that arise on the service and informally present a summary of findings to the attending and resident.

One day a week (Wednesday), students will participate in departmental Grand Rounds and educational conferences. Two evenings a week, students will participate in resident rounds of the inpatient service. During the rotation, the student will identify a patient with a chronic dermatologic condition and conduct an in-depth interview to learn about how the disease and its treatment has affected the patient’s life and, conversely, how life considerations have affected disease management. Additionally, at the end of the rotation, the student will present a formal case presentation and literature review at Grand Rounds.

This course is intended as introduction to inpatient dermatology for the student considering postgraduate training in dermatology.

Length of Rotation: 4 weeks (maximum-1 student)
Scheduling Restriction(s): offered 11 months of year except December
Student’s Class Level: 4th, 5th year
Prerequisite(s): Dermatology Outpatient Elective Visiting Students: No

Learning Objectives