Dermatology encompasses all skin, hair and nail disorders, from the most common skin conditions to the most complex and serious dermatologic disorders.
As a University of Michigan Medical Student, you will gain experience and early insight into the scope of dermatology during year one (M1) in the Scientific Trunk Foundations of Medicine III, as well as during year two (M2) in the Clinical Trunk Transition to Clerkship. The Department of Dermatology offers a Clinical Elective for medical students in years three (M3) and four (M4), collectively known as the Branches.
Medical student education is a top priority for the U-M Medical School Department of Dermatology and we are committed to training the next generation of leaders in the field of academic dermatology. The goals of our program are to:
- Ensure that all students obtain fundamental knowledge in the dermatological sciences
- Provide exposure to dermatologic specialties
- Assist development of skills in the application of medical knowledge to the clinical setting
- Mentor students interested in a career in dermatology
Our intensive dermatology teaching for M1 students supplies activities designed to correlate basic science with clinical dermatologic phenomena. During this 4-day teaching sequence, students will learn:
- Core information on dermatology
- How to perform a total body skin exam
- How to identify ugly duckling lesions
- Lesion morphology and to identify malignant lesions
Learn more about the Scientific Trunk
Transition to Clerkships is meant to launch M2 students onto the wards. Led by faculty, the dermatology teaching content continues to have an innovative pedagogical approach, providing students with an algorithmic approach to diagnosing and treating patients with complex dermatologic conditions.
The M3 and M4 year will prepare you for residency and continue you on the path to being a physician making meaningful impact in your area of interest. The elective we offer in the U-M Medical School Department of Dermatology helps prepare medical students for residency and a successful career in the field of dermatology.
Medical students rotating through Dermatology will work alongside faculty and residents to gain a well-rounded view into the practice of dermatology. Medical students will:
- Be exposed to various clinical settings for dermatologic care, involving a number of different patient populations, while shadowing residents
- Learn to recognize common disorders, procedures, and subspecialties within the field of dermatology
- Hone their analytic thinking with respect to differential diagnosis
- Enhance their skills in interpreting data and making clinical judgments
- Demonstrate familiarity and gain experience with common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures used in dermatology, including cryotherapy, shave and punch biopsy
Medical students also attend bi-weekly conferences with Dermatology faculty and lectures with the clerkship director in addition to shadowing residents in clinic. During this clinical rotation, medical students work at various clinic sites, including the Taubman Center, Dominos Farms, Rogel Cancer Center, University Health Service and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Our medical students have access to the Canvas platform, which provides detailed, year-specific course information, and the Oasis platform, which offers detailed elective and rotation information. Both curriculum-related platforms are updated regularly by the Office of Medical Student Education in collaboration with related department faculty and staff.
We acknowledge our role as advocates for meaningful social change towards a just and equitable healthcare system. Our commitment to DEI is at the foundation of our efforts to advance dermatology through the highest standard of patient care, education and research.
Associate Chair, Department of Dermatology
Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology
Scientific Trunk Director and Assistant Program Director of Residency Curriculum
