Dermatology Residency Training

Emory University School of Medicine is a leading academic medical center in the Southeast.  Residents have the opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of dermatologic disease in various training settings including Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital - Midtown, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta VA Medical Center, teledermatology based at the VA as well as Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Arthur M. Blank Hospital. There are a combination of inpatient and outpatient experiences, with the first year mainly acclimating to general and specialty outpatient clinical dermatology.  Towards the end of the first year and for approximately 1/3 of the second year, exposure to inpatient dermatology increases.  Exposure to surgery and pediatric dermatology is built in to nearly every rotation.  Additional dedicated rotations including surgery (including Mohs Micrographic Surgery), Dermatopathology, and Teledermatology (both inpatient and outpatient) are incorporated into the curriculum as well.

There are 5-6 hours of protected didactic sessions each week, comprised of sessions given by faculty, visiting lecturers, and residents.  Didactic sessions include dermatology core curriculum lectures, dermatopathology scope and virtual sessions, grand rounds and journal club.

Emory Dermatology residents have the opportunity to engage with residents and fellows in other programs, while gaining extended and specialized skills, through Emory Graduate Medical Education's (GME) residency and fellowship tracks.  We have had several current and former residents focus on tracks on ethics, health care management, global health, health equity and many more.

Residents at Emory are part of a patient care team that provides excellent patient care in busy clinical settings. Amongst the patient care activities, residents are allotted on average 1 academic half-day per week (in addition to the dedicated Thursday morning didactics). These academic half-days allow for the pursuit of academic endeavors outside of the clinic and promote resident wellness. Many residents use this time to work on their research projects or to spend time exploring their individual interests in clinics inside and outside of Emory dermatology in specialized areas of general dermatology, procedural dermatology, dermatopathology, or pediatric dermatology.

Residents received an annual allotment of educational monies to help offset the cost of books, dermatoscopes, and travel to academic conferences. There is departmental monetary support to allow for membership to several dermatologic societies and board review resources. Dedicated leave time is also provided to allow residents to attend and participate in regional, national and international academic conferences. 

Both Emory GME and Emory Dermatology are committed to ensuring that residents and fellows remain physically and mentally healthy, retain their joy in learning and maintain their idealism while completing their training programs. Residents have protected time away from the clinic to attend medical and dental appointments.  Emory has a Faculty Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) which provides access to counseling services free of charge.  There are department didactic and Grand Rounds sessions focused on wellness topics.  Residents participate in a resident retreat which allows for time for residents to learn about non-medical topics, engage in service activities, or to connect with each other outside of the clinic.