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- Beyond Board Certification: Why Pursue a Fellowship Year
Beyond Board Certification: Why Pursue a Fellowship Year
Co-authored with Dr. John Peters
Over the past 25 years, SkinCare Physicians has trained over 70 fellows, and our patients are accustomed to meeting the fellows during their visit. To help our patients better understand our physicians’ long-lasting commitment to our two fellowship programs, we’ve asked our current fellows, Dr. Nicole Salame and Dr. John Peters, to share why pursuing a fellowship, post-board certification, is crucial for them early in their careers. Here is what they wrote.
Evolving dermatology landscape
Dermatologists must acquire the skillset to meet patients’ needs and treat the skin holistically. As minimally invasive cosmetic treatments grow in popularity, patients are less willing to accept the artificial division between medical and cosmetic dermatology. Similarly, Mohs surgery for skin cancers is inherently performed on cosmetically sensitive areas, such as the face. Thus, the dermatologic surgeon must have the training and capability to perform elegant, cosmetically acceptable repairs. This is where fellowship training can help.
Benefits of pursuing a Fellowship
Following board-certification in dermatology, fellowship training in cosmetics and Mohs surgery empowers young, early career physicians to fully own their specialty as general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatologists. For most dermatology residents, cosmetic dermatology and Mohs surgery comprise a small subset of their residency training. An additional fellowship year supplements this training with hands-on experience, research opportunities and mentorship, enabling them to become true experts, key opinion leaders, and innovators in the field.
Additionally, there are two invaluable benefits of pursuing an extra year of training:
- Improve patient care: Fellowship builds the confidence, aptitude, and empathy required to delicately treat patients’ cosmetic and surgical concerns.
- Build enduring connections: Fellowship provides an invaluable network of esteemed dermatologists who serve as lifelong mentors and friends.
A day in the life of Fellows at SkinCare Physicians
SkinCare Physicians offers two fellowship positions each year:
- The American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS)-accredited Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship
- The American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS)-accredited Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology
Both fellows train under the leading authorities and pioneers in the field of cosmetic and surgical dermatology, Drs. Kenneth Arndt, Jeffrey Dover, Michael Kaminer, Thomas Rohrer, Karen Kim, Brooke Sikora, Laurel Morton, and Prasanthi Kandula.
The Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellow spends the majority of their time in cosmetic-focused clinics seeing over ~200 cosmetic patients in a week receiving combination of fillers, neurotoxins, sclerotherapy, lasers, and other energy-based devices. In clinic, the fellow receives one-on-one training in injection and laser techniques by expert dermatologists at SkinCare Physicians. Additionally, fellows practice the art of cosmetic consultations with patients and appropriate treatment selection. The Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellow also spends one half day per week training in Mohs Micrographic Surgery with Dr. Thomas Rohrer.
The training for the Mohs Surgery Fellow is focused on developing the skills and techniques required to perform skin cancer surgery and reconstruction in the most cosmetically sensitive areas of the body, such as the forehead, cheeks, nose, ears, and lips. Under the instruction of renowned Mohs surgeon, Dr. Rohrer, the fellow learns to navigate these complex surgical scenarios with the highest-level precision and compassion. During the academic year, the fellow participates in more than 1000 surgical cases.
After-hours, both fellows have the opportunity to perform patient injections, administer laser treatments under supervision, meet with industry representatives for in-services on new devices or injectables, or lead monthly journal club to discuss the latest publications in cosmetic and surgical dermatology.
Highlights of Fellowship at SkinCare Physicians
One of the unique aspects of fellowship training at SkinCare Physicians has been learning the intersection between the practice and business of dermatology. Since its foundation in 2000, SkinCare Physicians has grown to be a national premiere practice for general dermatology, surgical dermatology, and laser and cosmetic surgery. Its success is palpable. Through daily experiences, discussion with our mentors, and formal practice management didactics, fellowship teaches the principles of managing, or working in, a successful cosmetic and surgical dermatology practice.
Another highlight of fellowship has been the opportunity to participate as sub-investigators for clinical trials conducted at SkinCare Physicians. Treating research patients, performing study assessments, learning about new investigational treatments, and other valuable experiences have been exciting additions to the fellowship training year. New technologies will continue to enter the arena of aesthetic dermatology; understanding the process of device and product research, development, and approval is crucial expert knowledge.
What’s next for our current fellows
After completion of their fellowship year, Drs. Salame and Peters will both be returning to their hometowns to practice. Dr. Salame will be joining OSVI Dermatology and Surgery Institute in Manhattan Beach, California where she will provide cosmetic, surgical, and medical dermatologic care to patients in the Beach Cities. Dr. Peters will be moving to Philadelphia where he will be joining Bryn Mawr Dermatology. In addition to focusing on dermatologic surgery, Dr. Peters will also be practicing general and cosmetic dermatology.
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