Residency Information

Welcome to Brown Dermatology. Thank you for your interest in our program. The GME has developed a video about residency at Brown titled "Residents and Fellows: Who We Are [youtube.com]" and one about the GME titled "Overview of Graduate Medical Education at Lifespan and Brown University [youtube.com]". The Brown Minority Housestaff Association has developed its own videos linked here [vimeo.com] (use password IM20 to view) and a second video here [vimeo.com] (no password).

2023-2024 Interview Cycle Update

We plan on doing virtual interviews again this year. We will be having interviews on Friday, December 15th for Brown University medical students, and have interviews on Saturday, January 6th and Friday January 12th for all other candidates. We will again be offering virtual "coffee hour" meet and greets on Zoom. These events will be held from 7:30 to 9:00 EST. To register for the event on August 30th, use this link https://brown.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIude6sqT4tHtGa37u5JNJIRoiG0uYVFW0V, and for the event on September 13^th use this link https://brown.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAtd-qvqjIoGdZzJWxz9x8hyH_rh9bCQoKR. We recommend reviewing the Association of Professors of Dermatology's document regarding the 2023-2024 application cycle linked here [dermatologyprofessors.org].

We will be using tokens in the application process. Historically, we have been able to perform holistic reviews on all applications. Due to the volume of applications we receive each cycle this may no longer be a practical approach. In the last two cycles, applicants who signaled our program were more likely to receive an invitation to interview. During the upcoming application cycle, applicants who signal our program will receive an in-depth holistic review of their application. The number of applications and signals received will determine whether or not we are able to review the non-signaled applications.  We understand that there can be special circumstances where a signal was not sent but a candidate might be interested (i.e. couples matching) and therefore recommend considering if you would fall into a special circumstance. If you are not sending a signal to our program, please consider whether or not to apply as we cannot guarantee that all applications will be reviewed.

The faculty of The Warren Alpert Medical School’s Department of Dermatology is committed to offering a high quality training program in dermatology.  Both the full-time and part-time faculty are dedicated to conveying not only factual knowledge, but also a commitment to lifelong learning. Imparting the qualities of respect, good judgment, patient advocacy, professionalism, and the courage and confidence to face the future challenges of dermatology are major goals of the program.  We hope this will foster a sense of commitment to dermatology and will encourage our graduates to contribute some of their future time, knowledge and experience back to the field.

The members of the faculty feel that the education process and the commitment to lifelong learning start on the first day.  Residents share an important responsibility to participate actively in the educational process.  The faculty are enthusiastic and dedicated to making the resident experience a good one. 

All residents are expected to demonstrate a dedication to sound patient care and to fulfill the duties related to the care of the patients.  The cornerstone of dermatologic practice, however, is a solid fund of knowledge.  At each faculty meeting, issues that relate to the teaching program are discussed.  The objective is to continuously reassess the curriculum.

The entire curriculum is repeated each year, with a goal of providing a solid education - the basis for a reasoned approach to clinical problems. Basic science and dermatopathology information is integrated at every opportunity into the clinical presentation and management approach.  For all residents at every level, emphasis is placed on the development of competence in the diagnosis, work-up, laboratory interpretation, assessment, and management of the patients seen.  The natural history and prognosis of the disease process is emphasized, for this is a major issue that concerns the patient and their attitudes toward treatment. 

Second and third year residents become proficient in lecturing to medical students, as well as to residents in other disciplines.  Residents will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in the interpretation of dermatopathology slides commensurate with level of training. 

In addition to teaching knowledge and skills specific to the field of dermatology, the Brown Dermatology Residency Program has a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach and assess the physician core competencies as defined by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).  These six core competencies are:

• Patient Care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective
• Medical Knowledge about biomedical, clinical and social-behavioral sciences
• Practice-Based Learning and Improvement that involves evaluation of your own practice and assimilation of scientific evidence
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, families, and other health professionals
• Professionalism, as manifested through adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to a diverse patient population
• Systems-Based Practice, as manifested by an awareness of the larger context of health care delivery and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide optimal care.

The core competencies are taught and evaluated in all clinical rotations using a variety of assessment techniques.  The faculty wishes all program graduates to be not only excellent dermatologists, but also fine physicians.

Wellness within the department, and for residents, is a top priority at Brown Dermatology.  Our acadmic culture is well-known for being a positive, collegial, and supportive environment. In addition, we have an annual wellness-focused resident retreat and keep residents updated on health and wellness opportunities available through Lifespan GME, Coastline Employee Assistance Program, and the Rhode Island Medical Society.  Program Director Dr. John Kawaoka keeps an open-door policy for any resident concerns or challenges, and we select an annual resident Wellness Liaison.