key: cord-0885649-eh1hngz0
authors: Rehman, Rafey; Shareef, Sarah; Mohammad, Tasneem F.; Potts, Geoffrey; Fahs, Fatima
title: Applying to Dermatology Residency without a Home Program: Advice to Medical Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
date: 2022-03-04
journal: Clin Dermatol
DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.01.003
sha: 16ceaef0522fa8527989528c6779479497f89c1e
doc_id: 885649
cord_uid: eh1hngz0

Dermatology has historically been one of the most competitive residencies for matching. Successful candidates generally have stellar United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores, often with significant amounts of research and excellent letters of recommendation.1,2 One factor often overlooked is the importance of having mentors in the field, as they have experience guiding successful applicants and can provide great insight for what residency programs are looking . While many mentor-mentee relationships naturally occur due to home affiliations, students who do not have home dermatology programs (NHDPs) may struggle to form these relationships and subsequently obtain proper guidance. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more challenging for NHDPs given limited shadowing and away rotation opportunities. Wee share advice on how NHDPs can form strong mentor-mentee relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond in order to obtain the proper guidance needed to match into dermatology.

Dermatology has historically been one of the most competitive residencies to match into. 34

Successful candidates generally have stellar USMLE scores, often with significant amounts of 35 research, and excellent letters of recommendations. 1,2 One factor often overlooked is the 36 importance of having mentors in the field, as they have experience guiding successful applicants 37 and can provide great insight into what residency programs are looking for. While many mentor-38 mentee relationships naturally occur due to home affiliations, students who do not have home 39 dermatology programs (NHDPs) may struggle to form these relationships and subsequently 40 obtain proper guidance. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more 41 challenging for NHDPs given limited shadowing and away rotation opportunities. Here, we share 42 advice on how NHDPs can form strong mentor-mentee relationships during the COVID-19 43 pandemic and beyond in order to obtain the proper guidance needed to match into dermatology. 44

During the preclinical years, NHDPs should attempt to reach out to their medical school's 45 alumni who have matched into dermatology programs, as alumni have experience navigating the 46 school's curriculum while maximizing dermatology exposure. They can provide guidance on 47 contacting local physicians and potential research opportunities. If available, dermatology 48 residency advisors at the medical school may also provide similar information. NHDPs should 49 also consider reaching out to nearby dermatology programs to shadow attendings. Over time, 50

NHDPs can develop professional relationships with these physicians and ask to formally become 51 their mentees. If internal mentor-mentee programs exist, NHDPs can ask to join these initiatives. 52

While working alongside attendings, NHDPs will naturally get opportunities to connect with and 53 learn from residents or students from other medical schools as well. Residents can be a great 54 source of information, as they recently went through the process and some residents may be 55 former NHDPs themselves.

Another avenue for NHDPs to obtain mentorship is through research. By working closely 57 with dermatologists on research projects, NHDPs can develop professional relationships and 58 obtain mentorship. To find these research opportunities, NHDPs can seek out research projects at 59 neighboring dermatology institutions by asking residents or attendings with whom they have 60 worked with. Although many opportunities may not work out, persistence, time, and ingenuity 61 are needed. Alternatively, NHDPs can email physicians who specialize in different or presenters 62 at conferences to see if they have opportunities to get involved in research. Given that many 63 conferences are virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the latter option is becoming more 64 popular. Lastly, NHDPs can participate in extended research rotations or fellowships at different 65 institutions, which can allow them to develop relationships with faculty. 66

Another interesting avenue to form mentor-mentee relationships is through social media. 67

For example, Twitter can be used to engage in discussions with dermatologists to find mentors 68 during the COVID-19 pandemic by searching #dermtwitter. 3 This enables users to identify 69 individuals with shared interest with the opportunity to further develop dynamics through direct 70 messaging, as people are now more open to meeting remotely. Also, the increased activity of 71 residency programs on social media due to COVID-19 has made virtual "meet-and-greets" more 72 accessible by advertising through Instagram accounts. Historically, the Dermatology Interest 73 to-date on available opportunities for mentorship is imperative and can be supported through 79 social media. 80

Above, we have shared our perspective on different strategies that NHDPs can utilize to 81 form strong mentor-mentee relationships with dermatologists (Table 1) . We hope that these 82 practices will help students obtain the guidance they need to successfully obtain a dermatology 83 residency position. 

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Main Residency Match 2nd Edition

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#DermTwitter and digital mentorship in the COVID-92 19 era

A guide for medical students and trainees to find 94 virtual mentorship in the COVID era and beyond