Success in the Dermatology Resident Match in 2003: Perceptions and Importance of Home Institutions and Away Rotations

Scoping Review of Medical Students' Perceptions of the Field of Dermatology

“…Bridging the gap between medical student misconceptions and the reality of dermatology is especially important when some students may already be dissuaded from pursuing the field due to lack of a home programme. While one third of dermatologists match at their home institution, 21 25% of medical students lack a home dermatology programme. 22 , 23 This disadvantage also manifests before match day as increased difficulty of developing dermatologic clinical skills before audition rotations, obtaining academic letters of recommendation, and securing research experiences.…”

Otolaryngology externships and the match: Productive or futile?

“…A survey of urology program directors revealed that 86.8% felt completing an externship at their program warranted “special consideration.” In dermatology, a 2006 study demonstrated that 53% of applicants who had successfully matched into a dermatology residency position did so at a program where they had prior experience . Of this 53%, 26% were at the applicants' home institution, 18% at a program where an externship was completed, and 6% at a program where a research fellowship was completed . These studies suggest that personal knowledge of an applicant can be beneficial and can increase the likelihood of matching.…”

“…Completion of externships is very common among urology residency applicants, as demonstrated in a study that surveyed 2014 applicants and found that 95% of respondents had completed at least one externship, 57% completed two, 10% completed three, and 2% completed four . A survey of urology program directors revealed that 86.8% felt completing an externship at their program warranted “special consideration.” In dermatology, a 2006 study demonstrated that 53% of applicants who had successfully matched into a dermatology residency position did so at a program where they had prior experience . Of this 53%, 26% were at the applicants' home institution, 18% at a program where an externship was completed, and 6% at a program where a research fellowship was completed .…”

“…11 Of this 53%, 26% were at the applicants' home institution, 18% at a program where an externship was completed, and 6% at a program where a research fellowship was completed. 11 These studies suggest that personal knowledge of an applicant can be beneficial and can increase the likelihood of matching.…”

A national cross-sectional analysis of dermatology away rotations using the Visiting Student Application Service database

“…This is particularly useful for dermatology applicants, for whom away rotations have become an integral part of the residency application. Indeed, a recent study reported that a majority of applicants matched at either their home institution or at a program at which they completed an away rotation [3]. For candidates coming from home institutions without an established dermatology residency program, the away rotation also offers an invaluable opportunity for career exploration and further learning opportunities.…”