Incorporating resident research into the dermatology residency program

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Dermatology Research
• Postgraduate Training

Background:

• The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) dermatology residency program introduced programmatic changes in 2005 to integrate formal research projects.
• Initially voluntary, the scholarly project activity became a program requirement for all residents in 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the experience of an academic initiative promoting dermatology research among residents.
• To assess the impact of a mandatory research curriculum on resident scholarly productivity and publication rates.

Main Methods:

• The program provided faculty mentorship, departmental financial support, statistical consultation, and a dedicated 2-week elective for research preparation.
• Research projects encompassed various formats including prospective investigations, surveys, educational articles, chart reviews, case series, and dermatopathology studies.

Main Results:

• Out of 16 residents graduated since the program's inception, 10 have published their scholarly projects in seven dermatology journals.
• Published articles covered diverse topics such as prospective investigations, surveys, dermatology education, chart reviews, case series, and dermatopathology.

Conclusions:

• The mandatory research program at UTMB has successfully enhanced resident scholarly activity and publication output.
• It is recommended that other dermatology residency programs consider adopting similar research initiatives to enrich resident education.