Impact of an Introductory Dermatopathology Lecture on Medical Students and First-Year Dermatology Residents.

Abstract

Dermatopathology education, which comprises a large portion of the dermatology residency curriculum, is crucial and helps residents learn how to diagnose and manage dermatologic conditions. Residency programs use many resources to facilitate dermatopathology education, including virtual sessions, conventional microscopy training, and social media posts; however, the topic may not be covered early enough in the curriculum. Improving dermatopathology education in medical school and the first year of residency has the potential to better prepare medical students for dermatology residency and clinical practice. We created and presented an introductory interactive dermatopathology lecture for residents during their first-year orientation and for medical students during their dermatology rotation from May 2024 through November 2024. Overall, this introductory lecture appears to have improved dermatopathology knowledge and learner confidence, and we would encourage all dermatology programs to implement a similar curriculum.