Residency Subspecialty Education

Experience in this subspecialty is gained from two major clinics, namely, the Pediatric Dermatology Clinic (PDC) and the Pediatric Eczema Clinic. They both meet one morning a week.

The PDC is a referral center not only for other KCHC-UHB clinics, but also for satellite clinics and other Brooklyn hospitals. It is one of the busiest pediatric subspecialty clinics with approximately 2000 patient visits per year. A wide variety of skin disorders in children (except atopic dermatitis) are seen and treated. Some of the diagnostic procedures available are: skin biopsies, Tzanck test, KOH prep, DTM fungal culture, Wood's lamp examination, and light microscopy. Minor surgical procedures performed in the PDC include excisions, cautery, electrodessication, cryotherapy, and chemical dessication. Ultraviolet A and B phototherapy, and laser surgery are available for selected cases. Before the PDC starts, the staff meet for a journal club.

The Pediatric Eczema Clinic is solely devoted to children with atopic dermatitis. It has an average of 800 patient visits per year. Before the clinic starts, the residents meet with a parents support group. During this meeting, care of the dry skin and other treatment instructions are reinforced.

Participation in these clinics is available as part of the general ambulatory care rotation. In addition, residents can choose Pediatric Dermatology as a specialty elective. The four week elective follows a structured program integrating the following: the major pediatric clinics plus an adult dermatology clinic session each week, consultation on the pediatric wards, nurseries and emergency room, grand rounds and clinical conferences in both the Departments of Pediatrics and Dermatology. Residents serve as supervised consultants with first contact for patients on inpatient units and in outpatient and acute care areas. Consultations are then seen and discussed with the pediatric dermatology attending. Residents attend 4 pediatric dermatology clinics per week. Residents are taught indications and technique for skin punch biopsy and are exposed to treatment modalities including lasers, steroid injection, UV therapy, and dermatologic plastic surgery. Didactic component includes a weekly pediatric dermatology conference, a weekly dermatology grand rounds, weekly biopsy conference and topic discussion sessions. Residents are expected to attend all pediatric department conferences.