You are exposed to various important anesthesia techniques, as well as distraction and comfort modalities provided to pediatric patients. You are expected to participate when appropriate.

Pulsed dye laser treatment on children is performed by Mayo Clinic dermatologists for conditions such as port-wine stains, ulcerated hemangiomas, and spider angiomas, among others. Patient volume is high and use of the laser occurs almost daily. Fellows participate in the care of these patients in the clinic.

Mastering skills in simple excisions, injections, pulsed dye laser, and distraction techniques is required for fellowship completion.

Sample rotation schedule

You are encouraged to complete 15 half-day elective experiences, preferably during research time, to enrich exposure to related disciplines, such as the child abuse team, genetic counseling, neonatal testing, pediatric rheumatology, pediatric infectious disease, pediatric plastic surgery, and others, as appropriate.

Didactic training

Clinical conferences, seminars, small discussion groups, journal clubs, and one-on-one instruction are integral parts of the Pediatric Dermatology Fellowship. During your training, you will attend the following:

• Pediatric Grand Rounds (weekly)
• Pediatric dermatology lectures to pediatric residents (once every four to six weeks)
• Pediatric dermatology core curriculum (monthly)
• Pediatric dermatology journal club (quarterly)
• Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine journal club (every other month)
• Department of Medicine Grand Rounds (weekly)
• Spirituality and Humanism in Medicine lectures (monthly)
• Mayo Clinic Diversity in Medicine lectures (monthly)

Research training

You are required to initiate at least one research project with pediatric dermatology significance. A 12-month timeframe may not bring the project to completion, but appropriate progress and completion within several months of fellowship conclusion is expected. You will be mentored throughout the project. You have dedicated research time each week, totaling approximately 20% of the schedule. Presentation of your research material is required at one or two regional meetings each year. You will be mentored on manuscript development and the publication process. Production of at least one peer-reviewed publication from your research endeavors during the training is required.

Call frequency

During this fellowship, you have call responsibilities on a service pager during weekday office hours. Night-call responsibilities for clinic patients are performed by the dermatology staff on call on a rotational basis. Fellows are encouraged to be available by phone or pager during weekday evenings for emergent and urgent request from the hospital staff and the emergency department. You do not have any requirements during the weekends, guaranteeing two days off a week.

Teaching opportunities

You will teach dermatology to medical students and residents in several ways. Instruction in history taking, physical exam skills, differential diagnosis, and treatment take place in the clinic on a daily basis under the supervision of the staff. Additional opportunities to educate include presenting interesting cases during daily floor conferences, weekly grand rounds, presentations at lectures such as hospital conferences and journal club, and leading the resident lectures in dermatology for the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Fellows may also be asked to give talks at regional meetings including one or two general pediatric meetings each year.

Conferences

You will attend all pediatric dermatology conferences and participate in these conferences on a rotational basis.

Evaluation

Fellows and faculty are both evaluated via an online survey tool. The comments made to faculty by fellows are anonymous. This survey is released monthly and reviewed quarterly. You can always access your performance folder online and seek informal feedback as well.