Areas of Interest and Specialty

The clinic patients represent a wide variety of dermatologic entities. Because of the tertiary nature of our institution and the individual interests and expertise of our staff, many patients are referred for treatment as well. These include:

Skin Cancers

We diagnose and treat skin cancers, including melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas and others.

Pediatric Dermatology

Valuable exposure to this sub-specialty of dermatology occurs during the second and third years of residency.

Dermatologic Surgery

Residents perform surgery daily. Simple procedures are performed within the general dermatology clinic. Intermediate surgery is performed at KUMC and at VAMC on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday mornings. Second- and third-year residents also participate in Mohs micrographic surgery on selected Mondays and Thursdays.

Hair and Nail Disease

Residents obtain detailed knowledge of dermatologic and non-dermatologic diseases, which can affect the hair and nails. Procedures/biopsies of the nail unit are performed by residents in our clinic.

Photomedicine

Residents gain detailed instruction in the diagnosis and treatment of light-induced disorders, such as photoallergy, phototoxicity, and other photosensitivity diseases. Residents also learn to appropriately select and administer ultraviolet radiation to patients needing phototherapy. This includes training in the determination of minimal erythema doses (MEDs) of UVA, UVB, and visible light. Photopatch testing, using the North American Contact Dermatitis Group's photoallergen tray, is also available in the clinic.

Lasers/Cosmetics

Resident training includes experience with a variety of cosmetic procedures including laser and light based treatments, superficial and medium-depth chemical peels, aesthetic enhancement with fillers, scar revision, Botox  injections.

Occupational Medicine/Contact Dermatitis

We offer patch testing of over 300 available antigens in our clinic. The resident gains knowledge and clinical skills in applying and interpreting patch tests. In addition, residents learn to obtain needed information from any of a variety of manufacturers, to handle Workmen's Compensation cases.

Psychocutaneous Disease

This group of patients represents a challenging aspect of cutaneous medicine. The resident learns the physical and emotional manifestations of this destructive disease, and appropriate use of medications to improve not only the dermatologic component but the psychologic aspects of the illness.

Clinical Research

The Division of Dermatology actively supports residents in clinical studies and other scholarly activities.