Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship
Program goals
The Department of Dermatology offers a one-year fellowship in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatology Oncology. Our department offers three fellowship positions each year, and is fully approved by the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) and accredited by the ACGME. The Fellowship is open to dermatologists who are either board eligible or certified by the American Board of Dermatology.
The goal of this fellowship is to thoroughly train the fellows in Mohs micrographic surgery and reconstruction, excisional surgery, nonsurgical treatments, and scar revision techniques. Education in cutaneous oncology includes multidisciplinary management of basal and squamous cell carcinomas as well as rarer tumors such as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, Extramammary Pagets Disease, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, and pleomorphic dermal sarcomas, among others.
Allison Vidimos, RPh, MD is the Director of the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatology Oncology Fellowship Program, and Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD is co-director. Drs. Jon Meine, Jennifer Lucas, Alok Vij and Melissa McEnery-Stonelake are approved surgical faculty. The exposure to several surgical faculty members in different practice locations broadens the scope of the program significantly.
Program structure
The fellow spends five days per week in the Mohs Surgery Unit. During this time, he/she initially serves as first assistant, and then quickly attains graded responsibility for primarily treating cases under staff supervision. Each year approximately 5000 skin cancers are treated with Mohs surgery at our main campus and three satellite Mohs surgery locations. The majority of cases are repaired in our department.
A very collegial relationship has been developed between our department and Facial Plastic Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgery, and Plastic Surgery. Thus, the MSDO fellow has an opportunity to spend time with these other services to participate in combined cases with them.
The fellow curriculum occurs 1-2 evenings once a month. Histology review, wound repairs, oculoplastic surgery repairs, radiation oncology, case based conferences and journal clubs covering topics pertinent to surgical dermatology are covered during these sessions. The fellows also attend and teach in the residents' weekly conferences encompassing a thorough review of dermatologic surgery topics, as well as teach with the staff in six cadaver labs. The Mohs surgery fellows present cases at the monthly multidisciplinary nonmelanoma tumor boards which are held around our 18-headed microscope in the dermatopathology reading room. Fellows receive funding to attend the annual ACMS meeting.
As outlined in the ACGME MSDO Fellowship requirements, we expect every dermatologic surgery fellow to complete at least one publication during their fellowship, as well as a quality improvement project.
Our fellowship offers a comprehensive experience in micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology and reconstruction by dedicated and engaged faculty.
Application process
Applications are processed through the central application service (CAS) of the San Francisco Match. Click here to submit your application.
The deadline for submission of the required materials is September 1 of the year prior to the start of the academic year. Interviews will be arranged in the fall for qualified candidates. The interviews for the 2021-2022 fellowship year will be conducted virtually in fall 2020.
- Allison Vidimos, RPh, MD
Director of Micrographic Surgery and Dermatology Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave., A61
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.444.3345
Useful links
Dermatopathology Fellowship
The Cleveland Clinic Dermatopathology fellowship is a one-year ACGME-approved fellowship. Eligible candidates must have completed their dermatology or pathology training and be board eligible or certified.
The Dermatopathology fellowship is an integrated fellowship which includes a year of dermatopathology and concurrent exposure in clinical dermatology or anatomical pathology, which is dependent on the fellow’s previous training.
Each fellow is exposed to a variety of dermatopathology subspecialties, special studies and techniques. The major emphasis is placed on inflammatory disease, cutaneous tumors, pigmented lesions, laboratory procedures, immunopathology and molecular diagnostic techniques.
Limited and clinically relevant time is spent in clinical pathology, microbiology, mycology, bacteriology, virology and electron microscopy. Research projects, teaching, publications and local and national presentations are encouraged and expected.
For more information, please contact:
Katherine Williams
Fellowship & Dermatopathology Section Coordinator
Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute
216.444.2168 or williak@ccf.org
Wilma F. Bergfeld, MD
Fellowship Program Director
216.444.2168 or Bergfew@ccf.org
Additional Resources
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Graduate Medical Education -- NA23
9500 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.444.5690
Toll-free: 800.323.9259
- Or visit the Graduate Medical Education website.
Useful Links
Dermatology Elective Rotation
Objectives
To provide an opportunity to observe the work-up and management of the full spectrum of dermatology patients on a busy outpatient service.
Description
The student observes the work-up and management of patients, attends teaching rounds, lectures, Journal Club, and learns the principles of dermatologic diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, such as tissue examination for fungus and mites, skin biopsy and histopathologic examinations.
The student also is exposed to more complicated dermatologic procedures such as microscopically controlled surgery for skin cancer (Mohs micrographic surgery), laser surgery, hair replacement surgery, and facial resurfacing.
The professional personnel of the department consists of 15 well-trained and experienced full-time staff members, 13 residents in various stages of specialty training, two dermatologic surgery fellows, two dermatopathology fellows, one lymphoma fellow and one environmental fellow. Also, we have just brought on a consultant pediatric dermatologist who is here two times a month establishing new pediatric patients.
The Department of Dermatology comprises primarily an outpatient service that treats more than 50,000 patients per year. In addition, dermatologic consultations are rendered to about five or more inpatients per day for all other services on request. The entire range of dermatologic disease is seen at the Cleveland Clinic, from acne to pemphigus. Interesting, unusual and difficult patients often are referred here. The student meets with the chief resident(s) on the first day for assignments.
Evaluation forms are given to staff members to whom the student is assigned. A report will be given to deans and phase coordinators on request.
Medical students interested in doing an elective rotation in Derm should go to:
Program Director:
Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD
Assistant Program Director:
Melissa Piliang, MD
For more information, please contact:
To receive additional information or to schedule a rotation, contact the:
Medical Student Education - NA24
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Phone: 216.445.7435
Complex Medical Dermatology Fellowship
The Cleveland Clinic Department of Dermatology is seeking applicants for a non-ACGME-accredited Complex Medical Dermatology fellowship. This full-time, 12-month position will offer a comprehensive and strongly mentored clinical experience in complex medical dermatology, including outpatient care, inpatient care, and dermatopathology. There will also be regular clinical collaboration with our team of expert faculty physicians across several medical disciplines. The fellowship will offer exceptional opportunities for conducting clinical and/or translational research, clinical trials, and teaching experiences. Attendance and presentation at scientific conferences will be encouraged.
This fellowship will provide an outstanding foundation for a career in academic dermatology. Clinical responsibilities will include time dedicated to inpatient dermatology consultation, outpatient dermatology patient care, dermatopathology, and clinical teaching. This fellowship position will also include protected time for research, professional development and scholarship.
Patients with a variety of complex medical dermatologic diseases will be seen in an outpatient setting, including dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus, fibrosing skin diseases, neutrophilic dermatoses, hidradenitis suppurativa, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, autoimmune blistering diseases, vasculitis, and psoriatic disease. Hospitalized patients with these diseases may also be seen while rotating on our hospital consult service, but more common diagnoses in the hospital setting will include a spectrum of adverse drug reactions (including DRESS syndrome and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, acute graft-vs.-host disease, calciphylaxis, and ulcers of varying etiology).
Fellowship eligibility
The appropriate applicant must have an M.D. or equivalent degree, be board-certified or board-eligible in dermatology, and must have demonstrated qualifications for clinical care and teaching. Credentials allowing ability to obtain an Ohio Medical license is critical. Fellowship start date may vary, but can be any time starting July 31, 2020.
Interested applicants should email the following to fellowship director: Anthony Fernandez, MD, PhD
- Updated CV.
- 2-3 letters of recommendation from physicians who served as either (a) supervising physicians during residency at least one letter must be from a previous supervising physician), or (b) as colleagues of the applicant in practice, if the applicant has practiced dermatology after board-certification for at least 12 months.
- Personal Statement.
- Copy of American Board of Dermatology certification or Residency graduation certificate.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Center for Graduate Medical Education and Cleveland Clinic are united in a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in education as well as in the communities we serve. We value all people regardless of the many dimensions of identity and how those identities may intersect.
Discover more about the role diversity and inclusion plays and about our diversity and inclusion efforts.
