How to Become a Dermatologist

How to Become a Dermatologist.

Dr. Ross Kopelman had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Brittany Oliver, a dermatologist, about her journey to become a dermatologist. In this video you will discover tips you need to become a dermatologist and prepare for residency.

Bio for Dr. Brittany Oliver:
Brittany was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and received her medical education in Washington, DC. She completed a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health as part of the Medical Research Scholars Program, where she studied cutaneous Graft versus Host Disease. She is currently a dermatology resident in Philadelphia.

Reason Dr. Brittany Oliver pursued Dermatology:
The variety and complexity of patients and problems, the ability to perform fast, minor bedside diagnostic procedures as well as surgeries, and the accessibility of the skin to provide important histopathologic correlation to what one is visualizing clinically are just a few of the things that drew me to dermatology from the very beginning. There is so much more to this field than most people probably realize; besides just treating acne and administering Botox, dermatologists must be proficient in principles of anatomy, wound care/healing, infectious disease, rheumatology, cutaneous oncology, genetic syndromes involving the skin, aesthetics, as well as the "bread and butter" areas of general and procedural dermatology. In addition to skin, we are also experts in hair and nail disorders. We must have a keen eye to appreciate subtle differences in patterns and morphology to inform our diagnoses, the implications of which could mean the difference between sending a patient for full-body PET/CT scans versus simply prescribing one of many topical remedies in our toolbox.

Education:
College - University of Florida
Medical School - George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Residency - University of Pennsylvania

Typical Day in the life of a Dermatologist:
A typical morning for me starts between 7:00 and 8:00 am, with either patient care or didactic sessions in which faculty or upper-year dermatology residents give us lectures on a variety of topics. We see patients in many settings, including in attending specialty clinics, at the children’s hospital, at the VA Medical Center taking care of veterans for surgical and medical appointments, and also in our own weekly resident clinic that allows us to build relationships and continuity with patients we intend to follow over the course of the 3-year residency program under the supervision of attending physicians. Residents also cover consult services at all of our local affiliated hospitals – that’s the rotation I’m currently on. It’s my job to hold the consult phone and accept new consults between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. I get anywhere from one to five new consults per day and see all the patients myself before rounding with the team later in the afternoon. In the inpatient population, common things we may be called for include drug rashes, blistering diseases, skin manifestations of vasculitis and infectious rashes. I usually end the day around 4:00 or 5:00 PM on a light rotation and 6:00 to 7:00 PM on a more demanding rotation.

Residency training:
To become a dermatologist, you must complete four years of medical school followed by four years of residency. The first year of residency, known as “intern year,” is a year general medicine in a primarily inpatient setting – you can choose to do a year of internal medicine, general surgery, or pediatrics. The following three years are spent becoming an expert in skin, hair, and nails as you prepare for a future as a board-certified dermatologist.

What type of advice to you give to those aspiring to be in Dermatology:
What helped me the most on my way to pursuing dermatology was mentorship. Dermatology is a rather small field, and having the support of someone at a higher level is incredibly valuable. It is not easy finding someone who is willing to invest in your success, view your wins as their wins. When you find that person, nurture that academic relationship: be on time, every time. Turn in the first draft of that manuscript early, before your deadline! Read about the patients you see in clinic with your mentor, then ask thoughtful questions the next time. Show that person that you are not just intelligent, but dependable, qualities everyone wants in a resident but that not every individual possesses. These may seem small, but they do not go unnoticed. Make your mentor want to root for you!

3 Things that Excite Dr. Brittany Oliver about being a Dermatologist:
1. I love the day-to-day variety in dermatology. The field is an incredible mixture of medical and surgical approaches to treatment.
2. I am motivated by the challenge of the field
3. I love that we get to see the young and old and everything in between

If Dr. Brittany Oliver picked another field:
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