Overview
The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University offers a 36-month residency program in veterinary dermatology. The goal of the residency program is to train competent and effective specialists in veterinary dermatology by providing timely guidance in a collegial and supportive atmosphere. The program provides in-depth clinical training in veterinary dermatology (including large animal), opportunities for funding of required research, in-depth basic science training as it relates to veterinary dermatology, dermatohistopathology training suitable for board examination preparation, and prepares the candidate for successful completion of board certification in the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD).
Objectives of the Residency Program in Dermatology
Dermatology residents hold appointments as Veterinary Clinical Associates (VCAs) or Veterinary Resident Instructors. Residents are expected to provide patient care teaching assistance in the clinical programs of the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) and successfully complete a resident research project. The faculty will make extensive efforts to provide an outstanding AVMA program, but the ultimate responsibility for the value gained from the program lies with the resident.
The training objectives for residents in comparative dermatology are as follows:
- Provide the resident with the opportunity to become proficient in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic methods in dermatology.
- Permit the resident to satisfy the requirements for board certification set forth by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
- Prepare the resident to express clinical ideas and concepts to other members of the veterinary profession in a concise, professional manner (e.g., seminars, lectures).
- Introduce the resident to clinical investigation by facilitating the completion and publication of the resident’s mandatory research project.
- Prepare the resident to flourish in a specialty practice within the private sector or the academic setting, or to pursue further advanced training.
Responsibilities of Advisors and Dermatology Faculty
- Ensure that the resident is aware of all requirements of the residency program and options that are available. The resident is expected to consult with his/her prospective advisor(s) within 30 days after the start of the program to begin developing his/her individual schedule.
- Supervise completion of scheduled requirements according to guidelines established by the ACVD.
- Suggest reading material to aid in preparation for the general and/or certifying board examinations.
- Communicate appropriate feedback to the resident regarding his/her continued progress in the program. Although encouraged at other times as well, feedback to the resident will be provided each time the Dermatology Residency Committee conducts its evaluations twice yearly. On these occasions, the resident’s advisor also will inform the Dermatology Residency Committee about the resident’s progress.
Responsibilities of the Head of Department and Section Chiefs
Notify the resident of his/her assigned clinical teaching responsibilities (i.e., laboratory instruction, didactic lectures, etc.). Note: Residents will occasionally be expected to assist in didactic and laboratory instruction of students in the professional curriculum. They shall not head or have major teaching responsibilities for any course, elective, or didactic.
Goals, Related Objectives, and Requirements
- Completion of a 3-year advanced clinical training program subject to formal evaluation, under supervision of board-certified individuals (surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, neurology, anesthesiology, radiology, emergency medicine, and critical care) designed to educate the resident in the art and science of dermatology.
- Preparation of the resident to qualify for examination and certification by the ACVD.
- Completion of a resident project including manuscript preparation and publication is required. The resident in consultation with their advisor and dermatology faculty will develop a research project early in the first year of their program. The research topic will be chosen to complement the ongoing research interests of senior dermatology faculty. The resident is required to satisfactorily present the completed research project.
- In-depth training in-patient evaluation, the performance of diagnostic procedures, use of therapeutic techniques, and overall medical management of dermatology patients will be combined with experience in developing client relationships, fee structure, instrumentation, and clinical laboratory evaluation.
- Participation in didactic and laboratory instruction of students in the professional curriculum is another component of residency training. The resident may be required or elect to help with laboratories in certain courses. This affords teaching experience as well as further professional development. The resident is expected to participate in daily student rounds and to help in the clinical instruction of third and fourth-year veterinary students.
- Participation in the teaching of clinical medicine and patient management in the professional student program.
- All residents will be required to present an oral seminar to the faculty once yearly. In the first year, it is suggested that the resident present a seminar on the proposed research topic. For the second year, the resident should present data from their research project or an alternative topic. In the third year, the resident will present their final results from their research project.
- Formal evaluation by the Dermatology Residency Committee will be done at least twice-yearly each year of the three-year program.
- Continuation in the program is dependent upon successful evaluations and annual reappointment.
Salaries and Benefits
- Salaries are determined annually by the Head of the Department. They are standard for all residents in the Department of Veterinary Small Animal Clinical Sciences, and currently, salaries increase with each year of service.
- Residents may participate in the University’s medical-surgical insurance program.
- All courtesies, such as athletic ticket purchases, use of university facilities, etc., are the same as for other faculty.
- A Texas Veterinary license is required. A “special” license can be obtained by taking a short jurisprudence test during initial orientation. The cost of the annual license is paid for by the teaching hospital.
- Some discretionary dollars are available on an annual basis for residents to use for the purchase of books or attendance of meetings.
Certification of Completion of Program
A certificate of completion of the residency program will be presented to the resident upon the successful completion of the three-year dermatology residency. A certificate will not be given for partial completion of a three-year program or if the resident project is incomplete or unsatisfactory. ACVD by-laws require institutional certification of completion of the candidate’s residency before an ACVD diploma is granted.
Duties and Responsibilities
- The clinical service assignments and educational programs are established to meet, and exceed, the minimum requirements for residency training programs in the specialty of Dermatology as outlined in the ACVD by the year of initiation of the program.
- All residents are required to participate in the provision of emergency services by the Small Animal Teaching Hospital which may include providing backup to interns on emergency cases and taking medicine transfers. Residents will be required to take case transfers on weekends to facilitate patient care of dermatology referrals. In most cases, this duty will occur when the resident is on a clinical rotation. The schedule will be assigned by the Head Resident using a rotating schedule. 1st-year residents have more than 2nd-year, etc. However, variations in assignments may occur if necessary to facilitate the function of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
- Participation in the departmental faculty-intern-resident training is required. The seminar program consists of a variety of scheduled professional development activities (clinicopathologic conferences, seminars, and group discussions) arranged by the Head Resident in conjunction with a Faculty Coordinator. In general, activities will be scheduled weekly.
- Residents are expected to present three, 45-minute, seminars over the course of the three-year program in the departmental Intern-Resident Seminar Series. Details of the requirements can be obtained from the Chair of the Residency Committee.
- Residents will occasionally be expected to assist in didactic and laboratory instruction of students in the professional curriculum. They shall not head or have major teaching responsibilities for any course, elective, or didactic.
- Participation in phone consultations with veterinarians/clients will be required. Responsibility will increase as the program progresses.
- Holiday duty assignments will be determined by the Chief of Medicine and the Head Resident.
If you have any questions, please contact vscsrecruiting@cvm.tamu.edu