Residency Information

There is a continuing and increasing need in academic institutions, private specialty practice, and within the pharmaceutical industry for veterinary dermatologists.

The Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is well-suited to provide residency training in veterinary dermatology since the hospital has a large and varied caseload of small and large animal species with skin diseases. There is excellent support, both in staff and in facilities, in the related fields of pathology, clinical pathology, microbiology and immunology. A private dermatology library, photographic equipment, and computer equipment are available for use by the residents.

• Provide non-degree, post-doctoral in-depth training in veterinary dermatology, comparative dermatology and related basic sciences such that the resident develops a comprehensive knowledge of skin diseases seen in domestic animals.
  
  
• To fulfill the programmatic requirements for board certification by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD).
  
  
• Provide experience in teaching clinical dermatology to veterinary students in the teaching hospital and in the classroom.
  
  
• Provide experience in designing and carrying out an investigative project on a clinical problem in veterinary dermatology.
  

• Have a DVM, VMD or equivalent degree from an approved veterinary school or college.
  
  
• Have completed one year in an internship or a comparable training period of practice equivalency. If the internship was not administered by the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians Matching Program, a letter stating the dates of training; the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the veterinarians trained with; and a description of the training, including problem-solving must be submitted in the application.
  
  
• Be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in a state of the United States, province of Canada, or other country of citizenship.
  
  
• Must be a member of a national veterinary medical association such as the AVMA or CVMA.
  

• The dermatology program has 2 residents. A new, two-year residency begins annually on August 1st. Continuation into the second year of the program is based on satisfactory performance during the first year.
  
  
• Residents will become familiar with the skin diseases of both small and large animal species and humans and will spend approximately 75% of their time in the clinical functions of the VMTH dermatology service. Each resident will see approximately 450-600 animals per year and have primary case responsibility for between 400 and 500 animals per year. Our case spectrum includes dogs, cats, horses, farm animals, exotic animals and laboratory animals. During their residency, each resident will spend 140 or more days per year in clinical training as defined by the ACVD.
  
  
• Residents will spend approximately 25% of their time participating in rounds and seminars, investigative work and other forms of training.
  
  
• Each resident will attend regular discussions, journal clubs, seminars, and lectures organized by the co-preceptors, Dr. Peter Ihrke and Dr. Stephen White, Dr. Catherine Outerbridge, Dr. Verena Affolter, Dr. Thelma Lee Gross, Dr. Candace Sousa and faculty in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, School of Medicine. These activities fall into the category of basic and applied science training as defined by the ACVD. Residents spend approximately 30 hours/month in discussions, 10 hours/month in journal clubs, and 5 hours/month in seminars. Typically, residents attend 30-50 hours of lectures annually at the University and the annual combined meeting of the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology and the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. Residents also are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of the physicians dermatology group, The American Academy of Dermatology. Funding is available to support travel to our annual North American veterinary dermatology meeting and World Congresses of Veterinary Dermatology, and partial funding may be available to attend the annual human dermatology (AAD) meeting.

• Receive, diagnose, treat and follow-up medical patients with skin disease under the supervision of the dermatology staff.
  
  
• Participate in clinical rounds with professional students and dermatology staff.
  
  
• Assist in teaching and supervision of professional students in clinical dermatology.
  
  
• Perform telephone consultations with veterinarians in small and large animal practice.
  
  
• Note that residents in dermatology no longer participate in the regular small animal clinics out-of-hours emergency duty. Dermatology residents are responsible for dermatologic emergencies if called in by the general emergency service.
  
  
• Develop a comprehensive knowledge of skin diseases seen in animals and humans and learn the art and science of dermatology through rigorous study of the dermatologic literature. (The resident is expected to read approximately 15 hours per week during the residency.)
  
  
• Maintain a detailed case log of all cases seen during the residency as required by the ACVD.
  
  
• File an annual Residency Progress Report with the Chairperson of the Education Committee of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
  
  
• Become proficient in medical photography.
  

• Dermatology Resident Training Rounds - Drs. Peter J. Ihrke, Stephen D. White, and Catherine A. Outerbridge.

Weekly journal club, book reviews, literature reviews, and case discussions. Rounds are attended by the preceptors, other area board certified and board eligible veterinary dermatologists, a veterinary dermatopathologist, visiting residents, and sabbatical faculty members in dermatology and dermatopathology.

• Dermatopathology Resident Training Rounds - Dr. Verena Affolter

Weekly slide review of VMTH in-house cases seen by the dermatology staff and residents presented by Dr. Verena Affolter ((Diplomate ECVP, PhD, sub-specializing in dermatopathology). Slides are presented on a state-of-the-art projection microscope. Rounds are attended by dermatology residents, dermatology staff, pathology residents and pathology graduate students.

• Dermatopathology Resident Training Rounds - Dr. Thelma Lee Gross

Weekly slide review of outside cases seen by Dr. Thelma Lee Gross, (Diplomate ACVP, sub-specializing in dermatopathology) on a state-of-the-art projection microscope. Attended by dermatology residents, dermatology staff, Dr. Verena Affolter, pathology residents, and pathology graduate students.

• Dermatopathology - The resident will review all skin biopsy specimens from cases seen by the VMTH dermatology service with pathology residents supervised by the senior staff in pathology and dermatology.
  
  
• Comparative Dermatology - The resident may participate in weekly grand rounds, dermatopathology seminars, journal clubs, and review seminars in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, School of Medicine. This will also provide an opportunity for the resident to be exposed to newer investigative techniques utilized in human dermatologic research.
  
  
• Resident's Research Project - All residents are required to initiate and complete at least one investigative project during their residency under the direction of a faculty advisor. The resident must be the principal investigator on this project. The project must be completed during the residency and submitted for presentation at one of the annual meetings of the ACVD and AAVD. A manuscript suitable for publication must be prepared before the end of the residency.
  
  
• The resident will develop, prepare and present 1 to 3 lectures annually as part of the dermatology courses taught to second and third-year students in consultation with the senior staff. Extensive help is available prior to the lectures in the production of audio-visual aids and lecture techniques. Each lecture is subsequently critiqued by the senior staff. Each resident will give an additional 3-6 hours of lectures annually to other residents or to senior veterinary students.
  
  
• The resident will attend the annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology and is encouraged to attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. When applicable, residents will attend world congresses of veterinary dermatology. World Congresses in veterinary dermatology occur every 4 years. Partial financial support is provided to attend such meetings.
  
  
• The resident will present the results of a Residents Research Project at an annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
  
  
• The resident will participate in the Annual Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital House Officer Seminar Day when this event does not conflict with the annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology.
  
  
• The resident is encouraged to spend several weeks of off-clinic time during the second year of training at another facility offering approved residency training in veterinary dermatology.
  
  
• Residents are encouraged to speak at local and regional veterinary continuing education meetings.
  

• A large and complete Health Sciences Library is located adjacent to the VMTH for support of the resident's clinical training and research activities. This library facility is one of five on the Davis Campus. Collectively, these libraries contain more than 2.3 million volumes and receive more than 51,000 periodical and journal titles annually.
  
  
• The VMTH is committed to building strong relationships with its constituents. A major part of the resident's duties, therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians and clients.
  
  
• Selection will be in accordance with the guidelines of the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program. For application procedures, salary and benefits, and other information about the residency program, please see General Information on the VMTH web.
  
  
• The University of California, Davis and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity.
  

ALL RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO OBTAIN A CALIFORNIA LICENSE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RESIDENCY IN ORDER TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS.

RESIDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF AN EMERGENCY CALL, THEREFORE, RESIDENTS MUST PLAN TO LIVE WITHIN 15 MILES OF THE HOSPITAL.