Dermatologists — doctors who specialize in diseases of the skin, hair, scalp, and nails — can pursue fellowship training after completing a general dermatology residency. Dermatopathology and pediatric dermatology are two subspecialties in which the American Board of Dermatology® offers certification, and physicians must complete fellowships in these fields. They also acknowledge that fellowships in procedural dermatology are available to doctors who have completed their residency training, but they do not provide special certification in this field.
Dermatology fellowships in dermatopathology are available for doctors interested in pathology. These one-year programs teach dermatologists how to prepare body tissue samples for microscopic examination, apply special staining techniques to skin samples, and manage laboratories. They learn how to interpret immunofluorescence, electron microscope imaging, and immunocytochemistry results. During these fellowship programs, many doctors use the opportunity to conduct research and then publish the results of their work in academic journals.
Other dermatology fellowships are geared toward pediatric dermatology. These one- to two-year programs teach dermatologists how to care for children with skin, hair, and scalp diseases. Because inherited disorders, developmental abnormalities, and various skin infections can be more prevalent in these young patients, dermatologic disorders affecting children can differ from those affecting adults. Because pediatric dermatology is such a specialized field, many of the doctors who complete these fellowship programs go on to work in large academic centers that receive referrals from all over the country.
The newest dermatology fellowships are in the procedural dermatology subspecialty. These programs provide additional training in minor surgical procedures, the majority of which can be performed without the use of general anesthesia in an outpatient setting. The cosmetic correction of surgical scars, hair transplantation, Mohs micrographic surgery, and subcutaneous injection of filler material to alter the appearance of various physical characteristics are examples of these procedures. The duration of these fellowships is usually one year.
It’s worth noting that dermatology fellowships are only pursued by about a quarter of physicians who complete dermatology residency programs. Dermatology residency programs provide doctors with four years of training to prepare them to treat the majority of common disorders. Many dermatologists choose to do a fellowship to boost their earning potential — especially because performing more procedures usually means higher pay — or to pursue a specialized aspect of dermatology as part of an academic career.