Medical Students

Preclinical instruction focuses on basic dermatology with particular emphasis on the morphology of skin lesions. It also provides an introduction to the more commonly occurring dermatological disorders.

Directed reading and research opportunities are available under the direction of individual faculty members.

Clinical instruction consists of basic and advanced dermatology clinical electives. The basic clinical elective includes rotations through Stanford adult and pediatric clinics, and the Palo Alto VA Hospital. The advanced clinical elective is divided between Stanford, the Palo Alto VA clinics, and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Both clerkships include didactic teaching sessions as well as dermatology grand rounds. Students are expected to describe and recognize morphology, to perform a thorough skin examination, and to perform basic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In the advanced clinical elective, students work more closely with faculty and participate in dermatopathology sessions, inpatient consultations and a variety of outpatient clinics.

Clerkship Directors

Joanna Badger

Jennifer Chen

Matt Lewis

Joyce Teng

For any questions regarding clerkships or medical student opportunities, please reach out to our medical student clerkship coordinator, Madison Siemers (msiemers@stanford.edu) or Trish Dykzeul (tdykzeul@stanford.edu) for pediatric dermatology.

Clerkships

A dermatology advanced clerkship designed for medical students interested in pursuing dermatology residency training. It consists of a 4 week clerkship based at the Stanford Medicine Outpatient Clinic in Redwood City, Stanford Hospital and Clinics in Palo Alto, and the Palo Alto VA. Students work closely with faculty to obtain strong clinical skills in the diagnosis and management of common skin disorders. Students are part of the Stanford and VA dermatology teams, participating in dermatopathology sessions, inpatient consultations, cutaneous oncology, surgery, and general adult dermatology clinics. Students are expected to attend Tuesday morning didactic teaching sessions as well as Dermatology Grand Rounds every Thursday morning. Students will be expected to give a case-based presentation at Grand Rounds during the rotation. DERM 310B

If you are a Stanford medical student interested in enrolling in Dermatology 310B, please apply by contacting Education Program Coordinator, Madison Siemersmsiemers@stanford.edu.

If you are an outside applicant interested in enrolling in Dermatology 310B, please apply by completing the online application listed below. You will be required to upload a copy of your CV, USMLE scores, and Clerkship grades. Please contact Madison Siemers, at msiemers@stanford.edu if you have any questions. Applications open on January 1, 2024, and are due by March 29, 2024, at 12:00 PM PDT.

Link for Application

Note that this clerkship employs a deadline that differs from that of the Stanford Clerkship Office. Please do not submit applications directly to the Clerkship Office unless instructed to do so by the course directors if they accept your application. 

Generally, we are only able to take outside rotators for periods 4 and 5. If you are interested in the other periods, please contact us to see if space is available. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to the March 29th, 12 PM application deadline. 

Please see all requirements for the application below:

Attachments

  • CV
  • Clerkship Grades (file uploads can be unofficial and/or official transcripts)
  •  USMLE Scores (optional - please provide all current scores you have available)

 

Short Answer Responses

  • Please rank your 1st choice of period rotation in which you would like to come to Stanford. (Note: Stanford rotators will be given preference for periods two and three. We are unable to take students in period one.)
  • Please describe in one short paragraph why you have chosen the field of dermatology as a career, and what makes you interested in rotating at Stanford? 
  • 3. Please note that this clerkship participates in the SCORE program, a diversity promotion program run by the Stanford Clerkship Office that provides other support during your rotation. Individuals who are underrepresented in medicine, socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged, and others whose backgrounds and experiences would diversify their clinical fields, may qualify for this program. Please see the following for further details: https://med.stanford.edu/clerkships/score-program.html 

 

SCORE program 

This clerkship participates in     the SCORE program, a diversity promotion program run by the Stanford Clerkship Office that provides other support during your rotation. Please note that if you are an individuals who is underrepresented in medicine, socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged, and others whose backgrounds and experiences would diversify their clinical fields, you may qualify for this program. Please see the following for further details: https://med.stanford.edu/clerkships/score-program.html

Medical Students Working with Faculty

Below are various means in which a student might work with a Stanford Derm Faculty member outside of the offered clinical rotations above described (Derm 300A and Derm 310B). Please visit the links for in depth detail such as requirements, length of onboarding and/or costs, as well as the administrative contact for each if you have questions.

Med Scholars Research Programs

http://med.stanford.edu/medscholars/application.html

Students who are committed to an area of research can search for faculty who are doing research in their area of interest. The Stanford Medical Scholars Research Programs provide opportunities for students to carry out independent research in any area of the medical disciplines. The programs are designed to foster an appreciation and proficiency for the investigative/scholarly process, including study design, hands-on collection of data, interpretation of results, and presentation of work accomplished in oral and written form. 


Stanford Clinical Opportunity for Residency Experience (SCORE) Program

https://med.stanford.edu/clerkships/score-program.html

The SCORE program brings fourth-year medical students from diverse backgrounds to Stanford for a four-week residential clinical training program in one of the clinical departments. SCORE students will be matched with faculty and resident mentors who share similar clinical interests. The students will participate in mentorship activities with a clinical advisor, as well as clinical rotations, programs, and activities with Stanford medical students. If desired, participants may also be connected with a research advisor

SCORE recognizes that Stanford Medicine’s ideal of true community engagement is unlikely to occur without a workforce that is diverse in many ways. This includes individuals who are underrepresented in medicine, socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged, and others whose backgrounds and experiences would diversify their clinical fields. 

Please click the link above to learn more about the SCORE program, and it's application criteria and requirements.


Visiting Student Researchers


https://registrar.stanford.edu/staff/visiting-student-researchers

In limited instances, it is to the benefit of Stanford faculty to permit persons who have not yet obtained a Ph.D. (or its foreign equivalent), or who are not recognized experts in their fields, to engage in research on the Stanford campus using Stanford research facilities. Such instances might include students at other universities who are engaged in graduate-level research in a field of interest to the faculty member, or a person doing a laboratory rotation as part of a larger research study or grant. Invitations are valid for one calendar year. The status may be extended once for an additional calendar year. Extensions beyond the initial approval date require submission of an updated letter of invitation with new dates to Graduate Admissions, Office of the University Registrar and to the visiting student researcher.


Shadowing for Stanford Students

Stanford Medical Students interested in clinical dermatology should do the following in the order below before asking a faculty member if they can shadow:

  1. Volunteer in free clinic – contact the Dermatology Interest group (DIG): https://med.stanford.edu/smsa/student-life/student-orgs/interest-groups.html
  2. (wear white coat and badge)
  3. Complete Clerkship 300A – Introduction to Dermatology http://medcatalog.stanford.edu/php/clerk.php?-recid=203

Continuity Clinic Program for Stanford Students

https://med.stanford.edu/shield/Programs/clerkship.html

The Continuity of Care Clerkship (CCC) is designed to give third and fourth year medical students exposure to the longitudinal aspects of medicine and health care in the specialty of their choice. This clerkship is distinct from traditional clerkships, which focus on acute problems and treatment in an inpatient setting. This clerkship offers chronic care training, emphasizing skills of prevention, long-term health management, and follow-up in the context of social factors and the patient’s life history. In addition to medical knowledge, students have an opportunity to learn about the challenges and rewards of primary and specialty care including long-term relationships with patients and colleagues, economic challenges of inpatient and ambulatory medicine, and time management. Students will be better prepared to make career decisions and to be better clinicians in whatever specialty they choose.


Un-official Continuity Clinic Program for Stanford Students

After completing Derm 300A, if a student would like to join a Dermatology faculty for CC, outside of the Continuity Clinic Program, the student should have a reference or introduction from another faculty member, or may have had an introduction to the faculty member by attending Grand Rounds or during clerkship, so the student can personally reach out to the faculty to discuss if this is an option.


International Visiting Student Program

https://med.stanford.edu/clerkships/international.html

The IVS Program is one of many programs with a goal of adding value to elective clerkships by exposing students to an international perspective on medicine. The IVS Program compliments Stanford Medicine’s mission to increase global impact, diversity, and improve cross-cultural education. Review Stanford Medicine’s diversity message, commitment to welcoming students and scholars throughout the world, and the Center of Excellence in Diversity in Medical Education.


Clinical Visiting Observer (Non-Stanford)

Community Physician and Non-Stanford Medical Students

Visiting Observer Packet

  • Candidate should provide 2 letters or recommendation and a statement of why are they interested shadowing
  • Name of Faculty they would like to shadow with
  • Medical Students candidate will have to pay a processing fee of $250 and MD candidate $1,000 if accepted

 

SHC Policies permit approved individuals to observe patient care and administrative functions of SHC formal training programs and requires that Visiting Observer…

  • Must be accompanied and supervised by organizational staff at all times
  • Are not permitted to participate in patient care activities
  • Must follow visiting observer policies and complete all required forms, and
  • Must obtain a hospital badge from security
  • Have proof of current Immunizations and flu shot

Please note that Visiting Observers:

  • Are not allowed to participate in any patient care activities
  • They must be accompanied and supervised by a hospital or SOM employee and/or a physician with current Staff privileges at all times
  • Must be at least 18-year-old or in hospital approved structured program
  • VO Forms must be submitted to the Compliance Dept for approval

 

Common examples of Visiting Observer Interactions include:

  • Visiting professor and/or medical personnel who are not involved in hospital research or volunteer activities
  • Individuals who are interested in medical or residency/fellowship program at the hospitals; and 
  • Individuals observing clinical or administrative operations who are not enrolled in an official program

Research Opportunities

Please contact Kathrina Laidlaw (kathrina@stanford.edu) if you are interested in researching with any Dermatology faculty.