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Dermatology

The dermatology training program at the New York Medical College is designed to provide excellence in clinical and surgical dermatology and dermatopathology. The program is based primarily at two sites: Metropolitan Hospital (located in Spanish Harlem, Manhattan) and Coney-Island Hospital (located in Brooklyn, New York). The high volume of patients and the diversity of ethnic skin types are major strengths of the program. The residents have unlimited hands-on practice in every aspect of learning dermatology. The hierarchy of learning is designed to allow the residents at each level of training to act as a teacher for their peers at a lower level.

Residents receive regular training and hands-on practice in dermatological procedures. Two sessions per week are dedicated exclusively to dermatological surgery at both sites. At Metropolitan, Mohs surgery occurs twice monthly. In addition, residents are trained in and perform a variety of cosmetic procedures at weekly and monthly cosmetic clinics.

Dermatopathology is an integral part of this training program and forms a cornerstone of resident’s excellence. Every Friday morning, our dermatopathologist (Dr. Shulman) leads a formal teaching session on dermatopathology which allows the residents to review the entirety of Dermatopathology every year. Also on Friday mornings, residents review slides of their own biopsies that they have done during the previous week and correlate them to the clinical presentation of the patients. This clinical-pathological correlation session is extremely educational in its way of combining the two major aspects of a given skin disorder. A multi-headed microscope is used so residents at each level of training can participate in this excellent learning experience. Cases of interest are also evaluated side by side with clinical and histopathological presentations.

The curriculum is extensive, covering the entire scope of basic sciences, clinical and pathophysiology of skin disorders. Two sessions per week are devoted for the study of basic sciences and academic curriculum. Residents are supervised and directed by the faculty members during the didactic sessions. Textbooks, professional journals, and a lecture series are all used to learn the subject material. Experience is gained at the bedside during the daily clinical sessions. The most current textbooks available are used for review of various topics.

Research is a major part of this program. Residents are encouraged to undertake research projects that span both the academic year and their residency. Each year, residents are expected to select a clinical research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Residents are required to present their projects at the resident day competition, which is scheduled in early May. Residents are encouraged to prepare their projects for presentation at local and national conferences, as well as publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Dermatology Residency

The NYMC Dermatology Residency Program is a three-year program. Applicants must be students at or graduates of approved medical schools in the United States or Canada and must complete a preliminary (PGY-1) year in one of the following programs (transitional year, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine or OB/GYN).  International Applicants will be considered only if they have completed PGY-1 training in the U.S. and hold a current, valid certificate from ECFMG.

Learn more about the dermatology residency program here.

Meet the Team

Bijan Safai, M.D, Sc.D.
Chair and Professor of Dermatology 

Dermatology Residency Program Director
Metropolitan Hospital Center 
1901 First Avenue, Room 1208 
New York, NY 10029
Phone 1: (212) 423-6602
Phone: (212) 423-7467
Fax: (212) 423-8464
BIJAN_SAFAI@NYMC.EDU
bijan.safai@nychhc.org

Marian Russo, M.D. 
Program Director 
Department of Dermatology
Metropolitan Hospital Center
1901 First Avenue, Room 1208
New York, NY 10029
Phone: 212-423-7467
Fax: 212-423-8464
russom1@nychhc.org
mrusso8@nymc.edu 

Magali Cruz
Secretary
Department of Dermatology
Metropolitan Hospital Center
1901 First Avenue, Room 1208
New York, NY 10029
Phone : 212-423-7467
Fax: 212-423-8464
magali_cruz@nymc.edu
magali.cruz@nychhc.org

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