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Offices of Medical Student Education

Dermatology

Department Website

med.unc.edu/derm

Important Contacts

Rachel Blasiak
Associate Professor
Associate Program Director
Director of Medical Student Education
rachel_blasiak@med.unc.edu
Carolyn Ziemer
Associate Professor
Program Director
carolyn_ziemer@med.unc.edu
Dean Morrell
Professor
Vice Chair of Dermatology
morrell@med.unc.edu
Chris Sayed
Professor
Director Hidradenitis Clinic
christopher_sayed@med.unc.edu
Nancy Thomas
Irene & Robert Alan Briggaman Distinguished Professor
nancy_thomas@med.unc.edu

Advisory College Videos

Career Opportunity Services Session

FAQs/Course Recommendations/Additional Info

Start by talking with Dr. Rachel Blasiak (contact info above). In our small department and competitive field of dermatology, you will likely be mentored by more than one of us.
Dermatology Advanced Clinical Selective (DERM 401) as early in the year as possible (March-June), away rotations in dermatology after your rotation with us.  We are happy to talk about more specifics of away rotations and goal of these.

Recommended Courses:

AI/Acting Internship
Internal Medicine. If you are considering a pediatrics or surgery intern year then would recommend AI in that specialty

CC/Critical Care
MICU or Burn unit

ACS/Advanced Clinical Selective
Dermatology

No, but dermatology should be early.
Yes!  Two if possible.  Dermatology ( or a derm subspecialty like pediatric dermatology, Mohs surgery, dermatopathology) at institutions you would be interested in applying to. More than 2 away rotations are not recommended.
Yes.  You must do the Dermatology rotation in Chapel Hill as you will need a letter from our program director and chair.
We are happy to meet at any stage of training.  Please have CV, grades, Step 1 and 2 (if applicable) available if requested.
3. One should be our UNC Department of Dermatology (program director/ associate program director). One usually from another faculty member in our department who can speak to your clinical or research abilities.  One from another institution where you did an away rotation if possible.
After your rotations.  This stresses the importance of doing your dermatology rotations early so these can be gathered prior to ERAS applications submitted in September.
This is quite variable and individualized based on the student. Speaking with the career goal advisors and current dermatology residents may be helpful. Please do not go down the dermatology applicant Reddit rabbit hole. It’s a scary place from what we hear. In 2024 Dermatology started a signal system for applications. You are given 3 gold signals and 25 silver signals to assign to programs when you apply in ERAS. They are used when making interview decisions, not match decisions. It is unlikely you will recruit interviews from programs you do not signal. We can discuss this new system more when we meet to discuss the match.
Sure, maybe the top few you are interested in.  Know that many institutions create their rank list shortly after interviews when things are fresh in our minds.
We will download applications a few weeks after things open.
You can let the career goal advisors know and we will guide you through next steps.
No
In general post interview communication is not recommended.
In general post interview communication is not recommended. Emailing the program director and program coordinator is ok if it is truly your #1. No playing the field though.
Kindly thank them and be honest. It is unlikely you will hear from programs after you interview.

Competitive applicants in dermatology will have the following:

  • USMLE Step 2 CK: Above 250
  • Honors in all or the majority of third year clerkships and dermatology rotations
  • At least 3 letters of recommendation from dermatologists
  • Demonstrated commitment to Dermatology in Dermatology-related volunteer, research, or work projects
  • Products of scholarly activity in the field of dermatology- publications, presenting at dermatology meetings.

The match rate in dermatology is <70%. Most students applying in dermatology consider applying in a second specialty.