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Studying dermatology allows you to help people who want to change their appearance. With a wide variety of procedures available now, learning how to operate on the skin has become easier than ever. The best dermatology programs will make sure that you are ready for any situation by giving you many opportunities to experience hands-on work in a lab setting. But before you commit yourself, it is important to research all the available options.

The following is a list of US universities that offer dermatology. We made this list because there is no complete one available online, and we thought it would be useful to students who are interested in studying dermatology at university level.

Collegelearners is replete with up-to-date information on best colleges for dermatology in New York, Yale University dermatology, best dermatology schools in Europe, Stanford University dermatology, amongst many others. Be sure to surf through our catalog for more information on similar topics.

top dermatology residency programs 2022

Do you want to become a Dermatologist? Wondering about the best colleges and universities to pursue a dermatology degree in the United States? Then you have come to the right place! Here we have compiled a list of โ€œBest Colleges for Dermatologyโ€ to help you build your skills.

A career in dermatology is both exciting and rewarding, and Dermatology residency programs are an important step in becoming a certified dermatologist. Dermatologists help people with issues related to the skin.

If youโ€™re passionate about skincare and determined to pursue a career in dermatology, then you are lucky. Through our list, you can discover the advantages of studying at one of the top colleges in the United States. Good Luck!!!

1. Stanford University

Stanford University has organized around three traditional schools consisting of 40 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level and four professional schools that focus on graduate programs in Law, Medicine, Education, and Business. The Department of Dermatology is committed to the highest level of patient care, as well as the discovery and development of better treatments for dermatologic diseases. Stanford Dermatology Faculty is regionally and nationally recognized for their clinical expertise and excellence in teaching.

2. University of Pennsylvania

Penn was one of the first academic institutions to follow a multidisciplinary model pioneered by several European universities, concentrating multiple โ€œfacultiesโ€ into one institution. Penn Dermatology is one of the few dermatology departments in the country with dedicated dermatologic research laboratories and dermatopathology facilities and one of the top programs in the country for advancing patient care through research and clinical trials. Penn Dermatology offers patients and referring physicians the latest technology, treatment options, and diagnostic services. Penn dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons provide exceptional care for diseases of the skin, hair, and nails, as well as comprehensive aesthetic and cosmetic services.

3. University of California San Francisco

The UCSF School of Medicine is the oldest medical school in the Western United States. The mission of the Department is to be a world leader in the care of skin and patients with skin diseases through outstanding clinical service, education and training, and research. The Department is based at the Mount Zion campus and offers a wide range of specialty services in medical, pediatric, surgical and cosmetic dermatology. Patient care is also offered at UCSFโ€™s Mission Bay campus.

  • Founded In: 1864
  • Ranking: 3rd
  • Tuition & Fees Approximately: $34,386
  • Finance and Admission Office Contact: 415-353-7800
  • Website:  http://www.dermatology.ucsf.edu/

4. New York University

New York University is a private nonprofit research university based in New York City. The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Health is known nationally and internationally for its innovative leadership in patient care, education and research. Its residents rotate through ambulatory clinics and inpatient consultation services and our educational curriculum is structured specifically to provide the skills needed to pursue and achieve lifelong learning in dermatology.

5. University of Michigan

The University of Michigan consists of a flagship campus in Ann Arbor, with two regional campuses in Dearborn and Flint. The U-M Department of Dermatology is part of Michigan Medicine, one of the nationโ€™s leading healthcare facilities. More than 41,000 patients each year receive care in their outpatient offices for a range of rare and common dermatologic disorders. Dermatologic health care treatment and services are provided in their outpatient clinics, located at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor and in local communities.

  • Founded In: 1817
  • Ranking:  5th
  • Tuition & Fees Approximately: In-state 13,856 USD, Out-of-state 43,476 USD
  • Finance and Admission Office Contact: 734-764-8129
  • Website:  https://www.med.umich.edu/DERM/

6. Emory University

The university is the second-oldest private institution of higher education in Georgia and among the fifty oldest private universities in the United States. Emory dermatology residents have significant exposure to teledermatology during a residency in both the outpatient and inpatient setting to help prepare them for the changing landscape of medicine after training. Itโ€™s over 20 full-time faculty members are distinguished clinicians and/or researchers who remain committed to resident education and mentoring.  Their goal is that all residents experience top-notch training while being afforded the necessary individual mentoring and departmental support to develop into leaders within their chosen part of the field of dermatology.

  • Founded In: 1836
  • Ranking:  6th
  • Tuition & Fees Approximately: 46,314 USD
  • Finance and Admission Office Contact: 404.727.6123
  • Website:  http://dermatology.emory.edu/

7. Columbia University

Columbia contains the oldest college in the state of New York and is the fifth chartered institution of higher learning in the United States. Its residency program is highly ranked in the nation. They have a strong commitment to providing the most comprehensive intensive educational experience to their trainees. The Department has an outstanding faculty including 20 full-time and 98 part-time voluntary members who support the residency training program. It provides a combined clinical and research program as well as numerous research opportunities in basic science and clinical trials to promote careers in investigative dermatology.

8. Thomas Jefferson University

Thomas Jefferson University is a private university in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.  The Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biologyโ€™s world-class research programs facilitate clinical studies, investigate advances in dermatologic therapies and engage in studies of genetic skin diseases, connective-tissue disorders and skin cancers. Its program offers comprehensive and quality training in varied aspects of dermatology. Its program builds highly-trained graduates with balanced knowledge and skill in dermatology, anatomic pathology, and dermatopathology. They also offer unique learning opportunities to residents, fellows, and international students.

9. University of Pittsburgh

Pitt is ranked among the top research universities in the United States in both domestic and international rankings. The Department of Dermatology continuously embarks on new initiatives designed to foster continued growth and to establish the department as a center of excellence in clinical care, education, and research, and a leading center for academic dermatology. UPMCโ€™s Center Medical Education Program (UPMCMEP) in Dermatology is committed to providing excellent patient care while educating resident physicians in the clinical and basic science aspects of dermatology.

  • Founded In: 1787
  • Ranking:  9th
  • Tuition & Fees Approximately: In-state 18,192 USD, Out-of-state 28,958 USD
  • Finance and Admission Office Contact: 412-647-4200
  • Website: http://dermatology.pitt.edu/

10. John Hopkins medical schools

Johns Hopkins has consistently ranked among the nationโ€™s top medical schools in the number of research grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The Department of Dermatology imparts its values of innovative and compassionate care by recruiting and educating the next generation of dermatologists. The Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology excels at diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the skin, hair, and nails.

How to Become a Dermatologist

While dermatologist donโ€™t need to study as much as doctors, the path isnโ€™t that much easier. Itโ€™s easy to feel overwhelmed by the process, thatโ€™s why we made a step-by-step plan.

If you want to become a dermatologist, just follow it.

Step 1: Get an Undergraduate Degree on a Scientific Topic

This should take four years of study, and should be in either biology, chemistry, or related field.

Biology is fundamental for anyone who wants to become a doctor, and chemistry is especially helpful for dermatologists, because you must know how the skin reacts to specific chemical compounds.

Dermatologists are doctors. The skin is our bodyโ€™s biggest organ, and it protects whatโ€™s inside us. Knowing how to treat skin isnโ€™t any less important than knowing how to treat our liver or heart.

Step 2: Attend Medical School for 4 years

Medical school is an important decision for any aspiring dermatologist. Some people argue that the only way to be good at skin care is to have experience in skin care, but this isnโ€™t true.

The first thing youโ€™ll need to do, after finishing your undergraduate degree, is apply for medical school.

The application process can take up to a year, and there are many steps along the way. The first step is getting your application materials together. Then youโ€™ll need to create a list of schools youโ€™d like to apply to. You can then speak with your guidance counselor or headmaster about deadlines and other details.

The next step is sending out letters of interest (LOIs). Your guidance counselor can help with this part, but the basic process is that youโ€™ll send a letter to each school saying why they should accept you.

After sending out letters, the next step in your journey toward becoming a dermatologist will take entrance exams and interviews with dermatology schools.

Steps for applying medical school vary from country to country, so make sure you know what you need to do.

The last step is matching with a dermatology program thatโ€™s right for you. This part can be complicated if your grades werenโ€™t great or other circumstances came up during the application process.

Step 3: Pass the Dermatology Board Examination

You can take this examination after three to six years of residency training. If you donโ€™t pass it, you can try it again the next time itโ€™s available.

Step 4: Get a Dermatology Residency

Once youโ€™ve passed the board examination, itโ€™s time to train as a resident at an approved hospital. Youโ€™ll need to apply through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The best way to do this is with the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

This should take at least three years of hard work. Youโ€™ll need to be on top of your studies throughout, and itโ€™s likely that you wonโ€™t have time for much else during this period.

Steps 5: Gain experience as a practicing dermatologist

This can either be through private practice or working for the government in a public hospital.

The most common way to get into private practice is by starting off with an assistant position where youโ€™ll learn from more experienced doctors at different hospitals and clinics before eventually moving onto being fully independent.

Dermatologist Specializations & Degree Types

All dermatologists are board-certified physicians who have earned doctoral degrees in medicine. After earning board certification through the American Board of Dermatology, some dermatologists opt to further their medical training and specialize in a specific area of the discipline. The top three specializations for dermatology are: 

  • Dermatopathology: This specialization trains dermatologists to investigate biopsied skin tissues with a microscope to diagnose medical conditions, write up a written pathology report, determine the stage and severity of a condition, and make recommendations for treatment. 
  • Mohs surgery: A dermatologist trained in Mohs surgery treats patients with skin cancer. Mohs surgery focuses on the removal of cancerous tissues and a dermatologist trained as a Mohs surgeon can examine microscopic pieces of tissue under a microscope to ensure that cancerous tissues have been removed and healthy skin tissues remain. 
  • Pediatric dermatology: Trained in diseases that affect skin, hair, or nails in children, a pediatric dermatologist may help children with skin disorders that affect their senses such as a birthmark that interferes with sight.

Online Dermatologist Related Education Programs

There are no online dermatology medical school programs. However, there are online post-baccalaureate programs that provide degree training for graduates with a bachelorโ€™s degree who did not pursue a pre-med track. These programs typically take two years to complete and offer courses and academic advising to help students prepare for medical school coursework and clinical rotations. 

Dermatologists who have attained board certification have online options for continuing medical education (CME) credits. Two options are listed below. 

Colorado State University

Colorado State University offers online pre-med courses in a variety of general and specialty fields including general medicine. Courses can be taken to fulfill admissions requirements for medical school or taken as additional courses for those wanting to learn more about a specialty area such as pre-health genetics or gerontology. Students in this program have access to campus services to support adult learners, veterans, and academic advising. 

  • Location: Fort Collins, CO
  • Duration: Timeline varies
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
  • Tuition: $476 per credit

Drexel University

Drexel University offers a part-time, two-year pre-medical certificate program for students with non-science undergraduate degrees who want to pursue a health professions career. 

Designed with working students in mind, this program fulfills the prerequisite science courses required for admission by most medical schools, including dental, physician assistant, veterinary, or other health profession colleges. Taught by the Drexel College of Medicine faculty, this program also offers free MCAT preparation in the final semester. 

  • Location: Philadelphia, PA
  • Duration: Two years
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Tuition: $1,018 per credit

American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD)

Board-certified dermatologists can complete some of their continuing medical education (CME) credits online through the American Academy of Dermatology Association. Doctors can choose from a variety of activities including online quizzes, journal article reading, and case challenges that all earn CMEs. 

In addition to these activities, doctors can listen to podcasts, attend live courses, and complete case challenges, all of which will count towards the required number of CMEs per year. The AAD tracks these activities for its members, making it easy to keep track of how many CMEs have been earned. 

  • Location: Rosemont, IL
  • Duration: Varies
  • Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
  • Tuition: Varies based on the course

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS)

Dermatologists who also perform surgery can join the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). As a member, doctors can access ASDS Learn digital education. Offerings include podcasts, quizzes, conference recordings, live seminars, and step-by-step procedural reviews. There is even a virtual professor program with live and pre-recorded lectures on the latest innovations in dermatology surgery. ASDS Learn tracks the activities completed and assigns the appropriate CME to each event. 

  • Location: Fort Collins, CO
  • Duration: Varies
  • Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
  • Tuition: $476 per credit

How Long Does it Take to Become a Dermatologist?

Before seeing any patients on their own, dermatologists receive nearly a decade of post-secondary education and training. Dermatologists can expect to spend at least four years earning a bachelorโ€™s degree, four years in medical school, one year in an internship, and a minimum of three years in residency. 

Dermatologists wanting to specialize in dermatopathology, Mohs surgery, or pediatric dermatology can expect to spend an additional year in a specialized residency program to gain experience. Additional time may be needed to study for medical licensing or board examinations. 

Considering all the educational and professional requirements, students wanting to become a physician or a surgeon of dermatology should expect to spend 12 to 14 years earning degrees and experience through required experiential learning programs.


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