Roadmap for Residents Planning to Enter Academia Contracts: What to Do After Signing
Part 2 of 2
You’ve signed on the dotted line—you’re joining an academic dermatology department! Congratulations! This final part of the series will help guide you in shaping your early career. It’s critical to envision the kind of career you want and take steps to make it happen from day one while still staying open to unpredictable opportunities that arise. In addition to your dreams, …
Part 2 of 2
You’ve signed on the dotted line—you’re joining an academic dermatology department! Congratulations! This final part of the series will help guide you in shaping your early career. It’s critical to envision the kind of career you want and take steps to make it happen from day one while still staying open to unpredictable opportunities that arise. In addition to your dreams, … 
What made you decide on a career in dermatology?
When I was 16 years old, I had a rash on my trunk, which baffled the pediatrician. When it wasn’t going away, they took me to see Dr. Alvin Friedman-Kien at NYU. From the door, he took one look and told me I had pityriasis rosea. I was fascinated by the sound of the long Latin name and I was hooked. From that moment on, I strived to get good gr … 
When it comes to board exams, there is one important thing to remember for success: You don't just need to learn material, you have to synthesize it. Medical journals and literature are tricky and require creative thinking and applied problem solving in order to fully understand; that's why synthesis is so important. This could mean building tables, compiling figures and small chunks of data... wh … 
"A picture is worth a thousand words."
In my experience, these words have never been more relevant and applicable to my work as a dermatologist. I wish I had known when I was starting out just how important the element of photography is. Especially if one wishes to publish articles and lectures, nationally and internationally.
As a young practitioner, I would have taken courses in photography. … 