Reflections from a Recent Derm Graduate Who Took Both the AOBD and ABD Applied Exams
The applied exam marks the culmination of years of training for most derm residents. Obtaining board certification signifies to patients that one is an expert in the field of dermatology and is more than capable of providing care independently. Although the overwhelming majority of residents pass, it’s difficult not to let your guard down while preparing. The stakes are simply too high not to gi …
The applied exam marks the culmination of years of training for most derm residents. Obtaining board certification signifies to patients that one is an expert in the field of dermatology and is more than capable of providing care independently. Although the overwhelming majority of residents pass, it’s difficult not to let your guard down while preparing. The stakes are simply too high not to gi … 
As a first-year dermatology resident, you are finally in the role you worked so hard for, yet you are expected to function, contribute, and grow from day one. The most prepared residents aren't necessarily the ones who memorized the most before July. They're the ones who built the right foundation — the right resources, the right habits, the right systems — so they’re ready when the learning … 
Congratulations on starting dermatology residency! It’s thrilling, humbling, and yes—sometimes downright overwhelming. You’ll stretch both personally and professionally over the next year, and the lessons you learn now will shape your entire career. There are many unknowns, and it’s hard to navigate expectations. Don’t worry! I’ve been there too. Here’s some real advice that will hel … 
In the continuity clinic, the patients are there to see you! Most residency programs have some kind of continuity clinic. They vary across institutions and even across sites within the same institution. They can vary from one half-day per week to two full days per week, and be at the same site throughout the residency or change. An attending may staff each patient, or they may only see a patient i … 
Cabtreo is the first FDA-approved fixed-dose triple-combination topical treatment for acne vulgaris, pairing a lincosamide antibiotic (clindamycin), a synthetic retinoid (adapalene), and a keratolytic oxidizing agent (benzoyl peroxide) into a single once-daily gel. This formulation targets several pillars of acne pathogenesis simultaneously: cutaneous C. acnes proliferation, abnormal keratinizatio …