Abstract

Dermatopathology fellowship is 1-2 years of advanced training that is done after completing a pathology or dermatology residency. There are more than 50 dermatopathology fellowships in the United States; however, the programs differ in many aspects, including the application process and educational requirements. This study aims to understand the characteristics of accredited dermatopathology fellowships to provide insight to applicants, program directors, and accreditation bodies. In this cross-sectional study, we reviewed several academic aspects of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited dermatopathology fellowships based on a publicly available data, including the websites of the dermatopathology fellowships, the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database (FREIDA), and the American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP) website. Several factors, including the sponsoring department (dermatology vs. pathology), program director training background (dermatology vs. pathology), number of positions, the application process, and fellowship length, were analyzed. We also evaluated several academic and curriculum-related factors, including rotations, educational conferences, research support, and requirements. We also highlighted differences in schedules across programs. Out of the 57 accredited programs, 29 (51%) programs were sponsored by pathology departments, and 31 (54%) program directors were pathology trained. Most fellowships offered one spot (n=27, 47%), and 45 (79%) programs were for one year only. The application process differed across the programs, with only 16 fellowships using the ASDP application form, 10 programs using the CAP application form, and 25 programs using independent applications. Our study illustrated the variability in fellowships’ structure, training, and application. Our findings could provide insight and help identify discrepancies for the different stakeholders, including applicants and programs.

Financial Disclosure:
No current or relevant financial relationships exist.