Investigative Training Track

For those candidates whose career plans involve a primary commitment to investigative or academic dermatology, an Investigative Training Track, which must assure adequate clinical education and experience in accordance with the general requirements for residency training, may also be acceptable. The essential elements of such training tracks are as follows:

1. Training experiences for individuals in the Investigative Training Track must be candidate-specific (i.e., not a program-specific pathway).
2. The first year (PGY2) of this track must be 100% clinical in character. Access a form to submit to the ABD office detailing the resident’s activities during the special training track period.
3. Investigative or academic experience can be integrated with the required additional clinical training during the second (PGY3), third (PGY4), and/or fourth (PGY5) year/s. In this Investigative Training Track, residents must satisfy a requirement for 225% direct patient care time (as defined by 100% clinical training in the first [PGY2] year and the balance of 125% clinical training apportioned over the second [PGY3], third [PGY4], and/or fourth [PGY5] years of this track). In addition, the Investigative Track must include the equivalent to a one-half day clinic per week each year until the 225% requirement is met. Continuity of patient care should be stressed as much as possible in this clinic experience. Rotations on the inpatient consultation service, for a period comparable to the time similarly scheduled for general dermatology residents, may be substituted for the outpatient clinic time during the special training track years of the residency.
4. Requests for approval of this Investigative Training Track must be submitted to the Executive Director of the Board prospectively, at least four (4) months prior to the beginning of such training. This will be on or before March 1 of the year preceding the onset of the special track. Requests earlier than January 1 of the PGY2 year will not be considered because the program director must have an opportunity to judge the clinical potential of the trainee. The request for consideration of this investigative track must include information about the intended research, a letter of support from the faculty member the resident will be working with, and a detailed schedule of the resident’s time commitments during the entire training period. It is incumbent upon program directors to select candidates for this special training track whose skills and learning capabilities permit the acquisition of clinical competence as well as the execution of their investigative or academic responsibilities. Moreover, the program director must monitor the training of these residents throughout their residency and must validate their clinical and research experiences at the completion of their residencies. Program directors should contact the Executive Director of the ABD if there are questions or if additional information is needed concerning this special track.

If you are interested in pursuing this career path, please contact Holly Kerr, MD at Hkerr1@hfhs.org.