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Residency

The Department of Dermatology at UCI School of Medicine is committed to advancing clinical care, education, and research to help patients with diverse dermatological conditions.

Our vibrant educational program is designed to help residents and fellows gain expertise in the full range of medical and surgical dermatology with exposure to multi-disciplinary care, groundbreaking therapies, and a variety of research opportunities.

We offer a three-year ACGME accredited residency program. Our world-class faculty is dedicated to preparing trainees for careers in Academia, private practice, and administration. The department's faculty are actively engaged in education, mentorship, and clinical, translational, and basic science research.

Dermatopathology, a division of the Department of Dermatology, provides expertise in the pathology of the skin. The laboratory also provides services to community physicians, the Pathology Department at the UCI Medical Center, and supports clinical and basic research protocols.

The faculty, residents, and staff of the department of dermatology are proud to be part of UCI Health, and we look forward to building a better future for those living in Southern California.

Meet our residents

meet_residents

Application Process »

UCI participates in the National Resident Matching Program.  We only accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges to electronically transmit residency. We only offer ECFMG sponsored J-1 visas for ACGME resident and fellow appointments. We do not sponsor H-1 visa for these appointments.

Please complete the application in its entirety and be sure to include:

  • Personal statement
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Medical school transcript
  • Dean’s letter
  • Three letters of recommendation (it is advisable that at least one letter be from a Dermatology faculty member.
  • USMLE Step 1 score if applicable (and Step 2 if completed)
  • NRMP number

Before beginning the dermatology residency program, individuals must have successfully completed a one-year ACGME-approved residency program in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery or Transitional Medicine.

Supplemental ERAS application

This year, our program will be participating in the new AAMC Supplemental ERAS Application, which will include token preference signaling. Per AAMC and NRMP guidance, completion of this supplemental application is optional for all applicants, though we highly encourage applicants to our program complete it. This information will be combined with information in the MyERAS application to better understand an applicant’s interests and experiences.

Preference signaling

We do not filter applications based on metrics or attributes and strive to perform holistic review of all applications. However, given the sheer volume of applications, if you have a specific interest in our program, a signal will ensure your application receives an in-depth review by program leadership, and could differentiate your application from others with similar listed goals, experiences, and/or metrics.

Pre- and post-interview communication

Because we are participating in the new supplemental application and preference signaling, we will not consider other informal displays of interest including emails from you or an advocate, letters of intent, or thank you notes. Please do not send this type of communication either pre- or post-interview. If you have specific questions about the program, these can be directed to either Ms. Terena Wells, our program coordinator, or Dr. Lee. For general inquiries about the program, please refer to this website. We will communicate with you via email regarding interview information and the status of your application.

Positions offered:

We have a total of 15 residents in the program starting at the PGY2 year, and we are currently offering 5 positions in this year’s match cycle. Matched applicants would begin July 1, 2025

***An option for combined research and clinical dermatology training program exists and will be considered for interested applicants who have been selected through the standard match process. This program is for residents who are interested in becoming an independent investigator in dermatology. The position is supported through internal funds specifically allocated for a two-year research fellowship to be completed after their residency training. In addition, there is an option of beginning research during the third year of residency. During the second year of the fellowship, the applicant is expected to apply for independent funding, either through a dermatology foundation award, a K08 award, or another research grant source. The department will continue to mentor the fellow as he/she transitions toward independence. The trainee’s research need not be in a laboratory within the department of dermatology. The goal of this program is to develop outstanding cutaneous biologists who can gain early independence, as this is critical in launching a successful independent research career. To search for potential faculty mentors at UCI, please refer to the UCI Skin website.

Important dates and Deadlines:

UCI Dermatology Informational Webinar: September 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. PT

Application materials due: October 1, 2023

This year, we will be participating in the dermatology coordinated interview group release. Notifications regarding interviews will be sent by November 20. Responses are due back by November 29, 2023.

Interview Dates: January 10, 2024 & January 12, 2024

All interviews will be conducted this year, as determined by the University of California. There will be a Zoom based social activity hosted by the residents on the evening before the interviews. On the day of the interviews there will be a video introduction to the program and multiple rounds of interviews during which time the candidates and the faculty will have an opportunity to meet one another.

Application review process:

All applications will be randomly assigned for review by the UCI dermatology faculty serving on our Residency Selection Committee and will be evaluated holistically. We do not have a cutoff for USMLE Step 1 scores. 

We encourage applications from students who are underrepresented in medicine either based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, a health condition, or disability.

Applicants who have completed a prior residency in another specialty are eligible to apply.

   

 
Residency Match »

The NRMP provides an impartial venue for matching applicants' preferences for residency positions with program directors' preferences for applicants. In 2009, more than 36,000 allopathic medical school seniors and graduates of osteopathic, Canadian or foreign medical schools applied. They competed for 22,427 residency positions.

The NRMP is not an application or job-placement service. Applicants must apply directly to individual residency programs as well as registering for the match. Most programs participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), which transmits residency applications to program directors through the Internet. Applicants must register with both NRMP and ERAS to participate in the services of each.

Positions Available »

We currently support 15 residents.

We also offer a pre-residency clinical research fellowship and a post-residency procedural fellowship.

Training Facilities »

The UCI Medical Center is located in the city of Orange and is a world-class academic medical center and the only university hospital in Orange County, the 6th most populous county in the United States. It is part of the University of California hospital system and is staffed by UCI faculty physicians who offer the full scope of innovative medical care.

The administrative and outpatient headquarters of the Department of Dermatology are located in Irvine on the UCI Campus.

Inpatient Consult Services: 
UCI Medical Center 
http://www.ucihealth.org/

Veterans Administration Long Beach Healthcare System

Residents have 10-weeks of dedicated inpatient consults in the PGY3 & 4 years at the UCI Medical Center and cover the VA Long Beach inpatient service during one of their 10-week VA rotation blocks in the PGY2 year.

Outpatient: 

UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Building

Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center 

Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic 

UCI Health - Yorba Linda

UCI Health - Tustin

VA Long Beach

Interdisciplinary Specialty Clinics: Birthmarks and vascular anomalies, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, gynecologic dermatology, immunobullous diseases, hair disorders, immunosuppression and skin cancer, melanoma, and dermatology/rheumatology.

Dermatologic Surgery: Mohs surgery is performed at the Gottschalk Medical Plaza and the VA Long Beach. Surgical excisions take place at all of our clinical sites. The residents gain significant experience in surgical and laser procedures during all three years of residency. We also offer an ACGME accredited fellowship in Micrographic surgery and oncology and procedural dermatology.

Pediatric Dermatology: Children’s Hospital of Orange County

During the pediatric dermatology rotation blocks in the PGY2 and PGY3 years, the residents have the opportunity to rotate at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in multidisciplinary clinics including vascular anomalies, Tuberous Sclerosis, and recently a clinical trial in Epidermolysis Bullosa.

UCI Medical Center 

The residents rotate through the dermatopathology service during all three years of training, previewing cases, signing out with our board-certified dermatopathologists, and reviewing teaching slide sets.

 
Didactics and Conferences »

Didactics

A structured basic science and clinical education didactic program is conducted every Friday morning, which includes journal club, morphology conferences, lectures given by faculty, residents and outside speakers, and dermatopathology unknowns. This instruction encompasses all areas for which residents are examined by the American Board of Dermatology.

Conferences

Our monthly conferences include Grand Rounds, Dowling Club, Dermatologic surgery specialty review, and Pigmented lesions and Cutaneous Oncology Tumor Board.  

We also have an annual Skin Symposium, meetings held by the UCI Skin club, and quarterly meetings of the Dermatologic Society of Orange County.

Residents attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology and additional meetings pertinent to their research. They also have the opportunity to pursue elective rotations based on their clinical interests.

During most rotations, residents have half a day per week to use for basic or clinical research projects or other academic pursuits.

 
Resident Life »

Location and Transportation

UCI is located in idyllic Orange County approximately one hour north of San Diego and one hour south of Los Angeles, providing a lovely setting for academic training with a wide variety of experiences available to residents and their families. 

The primary UCI clinical sites are located at Gottschalk Medical Plaza on the UCI undergraduate campus in Irvine, the UCI Medical Center in Orange, and the Long Beach VA, offering a variety of locations for residents to live and explore. 

Residents have found that having a car is essential, and that parking passes are available for purchase at the Gottschalk Medical Plaza and UCI Medical Center but enjoy free parking at the VA. Virtually all of the major interstates in Orange County provide carpool/clean emission vehicle lanes to skip the traffic, and many residents capitalize on this perk while spending time together on the road! 

Where We Live

Based on the variety of clinical sites and personal preference, our residents live anywhere from Los Angeles to South Orange County, with the majority living in Irvine, Newport Beach, and Long Beach. UCI residents enjoy a generous housing stipend regardless of distance from clinical training sites, which is detailed in the resident benefits section of the website. 

Activities

UCI dermatology residents are fortunate to enjoy numerous recreational and adventure activities unique to southern California. With nearly perfect weather year-round, there is never a shortage of outdoor activities to take part in. From some of the most beautiful California coastal beaches, to skiing the slopes of Big Bear mountain, to iconic amusement parks such as Disneyland, Orange County is full of family-friendly destinations and activities. Residents often spend their weekends hiking, biking, camping, and surfing all while observing safe sun protective measures of course! 

Many residents enjoy the use of the UCI athletic facilities, sporting events, and beautiful outdoor campus for studying or visiting with friends. Our UCI dermatology residents are a close group and often enjoy getting together after work at local restaurants. We also host regular wellness events to promote team bonding through activities such as bowling, sporting events, and dinner parties. 

With Los Angeles and San Diego only an hour away in each direction, UCI residents frequently spend weekends exploring all that these amazing cities have to offer. From the world famous San Diego Zoo, to the unmatched foodie scene of LA, there are endless opportunities for everyone! 

 
Resident Salary Scales »

Annual stipends (starting July 1, 2023):

  • PGY-2 = $80,024
  • PGY-3 = $82,793 
  • PGY-4 = $85,685

Vacation leave — Residents are offered four weeks of vacation leave annually.

Sick leave — Residents are granted up to 12 days of sick leave annually if needed.

Parental bonding leave – Residents are granted 4 weeks of paid parental leave.

Health insurance — Residents are provided with medical, dental and vision insurance, including coverage for their dependents (spouse/children/domestic partner) at no cost. Long-term disability insurance also is provided for residents.

Professional liability insurance — Residents are provided with professional liability coverage for all activities that are approved components of the residency program.

Licensing Stipend — Expenses for California medical licensure are provided.

Educational Expenditure Stipend — Each resident receives up to $1,500 per academic year for board study materials, conference registration/travel, journals, books, dermatoscopes, etc., as per Department of Dermatology reimbursement policy.

Housing Stipend — Each resident receives $8,000 per academic year.

Meals — Each resident receives a meal stipend of $1440/year for use at the UC Irvine Douglas Hospital cafeteria.

Academic time – Residents are provided with one half-day of protected academic time per week. Residents also receive 15 academic days total during residency to use for conferences, away rotations, and interviews.

 
Resident Weekly Conference »

Resident weekly conferences are held each Friday morning either remotely or at the Weinstein library on the UC Irvine campus.

The conferences include resident presentations, faculty or outside speakers and/or journal clubs.

Administration »

Residency Program Director: Bonnie Lee, MD

Associate Residency Program Director: Nathan Rojek, MD

Residency Program Coordinator: Terena Wells 

 
Statement on Diversity »
Health equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values for the Department of Dermatology at UCI School of Medicine. Our goal is to recruit and support individuals from all backgrounds to create a program that is reflective of the community and world we serve. To do so, we seek individuals with a variety of different perspectives and life experiences. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that is respectful, safe, and welcoming for all – for individuals of any ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, immigration status, citizenship status, socio-economic circumstance, and ability.
ACGME Competencies »

The Department of Dermatology uses six competency areas identified by the ACGME for organization of educational objectives and assessment methods. The general competencies are:

  • Patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health;
  • Medical Knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care;
  • Practice-based learning and improvement that involves the investigation and evaluation of care for their patients, the appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care;
  • Interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and other health professionals;
  • Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to patients of diverse backgrounds;
  • Systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care.
Class Photos »

Department of Dermatology Residents 2021-2024

Class of 2024, PGY4

pgy4

Pictured (left to right) – Xiying Fan, Katerina Yale, Justin Arnold, Jodie Raffi, Bodak Hedayati 

Department of Dermatology Residents 2022-2025

Class of 2025, PGY3

pgy3

Pictured (left to right) - Luke Horton, Cameron Zachary, Andrew Creadore, Ajay Sharma, Christine Pham

Department of Dermatology Residents 2023-2026

Class of 2026, PGY2

pgy2

Pictured (left to right) – Sidharth Chand, Erica Baugh, Sophia Ederaine, Briana Halle, Dana Hutchison

View our residents' bios ›

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