Dear potential applicant,
Welcome to the Northwestern University Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship Program! Our one-year fellowship program in dermatologic surgery at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University provides comprehensive training in oncologic, cosmetic, and laser procedures. Our fellowship meets all requirements for the ACGME and ACMS-accredited Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology fellowship. The fellowship also includes extensive exposure to clinical research, particularly clinical trials and other patient-centered research. It is our mission to train and equip national leaders in academic dermatologic surgery.
At Northwestern, fellows will find a world class training experience in the heart of Chicago. The majority of training will take place at Northwestern’s downtown campus, located one block off of Michigan Avenue. Chicago is a culturally diverse city and offers a truly unparalleled living experience, boasting some of the nation’s best museums, sports, dining, and entertainment.
Our fellows receive training from fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons in all aspects of Mohs surgery, including rare and recurrent tumors and complex repairs. The practice has high volume, and fellows are provided the opportunity to perform many more than the minimum required number of cases.
Fellows also receive extensive training in cosmetic and laser procedures. Proficiency is achieved through hands-on application of lasers and energy treatments, filler and injectables, scar revision techniques, tumescent liposuction, and many other procedures. The practice maintains approximately 20 laser and energy devices for a diversity of indications.
Clinical research is a major part of the fellowship experience. The fellows are provided staff support, necessary equipment and resources, formal training through coursework as appropriate, and the guidance of regular weekly research meetings with core faculty. Fellow research may include clinical trials, multicenter cohort studies, analysis of databases, guidelines development, and other work designed to substantially impact the practice of dermatologic surgery. The purpose of the research experience is to prepare the fellow for a career as an independent clinical researcher in academic dermatologic surgery.
Fellows are encouraged to present abstracts, posters, and oral presentations at meetings of major national professional societies. They are supported to attend the annual meetings of the ASDS, ACMS, ASLMS, SID, AAD, and APD, as well as other national or international conferences that may be of interest. In addition, fellows may also work with other oncologic and surgical specialties at Northwestern, participate in journal clubs and tumor board, and teach Northwestern dermatology residents through didactic sessions.
Our goal is that all fellows experience comprehensive training and individual mentorship to develop into national leaders in academic dermatologic surgery.
Sincerely,
Fellowship Summary Description
Effective July 1, 2022, we will transition to a 1-year fellowship program in dermatologic surgery at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. Our program provides comprehensive training in all aspects of caring for dermatologic surgery patients: inpatient and outpatient consultation, treatment of uncommon and rare tumors, skin cancer removal and treatment by multiple modalities, simple and advanced reconstruction, laser and aesthetic correction of scars and other skin problems, and multidisciplinary management of complex cases. The program also includes extensive exposure to clinical research, particularly clinical trials and other patient-centered research. Fellows are mentored to develop research projects and provided additional formal training in and research methods as well as staff support. The goal of the fellowship is to train and equip national leaders in academic dermatologic surgery.
Our program meets the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) fellowship in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology fellowship. Additionally, the fellowship year concurrently satisfies the requirements for the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) fellowship in Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery.
We offer a robust didactic curriculum including journal club, multidisciplinary tumor board conferences and faculty lectures. Fellows are encouraged to attend appropriate courses, including one focusing on anatomy/dissection, as well as annual meetings of the ASDS, ACMS, ASLMS, SID and AAD.
Clinical Research
Clinical research is a major part of the fellowship experience. After fellows have matched, they are introduced to the research staff in the clinical research unit in dermatologic surgery. Through a succession of planning meetings attended by the fellow, faculty and staff, several substantial research ideas are developed that are then spearheaded by the fellow. The fellow is provided staff support, necessary equipment and resources, formal training through coursework as appropriate, and the guidance of regular weekly research meetings with core faculty. Fellow research may include clinical trials, multicenter cohort studies, analysis of databases, guidelines development, and other work designed to substantially impact the practice of dermatologic surgery. The purpose of the research experience is to prepare the fellow for a career as an independent clinical researcher in academic dermatologic surgery.
Meetings and Conferences
Fellows are encouraged to present abstracts, posters, and oral presentations at meetings of major national professional societies. They are supported to attend the annual meetings of the ASDS, ACMS, ASLMS, SID, AAD, as well as other national or international conferences that may be of interest.
Positions offered
One position will be offered in the 2022 Match Season. Effective July 1, 2023, two positions will be offered each year.
Murad Alam, MD
Murad Alam, MD, MSCI, MBA
Vice Chair, Department of Dermatology
Chief of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery in the Department of Dermatology
Professor of Dermatology (Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery), Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and Surgery (Organ Transplantation)
Application Process
Applicants will need to register with the Central Application System (CAS) on SF Match (https:www.sfmatch.org) for Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology and designate one of the recipients to be the Northwestern University/Dr. Alam fellowship.
In addition to the SF Match application, interested applicants should submit a personal statement of professional goals via email to dermresidency@nm.org with “Attn: Dermatologic Surgery Application” in the subject line.
In this one-page statement of professional goals, the applicant should explain their post-fellowship plans. We are particularly interested in how the applicant is planning to contribute to the dermatologic surgery specialty after completion of the fellowship. Possibilities include humanitarian activities or public health initiatives, clinical or translational research, other creative intellectual work (e.g., innovation and invention), teaching and mentoring, government or public sector work, or leadership within the profession. We believe carefully crafting a personal statement of professional goals help provide clarity to both the applicant and the program.
Graduates of an ACGME-approved dermatology residency program interested in a career in academic dermatologic surgery are particularly encouraged to apply. Canadian applicants who have completed an equivalent program can be considered but the program does not sponsor or support H1B visa applicants.
Contact us:
Murad Alam, MD, MSCI, MBA
Program Director
m-alam@northwestern.edu
Lisa Glatz
Program Coordinator
676 N. St. Clair St., Ste 1600
Chicago, IL 60611
dermresidency@nm.org
312-695-7932
Current fellows:
Ming Lee, MD
Ming Lee, MD
Boston University Dermatology Residency
Frances Walocko, MD, MEng
Frances Walocko, MD, MEng
Fellow 2021-2023, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dermatology Residency Program
Ross Pearlman, MD
Ross Pearlman, MD
Fellow 2022-2024, University of Mississippi Medical Center Dermatology Residency Program.
Prior fellows:
Ming Lee, MD
Gainesville Skin Cancer Center
Sarah Wilson, MD
West Georgia Dermatology
Anjali K. Butani, MD:
Founder of Anjali MD Dermatology in Orange, California
Founder of Anjali MD Skincare line
Douglas Jackson Fife, MD:
Founder and President of Vivida Dermatology in Nevada (4 locations)
Misbah H. Khan, MD:
Founder and President of M Khan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York
Diana Bolotin, MD:
Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago
Interim Section Chief, Dermatology
Ambulatory Practice Manager, Dermatology
Director, Mohs Micrographic Surgery
Melanie Ann Warycha, MD:
Caremount Medical in Mount Kisco, New York
Kapila Paghdal, MD:
Northern Bergen Dermatology Group in New Jersey
Kira Minkis, MD:
Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Weil Cornell University
Meghan Morrow, MD:
Advanced Dermatology
Abigail Hart Waldman, MD:
Clinical Director, Mohs & Dermatologic Surgery Center at Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Director, Mohs Surgery, VA Boston Healthcare System
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Brian Petersen, MD:
Colorado Permanente Medical Group
Farhaad Riyaz, MD:
Integrated Dermatology in Washington, DC
Rachel Kyllo, MD:
Founder of Meramec Dermatology in St. Louis, Missouri
Brandon Worley, MD:
Florida Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers
