1. Clinical and Procedural Mastery
- Mohs Surgical Technique: Become proficient in planning and performing Mohs micrographic surgery across varied skin cancers and anatomical locations, including specimen processing, slide interpretation, mapping, and margin control.
- Reconstructive Skills: Develop competence in repairing post-operative defects using primary closure, second-intention healing, local flaps (advancement, rotation, transposition), grafts (full- and split-thickness), and staged interpolated pedicle flaps.
- Complex Oncology Management: Manage patients with complicated medical histories and high-risk tumors, employing appropriate pre-, peri-, and post-operative care.
- Laboratory Operations: Understand the day-to-day workflow of a Mohs histology lab, from specimen cutting to processing and slide labeling.
- Referral and Multidisciplinary Coordination: Recognize when cases warrant referral (e.g., complex reconstructions, advanced tumors) and effectively work within multidisciplinary teams.
2. Medical Knowledge & Patient Care
- Gain in-depth understanding of skin tumor biology, diagnosis, and histopathology, as well as relevant anatomy, anesthesia principles, aseptic technique, and instrumentation.
- Provide compassionate, respectful, and culturally sensitive care to patients and their families, demonstrating professionalism.
3. Scholarly Activity & Practice Improvement
- Develop research skills, including IRB regulations, clinical trial design, and manuscript preparation. Fellows are expected to present and/or publish at least one project.
- Apply evidence-based medicine to daily practice and utilize quality improvement methods to analyze and refine clinical performance.
4. Communication & Leadership
- Build effective communication skills with patients, families, referring providers, and multidisciplinary teams. This includes coordinating tumor board discussions and presenting literature in journal clubs.
- Gain teaching experience with residents, medical students, and allied health staff, helping prepare the next generation of dermatology professionals.
5. Systems Awareness & Professionalism
- Understand healthcare systems—including coding, billing, and financial/payer constraints—and learn how to optimize care within these frameworks.
- Demonstrate ethical decision-making, punctuality, accountability, cultural sensitivity, and leadership professionalism.
