MD and PA Student Education

A group of students listening to a medical lecture.

The Department of Dermatology at OHSU has a long history of educating future health care providers in the nuances of skin disease. The department's faculty and staff actively participate in classroom lectures, preceptorships and clinical electives through the School of Medicine. Angela J. Jiang, M.D., directs the student education curriculum.

Current 3rd and 4th year OHSU medical students can choose from several elective options in dermatology:

  • The 4-week introductory elective, Clinical Dermatology 709A, provides a broad introduction to all aspects of dermatology including medical and pediatric dermatology with some exposure to surgical dermatology, dermatopathology and inpatient consultations. The elective also includes Morphology Conference, didactics, and weekly dermatopathology conferences.
  • The 4-week advanced elective, Subspecialty Dermatology 709C, builds on the knowledge gained in the introductory course through more focused exposure to the specialty areas of dermatology including atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, pediatric dermatology, autoimmune dermatology, nail disorders, supportive oncodermatology, and Mohs surgery. The elective also includes Morphology Conference, didactics, and weekly dermatopathology conferences.
  • If you have a special interest in pediatric dermatology, another 4-week elective, Pediatric Dermatology 709PE, can be taken with approval from the course director.
  • Additional courses in dermatopathology and dermatologic research as well as an away rotation with the dermatologists at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene is available. The rotation at Sacred Heart Medical Center is not managed by OHSU Department of Dermatology. 

Current 4th year medical students in good standing at LCME- or AOA-accredited schools are eligible for several electives in dermatology based on availability. Students will spend most of their rotation at the Center for Health and Healing and the Hospital at Oregon Health & Sciences University, and it is not mandatory to have a vehicle during this rotation.

Oregon Health and Sciences Department of Dermatology is committed to a holistic review of residency applications, and we do not have a minimum Step 2 board score to be considered. Additionally, students do not need to rotate at OHSU to be considered, and we do not guarantee interviews to everyone who rotates with us.

Elective options that are available include: 

  • Students intending to pursue a residency in dermatology are recommended to apply for the advanced elective, Subspecialty Dermatology 709C.
  • We are planning to support a Pediatric Dermatology Residency Track, and if you are interested in Pediatric Dermatology, please reach out to us to enroll in Pediatric Dermatology 709PE.
  • If you are interested in Dermatopathology, you may apply for Dermatopathology 709B to work with our three dermatology-trained dermatopathologists.

The Department of Dermatology offers a Student Visiting Scholarship.

Please see the following website for more specific information on eligibility, application procedures, timeline, and rotation dates, please visit OHSU's MD Program Visiting Students page.

PA students have the option of a 5-week introductory elective in dermatology which provides a broad introduction to basic medical dermatology. In addition to time spent with the medical dermatology faculty, students have the unique opportunity to work directly alongside faculty member Kim Sanders, PA-C, who provides knowledge not only of the clinical aspects of dermatologic care but also on the practical aspects of the PA-physician relationship. 

For more information on OHSU School of Medicine's PA program, visit the Physician Assistant Program page.

Please contact Kristine Nguyen in the Department of Dermatology with any further questions (503-494-7007 or nguyekri@ohsu.edu.