International Graduate Training Program

The Department of Dermatology offers two tracks of graduate dermatology training:

  • Programs leading to a university degree for physicians who desire specialization in dermatology to become specialists or consultants in their home countries;
  • Non-degree programs for trained dermatologists (or other specialists) who desire to update their knowledge in dermatology or its subspecialties in a leading academic center in the USA.

All programs (degree and non-degree) involve direct patient care with hands-on clinical participation.

Degree Programs

The Department of Dermatology offers the following programs of study leading to Boston University School of Medicine, Division of Graduate Medical Sciences degrees:

  • Master of Science in Dermatology or Dermatopathology (2 years);
  • Doctor of Science in Dermatology (4 years).

Entrance Requirements include a medical degree (M.D. or M.B.B.S.) from a recognized university, a year of internship, one or more years of experience in medicine (preferably with an emphasis in dermatology), and proficiency in English. TOEFL scores are required. Please have your scores sent to center code 3231.

Once accepted, trainees are enrolled as special students at the Boston University School of Medicine and are covered by the School’s malpractice and health insurance policies.

The Master of Science and Doctorate programs, designed for medical graduates seeking advanced training in dermatology or dermatopathology, are based on U.S. graduate medical training methods, encompassing didactic lectures, seminars, conferences, direct patient contact, and in the case of the Doctorate degree, a thesis requirement. All clinical sessions are under direct faculty supervision, and trainees are given increased responsibility as their training progresses.

The Master of Science and Doctorate Programs are academcic, course-based programs that provide clinical dermatology training with a sound basis in the fundamentals of dermatologic science. Students in these programs are assigned to clinical outpatient sessions (4 to 6 per week) at the Boston Medical Center, where they have primary patient responsibility under faculty supervision, as well as rotations in the Department’s Section of Dermatopathology and inpatient consultation service. Specific rotations in dermatologic surgery and laser surgery provide additional instruction in these increasingly important dermatologic treatment modalities. Courses include Clinical Dermatology, Clinical Pathological Correlation, Basic Dermatopathology, Diagnostic Dermatopathology, Cutaneous Microbiology, Photobiology, Dermatologic and Laser Surgery, Structure and Function of the Skin, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS.

Daily clinical exposure is complemented by lectures, seminars and conferences by members of the faculty and invited prominent speakers. Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings are devoted to academic activities. At bi-weekly Grand Rounds, interesting cases are presented and discussed. Other academic activities include quarterly meetings of the New England Dermatologic Society; other regional dermatology meetings; and the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Instruction of trainees in the Department of Dermatology is yearlong from July 1 thorough June 30. Three weeks of vacation per year is customary.

As is customary in clinical medical education, in many courses students at different levels will be enrolled simultaneously. Indeed, the students will enroll each year in some courses (e.g., Clinical Dermatology). In such instances, the instructor will take into account each student’s level in grading and guiding the student’s course participation. A higher level of performance will be demanded of a more advanced student. Individualized teaching and evaluation is readily accomplished in the Program’s small group format. Many instruction groups consist of two to four students and the entire Program enrollment is not expected to exceed 15 students. At least ten hours per week of lectures, slide reviews and other didactic instruction is provided.

Non-Degree Programs

The International Graduate Dermatology Program offers superb opportunities to dermatologists wishing to update their knowledge and have first-hand experience of state-of-the-art advances in the diagnosis and management of cutaneous disorders.

The non-degree pathways are:

  • Diploma in Dermatology (1 year)
  • Certificate in Clinical Dermatology

The Diploma Program is equivalent to the first year of the Masters Program. Students are permitted to enroll in this program initially and subsequent admission to the Masters Program is contingent upon successful completion of the first year requirements.

The Certificate in Clinical Dermatology is an advanced program geared towards dermatologist who desire a more in-depth knowledge and practice of dermatology. This program may be tailored to accommodate certain areas of interest of the student.

In both these programs, there is a concomitant academic program. Lectures and seminars by world-renowned dermatologists and scientists are offered (at least twice per week) throughout the year as well as Grand Rounds, where interesting and puzzling cases are discussed by leading dermatologists. Attendance at regional and national meetings of dermatologic societies is available for enrollees in these programs.

All full-time degree and non-degree programs are tuition-bearing. The tuition fee set by Boston University School of Medicine currently stands at USD $44,786 per year.

For further information contact:

Thomas M. Ruenger, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Dermatology, Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine
c/o Daniella Adrien, Program Coordinator
Department of Dermatology, J-505
Boston University School of Medicine
609 Albany Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02118 USA
Fax: (617) 638-5515
E-mail: dermtrng@bu.edu

Primary teaching affiliate
of BU School of Medicine