Department of Dermatology

Dermatopathology Fellowship

The Dermatopathology Fellowship Training Program offers two courses of study: one for the trainee with a Dermatology background and one for the trainee with a Pathology background. Both programs involve 50% of the trainee's time spent in Dermatopathology, while the other 50% of the time is spent training in either Dermatology or Pathology depending on the background of the trainee. Both types of trainees should learn appropriate circumstances for performing and be proficient in interpreting immunoperoxidase stains, immunofluorescence studies and electron microscopy. Finally, the fellow should be able to formulate an appropriate Dermatopathology report. Both fellows should be qualified and prepared to take the certification examination in Dermatopathology after one (1) year. This program is ACGME accredited and allows for American Board of Dermatology certification in Dermatopathology. A dermatology or pathology residency is required prior to the fellowship. For more details please contact Deb Ackerman

50% Dermatopathology / 50% Pathology

The main goal for a Dermatology trained fellow is to enhance his/her knowledge of Dermatopathology as much as possible in one year. The fellow should also learn routine and special procedures in pathology, including grossing of specimens, fixation and processing techniques, and slide preparation and staining. He/She should also gain proficiency in ordering and interpreting appropriate special procedures-special and immunoperoxidase stains, molecular diagnostic studies, (particularly for lymphoproliferative lesions), immunofluorescent procedures, and electron microscopy. Some basic concepts of laboratory management should also be gained. In addition, fellows should acquire enough autopsy experience to be able to perform a complete autopsy prosection, and to formulate and sign out autopsy reports with the Pathology attending.


50% Dermatopathology / 50% Dermatology

The foremost goal for a Pathology trained fellow is to learn as much Dermatopathology as possible in one year, recognizing that the one year can only be a start in a career in Dermatopathology. Continued learning will be acquired with experience, and by attending Dermatopathology workshops and meetings long after the fellowship year. Clinico-pathological correlation is extremely important in Dermatopathology, and it is very important that the fellow obtain a solid foundation in clinical Dermatology by seeing patients in the clinics and by attending clinical conferences. The fellow should learn to examine and describe clinical lesions and place them into context with the histopathology from biopsies, formulating and comparing clinical and pathological differentials, and arriving at appropriate diagnoses. He should also become proficient in performing routine clinical procedures including biopsies and KOH fungal and parasite microscopic preparations.

Click here to learn more about the University of Pittsburgh Physicians (UPP) Dermatopathology Unit.