Program Overview

Advanced Practice Provider Dermatology Fellowship

The Advanced Practice Provider Dermatology Fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a one-year, non-ACGME-accredited program that admits one fellow per year.

Program Overview

The program is affiliated with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and fellows are hired as full-time employees with benefits, including a Continuing Medical Education allowance.

• The program includes a structured didactic and clinical curriculum, with a focus on demonstrating competencies specific to medical dermatology.
• Fellows attend daily lectures and gain hands-on experience in direct patient care through eight half-day clinical sessions per week.
• Two half-day sessions are dedicated to independent study, which is vital to the success of the fellows.
• Attending physicians within the department provide formal oversight and guidance throughout each patient care visit.

Program Goals

The goals of the Advanced Practice Provider Dermatology Fellowship are to foster professional growth, promote excellence in clinical practice, and develop advanced practice clinician leaders within the field of dermatology.

• This transition-to-practice program allows advanced practice providers to expand their knowledge base and develop confidence in their specialty of choice, while remaining in a protected learning environment.
• The mentorship provided by attending physicians within the department has been integral to the success of this program, as is their commitment to a mission-based culture.

Admission Criteria

• Applicants must be graduates of an accredited nurse practitioner or physician assistant program, and board-certified through one of the major accrediting bodies specific to their discipline.
• Greater than one year of clinical experience as an advanced practice clinician is preferred.

Application Process

• To apply for the Advanced Practice Provider Dermatology Fellowship, applicants must provide the following items:
  • A personal statement, to include the applicant's purpose in fellowship study and future professional goals as they relate to dermatology.
  • An updated curriculum vitae, to include a detailed description of prior dermatology experience, if applicable.
  • Minimum of three letters of recommendation, at least one from current or recent supervising physician or advanced practice provider (nurse practitioner or physician assistant).

Program Structure

• The 12-month postgraduate Advanced Practice Provider Dermatology Fellowship is designed for board-certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants who have recently graduated or who have limited experience in dermatology.
• The program includes training in various aspects of procedural dermatology, including shave and punch biopsy techniques, intralesional steroid injections, and the use of cryotherapy.
• Shadowing experiences in Mohs surgery, as well as other subspecialties both within and outside of the dermatology department, are available.
• Grand Rounds presentations and educational conferences are also built into this yearlong program.

Benefits

• Fellows are provided with:
  • An embroidered white coat
  • A new dermatoscope
  • A laptop for the training year
  • Copies of the following textbooks:
    • Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy (Wolverton)
    • Dermatology (Bolognia- 2 Volume set)
    • Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology (Paller)

Clinical Rotations

• Yes, we offer 6 weeks of clinical elective rotations to our fellows during their training year.
  • Mohs (Mohs surgery, pigmented lesion clinic, laser, and cosmetics)
  • Complex Medical Dermatology (Skin Oncology, CTCL and Rheum/Derm)
  • Surgery (Benign and Malignant)
  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • General Dermatology or Mohs in State College

Frequently Asked Questions

• When can I apply?
  • Applications are typically open from October through December each year.
• When does the fellowship start?
  • The fellowship training year runs from June through May each year.
• Will I be seeing pediatric and adult patients?
  • Yes. Our fellow will care for patients across the lifespan to gain the most from this training program.
• What does a typical week look like in the life of the fellow?
  • Daily didactic sessions are held on weekday mornings with our residents and fellows.
  • Each week you will have 8 half-day sessions of continuity clinic, as well as 2 half-day sessions of academic time.
  • We host Dermatology Grand Rounds on the first Friday of the month from September to June which the fellow will attend.