Education/training
Success is more than skin deepThe skin is the body's largest organ, acting as a shield to the rest of the organs and regulating body temperature. Hair and nails, along with the skin, can reflect a person's general health and alert the trained eye to what may be going on inside. APRILLE JANES |
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 [ 2002-08-07 ] |
Because they are so visible, they play an important role in a person's appearance and may affect mental health as well. Dermatologists touch on all these areas in their profession.
Dr. Ronald Vender, who practices at The Dermatology Centre of Hamilton, enjoys "the uniqueness of the specialty. It's different in that it's very visual and overlaps a lot of other specialties."
He goes on to explain, "I see patients from all over Ontario that have problems with their skin, hair and nails. A regular workday has numerous interruptions, but it's usually very enjoyable with a lot of variety from newborns to seniors. There's always something different, from cosmetic to serious, but they're all problems that people can see. Skin diseases have a lot of psychosocial impact and I have to take the time to explain that to patients and help them deal with it. I make the effort to work with my patient. It becomes very personal."
This personal touch is what draws many doctors to this specialty. During a patient's visit, the dermatologist may do a physical exam, recommend any needed testing and listen to concerns. They will explain all available options and even perform minor surgery or cosmetic procedures in their office.
In the course of a typical day, they may see allergic reactions, industrial and environmentally-induced skin diseases, skin cancers and rashes.
A patient may be seeking help with hair loss or nail problems. Or the dermatologist may simply remove a wart or treat acne.
After completing their internship, a medical school graduate may seek specialty training in dermatology at two universities in Ontario: the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa. A five-year course of study includes basic clinical training, an approved residency in internal medicine or pediatrics, two more years of residency in dermatology and a final year in either further residency training, research or study. Then they must pass an exam and be certified by the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada or the Federation des medecins specialistes du Quebec.
All of this training provides the strong background these specialists need in the basic medical sciences. Skin diseases are often associated with internal conditions so a dermatologist must be familiar with all the other medical specialties. They must be experts at spotting internal problems by their outward signs.
Dr. Vender emphasizes the importance of dermatology as a profession in the future. "Things have become a lot more 'visual'. I think people are more aware of what they look like as the workplace becomes more competitive, so appearance is even more important."
He adds, "Medicine and treatments are more complicated so there are more side effects that we deal with, more skin manifestations and more diseases. I think the specialty has become much more demanding and more interesting."
Trained dermatologists may work in a number of areas. Along with seeing patients in a private practice or hospital clinic, there are also opportunities in clinical research, teaching and as consultants to other specialists.
Some doctors also specialize in a particular area of dermatology such as skin cancers or cosmetic dermatology.
The demand for these trained professionals will continue to grow in the future as the environment becomes more complicated, the population ages and medical knowledge continues to expand.
If you're interested in a medical profession that will provide you with a challenge, variety and the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives, dermatology may be just what you're looking for.
(Aprille Janes is a freelance writer based in Port Perry and can be reached at aprillej@attcanada.ca.)
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