ACGME Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship

This one-year fellowship combines an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology program with an American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery program. Fellows receive extensive training in Mohs surgery, laser procedures and cosmetic dermatology.

Applicants to the Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship must have completed a dermatology residency in an ACGME-accredited program. Our structured curriculum is delivered in a supportive and collegial environment, with the goal of preparing fellows to make lasting contributions to the field of dermatology.

The surgical portion of the fellowship takes place at the UC Davis Health Department of Dermatology in Sacramento, California. Our team includes two Mohs surgery, college-trained faculty, Daniel Eisen, M.D., and Jayne Joo, M.D., who bring training from different institutions, allowing fellows to experience a variety of approaches to Mohs surgery and wound closure.

The surgical curriculum provides hands-on experience in Mohs techniques and reconstructive methods, including second-intention healing, primary closure, grafts and flaps. While most surgical sites are closed by faculty, fellows occasionally collaborate with specialists in plastic, facial plastic and oculoplastic surgery, gaining exposure to multidisciplinary approaches.

Faculty perform more than 1,000 Mohs procedures annually, and fellows typically serve as the primary surgeon for 600–700 cases, ensuring robust operative experience.

Fellows gain their laser and cosmetic dermatology experience at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California with Suzanne L. Kilmer, M.D., located just a short distance from UC Davis Health in Sacramento. With more than 20 years of experience in cutaneous laser treatments, Kilmer has served as principal investigator on numerous landmark clinical trials using lasers for tattoo, hair, pigment and vessel removal, non-ablative and ablative laser resurfacing, fractional erbium and carbon dioxide lasers, tissue tightening and fat removal devices, and several filler studies. Her facility houses more than 25 lasers and light-based devices, and she serves on nine medical advisory boards, ensuring fellows train with the latest technology. The center is ASDS-accredited for Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery, providing a premier setting for hands-on learning.

Fellows have a half-day each week dedicated to research and scholarly work. Past fellows have produced several peer-reviewed publications or book chapters during their training. Faculty provide guidance and support to help fellows pursue their individual research interests.

The fellowship schedule is structured to provide comprehensive surgical and cosmetic training. Mohs surgery takes place every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning, with an average of five patients per session. Fellows spend Wednesday and Thursday afternoons with Dr. Kilmer performing cosmetic and laser procedures, while Monday and Tuesday afternoons are reserved for autonomous "lumps and bumps" excision and surgery follow-up clinics, with Dr. Eisen available on-site for consultation as needed.

The program also includes a robust educational component, featuring a monthly dermatologic surgery journal club, a book club reviewing key dermatologic surgery texts and a complications and closure conference. These informal lunchtime sessions are held on Tuesdays to foster discussion and learning in a collegial setting.

As a university-based fellowship, there are many opportunities for fellows to participate in resident education through lectures and case discussions. The department also supports attendance at Hugh Greenway's Annual Superficial Anatomy & Cutaneous Surgery course hosted by the UC San Diego School of Medicine, as well as conferences hosted by the American College of Mohs Surgery. Additional conference support is available for fellows presenting their research at other professional meetings.

Our fellowship is ideal for those interested in gaining comprehensive training in cosmetic, laser and Mohs surgery procedures. Fellows spend approximately a day and a half each week on cosmetic and laser procedures, so those seeking an exclusive focus on Mohs surgery may be better suited to another program. We seek candidates with a strong record of scholarship, excellent letters of recommendation and a demonstrated interest in both Mohs surgery and cosmetic dermatology.

We are committed to a fair and transparent match process. Applicants are never pressured and no out-of-match arrangements are made. Our selection process is blinded. Each of the four primary faculty members independently ranks applicants, and the fellowship coordinator averages these rankings before any group discussion. This ensures an unbiased and equitable evaluation for all candidates.

Applicants must hold a valid U.S. medical license at the time of application.

To enhance the fellowship experience, the start date has been moved to August 1, allowing fellows to complete their board exams without the added stress of relocating. The fellowship now runs from August 1 through July 31.

Please contact us for more information about the fellowship program.

University of California, Davis (Program #: 44168)
Department of Dermatology
3301 C Street, Suite 1400
Sacramento, CA 95816

Phone: 916-551-2626
Fax: 916-442-5702
Email: dermresidency@health.ucdavis.edu

Daniel Eisen, M.D., Director
Suzanne L. Kilmer, M.D., Co-Director
Type of Training: Clinical and Research
Years of Training: One Year
Fellowship Approval: ACGME and ASDS