A Day in the Life of a UNC Derm Resident

Come check out what it is like to be a dermatology resident at UNC!
Our program currently trains 16 residents spread across three years. We are a close knit group with a diverse background of experiences and interests. Many of us have families and have found Chapel Hill to be a perfect place to work and call home. Most of our time is spent in our main clinic in the beautiful Southern Village neighborhood of Chapel Hill, which has many delicious places to eat, grab coffee, and enjoy the outdoor space.
Our clinic space consists of 25 adult and pediatric exam rooms, 4 laser and procedural rooms, and 8 Mohs surgery rooms. It’s a bright, clean, and open workspace. At the center of it all is our resident workroom, where we have our own private desks, computers, and phones. It’s a great place to work, eat, and just hang out together.
Our typical work week consists of 7 half-days of clinics, 1 half-day of didactics led by faculty and residents, and 2 half-days for administrative work from home such as callbacks, notes, studying, or just doing life things. We are given at least 1 hour protected for lunch with no didactic sessions or other responsibilities. Call starts at the end of our first year, and we are given 4 weeks over our 2nd and 3rd years to use for electives and 1 week for a dedicated dermpath rotation.
Besides our general adult and pediatric clinics, we have specialty clinics led by experts in pigmented lesions and melanoma, high risk skin cancer, immunodermatology and autoimmune disorders, among others. Many of our attendings are nationally recognized experts in these areas, but they are all extremely approachable and a privilege to learn from.
Up to once or twice a week, we travel to one of our satellite offices in the Research Triangle area, including clinics in Raleigh, Hillsborough, and Burlington, many of which were private practices generously donated to our department by former UNC Dermatology alumni. Here we have opportunities to serve an even more diverse patient population and provide longitudinal care in our resident continuity clinics.
In the past twenty years, 25% of our graduates have pursued post-graduate fellowship training, and the rest have entered clinical practice, with 25% choosing a career in academic medicine. Our program director Dr. Dean Morrell, our chair Dr. Nancy Thomas, and the rest of the faculty are committed to supporting whatever career paths and goals we choose.
We can’t wait to hear from you, learn about your unique background, talents, and interests, and share with you more about our UNC Dermatology residency program.