Welcome from our team
There is no better place to start your training than with the LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine's (VCOM’s) Dermatology Residency program. The excellent clinical care, variety and complexity of patient settings will prepare you for independent practice while connecting you to the largest healthcare organization in the U.S.
Mission statement
The LewisGale Hospital Montgomery Dermatology Residency Program's mission is to develop the next generation of physicians and physician leaders.
As a part of HCA Healthcare, we are driven by a single mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.
This program is designed to offer residents a rewarding, educational environment where they are provided individualized learning opportunities by faculty and staff who support and sustain one another throughout quality care delivery. Our faculty is committed to ensuring the residents' clinical experience and educational needs are fulfilled while expanding their perspectives to be inclusive of cultures, values and ideals.
Program details
Conference schedule
We offer a rigorous and robust curriculum including didactics, grand rounds and morning report meetings.
Didactics
Residents assigned to local rotations participate in local didactics on Mondays. Resident’s weekly didactic schedule includes a review of designated reading from dermatology textbooks; review of pharmacology, faculty lectures, and kodachromes; and review of pediatric dermatology reading from Hurwitz textbook; students/resident presentations; and review of dermatopathology unknown slides.
Unless on rotation at PRW or UVA, all residents attend Carilion Clinic Dermatology surgical lectures monthly.
Grand rounds
In addition to local Grand Rounds, residents participate in quarterly Grand Rounds with Carilion Clinic.
Morning report
Morning Report is held on Fridays from 7:00am to 8:00am. The discussion addresses important aspects of the history and physical examination, formulation of a complete differential diagnosis, and management of the disease process for the individual patient.
In order to effectively discuss each case, the presenter should prepare to answer pertinent questions concerning the patient's workup, including lab values and test results. Any available pathology studies or slides should be brought to the presentation when possible.
The presenter should have detailed knowledge about the patient's diagnosis and management. This is not intended to be a morbidity and mortality conference; however, the residents should prepare to defend their decisions and reasoning. Attendance at morning report meetings is required for all residents on site.
Our Program Director
Chad Johnston, DO
Leadership and faculty
Our team is comprised of skilled experts with deep experience and knowledge from which residents can benefit.
Our residents work with experienced faculty in a very robust program.
Program Director
- Chad Johnston, DO, FAAD
Program Administrator
- Donna Underwood, MBA, MS
Core Faculty
- Jared Brackenrich, DO, River Ridge Dermatology
- Sandra Brown, DO, FAOCD, River Ridge Dermatology
- Craig Garofola, DO, River Ridge Dermatology
- Gary Gross, MD, River Ridge Dermatology
- Tessa Mullins, DO, River Ridge Dermatology
Curriculum and rotation schedule
The residency program teaches the basic classification of diseases and the pharmacodynamics of the various therapeutic agents as they relate or apply to the field of dermatology.
The clinical protocol includes recognition and treatment during the chronological progression of the integumentary system, i.e., the neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric cycles of life to provide total health care delivery as it relates to dermatology and dermatologic physical modalities.
In addition to basic requirements, the program prepares the resident in:
- Gross and histodermatopathology
- Therapeutic radiology and phototherapy
- Medical mycology
- Allergy and immunology
- Dermatologic surgery and oncology
- Medical dermatology
- Dermatologic physical modalities
As the resident acquires skills in diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of the skin, we provide progressive experience and increasing responsibility in patient care throughout the training period under the supervision of the program director.
The curriculum includes instruction on special dermatological diagnostic and surgical techniques and other such modalities that are in current use. We also include in-patient dermatology to allow the resident to develop the skills necessary to perform standard consultations. The curriculum evolves in response to the rapidly changing and increasing knowledge base in dermatology.
Salary information
| Year (AY 24-25) | Salary | Meals | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGY1 | $59,842 | $950 | $60,792 |
| PGY2 | $61,942 | $950 | $62,892 |
| PGY3 | $64,106 | $950 | $65,056 |
| PGY4 | $64,438 | $950 | $65,388 |
| PGY5 | $70,346 | $950 | $71,296 |
| PGY6 | $73,507 | $950 | $74,457 |
| PGY7 | $77,189 | $950 | $78,139 |
$950 for on-call meals will be allotted to each resident.
New residents and fellows receive up to $1,000 for orientation (if it takes place before the official employment date).
Program budgets include the following additional benefits:
- Professional Memberships
- Conference and Travel Expense
- Cell Phone
- Laptop/iPad
- Other Board Prep and Educational Expense
- Step 3 Reimbursement
Effective 07/01/2023