Scottish Medical Training

Tayside offers excellent dermatology training in a pleasant and accessible part of Scotland. It is a beautiful area to live and work within. It has varied geography and offers diverse interests for individuals and families, from a thriving city life in Dundee to outdoor activities in Angus, Perthshire and North Fife. It has good road and rail networks to other areas of Scotland and the rest of the UK. The quality of life in Tayside is excellent with easy access to beautiful countryside for sport and leisure as well as world-renowned facilities for golf.

The department is located at Ninewells hospital, with peripheral clinics most days per week, but all specialist activities operate centrally. Outpatient treatment centres and consultant-led clinics are available in Ninewells, Stracathro, Perth, Arbroath and St Andrews, NE Fife, with biopsy lists in all the centres.

Major advantages of this programme are that it is Ninewells-based and offers first class opportunities to combine excellent clinical experience and training with exposure to internationally renowned academic research and teaching for a fully comprehensive dermatology training programme.

Specialty Information

General Dermatology is core to the programme, with additional 12 month sub-specialist attachments in photodermatology, contact dermatitis, paediatric dermatology and advanced surgery including Mohs. Trainees also have opportunities to participate in additional specialist clinics in leg ulcers and wound healing, photodynamic therapy, lasers, genetic skin diseases, psychodermatology and vulval/genital skin diseases and to gain experience in hair disorders, chronic urticaria and the porphyrias. Dermatopathology is also covered throughout the training period.

Unique aspects of the department include National and Regional Services in Photodiagnostics, skin cancer and Mohs surgery and the porphyrias and a prominent role in the Managed Clinical Network for Phototherapy (Photonet). The Unit has strong academic links with the University, with particular research interests in photodermatology, skin cancer, atopic eczema, genetic skin disease, allergic and paediatric dermatology. There are also opportunities to be involved in commercial research trials in the Clinical Research Centre. The Department also has a particular commitment to evolving the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes using e-learning technologies. There is also formal academic programmes, including journal clubs, research meetings, combined consultation clinics, and presentations.

An East of Scotland training programme between Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen has also been developed and consists of a full day meeting every three months and this is excellent focussed and curriculum-based training, with the additional benefit of sharing learning experiences with colleagues in other centres. Thus, there are very good opportunities for research and teaching in addition to an excellent clinical training programme. All aspects of the curriculum can be covered within the programme and there are no out of Deanery rotations.

Where is the training delivered?

The department is located at Ninewells hospital, with peripheral consultant-led clinics and outpatient treatment also available in Stracathro, Perth, Arbroath and St Andrews, North East Fife. This programme involves doing clinics and biopsy lists in some or all of the locations.

Training here is trainee focused with attention to individual trainee’s needs and aspirations. Ninewells is a University teaching hospital and involvement in research is strongly encouraged in this academic department.  Regular teaching and audit are also mandatory parts of the programme. Formal management training (LAMP course) is compulsory for all trainees but in addition, trainees are also invited to attend departmental service meetings to gain insight into real life management issues which is an extremely valuable experience.

The department is located at Ninewells hospital, with peripheral consultant-led clinics and outpatient treatment also available in Stracathro, Perth, Arbroath and St Andrews, North East Fife. This programme involves doing clinics and biopsy lists in some or all of the locations.