Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship
Geisinger’s Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship program immerses you in a high-volume practice with a diverse pathology, preparing you to succeed in any clinical setting.
About us
Geisinger's Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (MSDO) Fellowship provides superb training in the removal of skin cancers, reconstruction of surgical wounds and performance of a broad range of dermatologic surgical procedures.
Our combination of high patient volume, surgical expertise, intense training and dedication to education make the Geisinger MSDO fellowship an ideal opportunity to prepare for a career in dermatologic surgery in virtually any practice type.
The dermatologic surgery service is vital and growing, with seven staff surgeons and two fellows who are ready to begin your hands-on training from day one. While most of your training will take place at our flagship hospital and research center, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, you’ll also gain experience at our dermatologic surgery clinics in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and State College, PA.
Fellows in our program benefit from our large patient volume and exposure to a broad variety of skin cancer types. In addition, most repairs are done in our dermatologic surgery unit, and most of those are performed by our fellows, under the supervision of our experienced, enthusiastic Mohs surgeons.
Geisinger MSDO fellows gain hands-on training in Mohs excision of skin cancers and interpretation of histopathology, using both standard and immunohistochemical stains. Fellows also become highly proficient in the reconstruction of surgical wounds and the performance of a broad range of dermatologic surgical procedures.
Upon graduation, fellows are comfortable managing complex cases and repairs. The Geisinger MSDO fellowship has a 31-year history of preparing trainees for a variety of practice settings. Our graduates have gone on to great success in clinical and academic medicine, as well as serving in leadership positions nationally.
A message from the program director
Thank you for your interest in Geisinger's fellowship in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology.
This one-year program is accredited as a Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and meets eligibility requirements for membership in the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS).
Geisinger's Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship program follows a structured curriculum that includes graded responsibility and both practical and academic education, including preparation for the Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery board examination. Our enthusiastic, supportive faculty members focus on hands-on experience for our fellows. We make sure that our fellows see their patients after surgery to evaluate results and to become comfortable in the management of any postoperative complications.
We invite you to check out all that our fellowship has to offer, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Michael L. Ramsey, MD
Director, Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship
Michael L. Ramsey, MD, program director
Program Overview
When you join Geisinger’s Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship program, you’ll receive comprehensive training in Mohs micrographic surgery, reconstructive skin surgery and other dermatologic surgical procedures. And you’ll gain deep knowledge of cutaneous oncology.
Under the guidance of our skilled faculty, you’ll perform dermatologic surgeries, supported by an organized review of topics related to Mohs micrographic surgery.
We perform more than 4,500 Mohs surgeries each year, as well as more than 1,000 flaps/grafts and 2,000 primary closures.
Each surgery you perform will be under the direct supervision of a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, and you’ll be intimately involved in your cases. You’ll learn to prepare Mohs frozen sections and, with a multiheaded teaching microscope, will read virtually all microscopic slides with the faculty.
Along with becoming proficient in Mohs micrographic surgery, you’ll become skilled in:
- Laser surgery
- Excisional surgery
- Advanced closures
- Nail surgery
- Sclerotherapy
- Scar revision
- Botox and filler injection techniques
You’ll also review literature and take practice exams to make sure you’re prepared to pass the Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery board examination.
Learning to educate others is a key part of our curriculum. You’ll teach students, residents and staff in the Department of Dermatology and present regionally and nationally.
Geisinger has a strong tradition of research, and we expect our fellows to embrace that culture. Under the guidance of the director and faculty, you’ll initiate research projects leading to publication and/or presentation. We’ll provide you with a generous stipend to attend national and regional conferences.
About Geisinger
Geisinger serves more than 1 million people in central and northeast Pennsylvania. We’ve been nationally recognized for innovative practices in quality, delivery models such as ProvenCare® and the use of an award-winning electronic medical record, Epic®. Our physician-led system has about 24,000 employees, including nearly 1,700 physicians, 10 hospital campuses, two research centers and a health plan with more than half a million members, all of which boost our hometown economies by $7.1 billion annually.
Location
Danville, Pennsylvania, is a unique and wonderful place to train. Opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless, the cost of living is low and traffic is almost nonexistent. We’re also close enough to Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., to make weekend getaways easy.
