Download IAD Travelling Fellowship Report. Sept 2014 Dr Mairi Ferguson I

IAD Travelling Fellowship Report.
Sept 2014
Dr Mairi Ferguson
I was awarded the Irish Association of Dermatologists travelling fellowship in
March 2014, which facilitated my overseas work experience in Auckland, New
Zealand. This comprised of a one month period of shadowing dermatologists in
both the public and private sector, followed by my attendance at the New
Zealand annual dermatology conference.
Auckland is the capital of New Zealand and has a population of around 1.5
million. Aucklanders come from all corners of the globe. Around fifty percent
are of European descent and the remainder is made up of Maoris, south Pacific
Islanders, and a growing population of Asian immigrants. This diverse mix of
ethnicities enabled me to encounter a wide range of skin conditions, which are
specific to certain skin types and geographical locations.
New Zealand also has the second highest incidence of melanoma in the world. As
a result, there are a large number of one-stop private clinics which offer
everything from digital dermoscopy, to Mohs’ micrographic surgery. I spent
some time observing in the Skin Institute, in Takapuna, and was amazed to see
such a high frequency of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. It was
fantastic for improving my dermoscopy skills!
I also spent time in Middlemore hospital attending ward rounds and clinics.
Middlemore hospital is a public hospital situated in South Auckland. As it is in an
area of socioeconomic deprivation, patients tended to present with very
advanced skin disease. I also attended the morphology and dermatopathology
teaching sessions in Greenlane hospital, and the clinical academic meetings in
Waikato hospital.
In August, I attended the annual New Zealand dermatology meeting in Dunedin.
The theme of the meeting was skin oncology and surgery. The keynote speakers
included Dr. Christopher Bichakjian, an associate professor of Dermatology and
Associate Chief of the Division of Cutaneous Surgery and Oncology at the
University of Michigan, and Professor Chris Griffiths from the University of
Manchester, who is renowned for his extensive research into psoriasis.
Day one consisted of a trainee teaching session and a workshop on difficult
patient interactions. On day two Dr Bichakjian presented on contemporary
management of Merkel cell carcinoma, and sentinel lymph node biopsy in
melanoma. Prof. Griffiths started with insights into skin aging, followed by a
fascinating talk on the brain-skin-axis in psoriasis. There was a dermatologic
surgery teaching session covering grafts, nasal side wall repairs, keystone flaps,
and periocular Mohs’ surgery.
Days three and four consisted of registrar presentations by the New Zealand
trainees, and visiting trainees from overseas. I had the privilege of presenting a
paediatric case report during this session. There were also talks on vascular
anomalies, biologics and targeted melanoma therapy, each from experts in the
field.
I am very grateful to the IAD for awarding me this travelling fellowship. It has
enabled me to gain experience in skin diseases that otherwise I may never have
encountered, as well as giving me the opportunity to present at an international
meeting. I have no doubt that this enjoyable and informative experience will
help shape my future dermatology career. I would also like to thank Dr. Paul
Jarrett and Prof. Amanda Oakley, for their friendliness, enthusiasm, and help in
organising my work experience in New Zealand.