The goal of this fully approved program is training and certification in dermatopathology that will produce future leaders in clinical or academic practice. One or two years are offered that encompass comprehensive exposure to diagnostic dermatopathology, immunodermatology, mycology, correlative clinical dermatology, and research. Physical and administrative location of the Dermatopathology Division in the Department of Dermatology affords routine clinical/patient interaction. Opportunities to interface with members of the Pathology Department are integral to the program. The Division emphasizes application of specialized technology and expertise advantageous to both future academic pursuits and community practice. Exposure to immunofluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry, specialized microscopy and ultrastructure, and diagnostic molecular biology is offered. Fellows assume teaching responsibilities at the Medical School, residency, staff, and postgraduate levels. Areas of specialized faculty expertise include malignant melanoma, cutaneous lymphoma, psoriasis, bullous disorders, cutaneous manifestations of immunodeficiency states, and alopecia.

Two ACGME accredited fellowship appointments are available. Training may be also offered or extended based upon postdoctoral collaborative research interactions at either the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania or the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

The University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740, gave rise to the nation's first medical school, and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania ("HUP") was the first teaching hospital in America. The Division of Dermatopathology has a very active primary and consultative practice for provision of specimens for fellowship training. The Pigmented Lesion Clinic generates one of the largest and most sophisticated computerized databases in existence for correlation of clinical and epidemiologic information with biopsy findings. The central laboratory and diagnostic suites are physically contiguous with the out-patient clinics, facilitating ongoing interaction with clinicians and patients. The Division's Diagnostic Immunodermatology Laboratories and morphology-oriented research laboratories assist actively in diagnostic evaluation and in teaching. Here are located resources for computer-assisted image analysis, immunofluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry for lymphocyte and tissue typing, tissue and skin organ culture. The Department's Duhring Research Laboratories are centralized in the adjacent Clinical Research Building, where investigations focused at mast cell biology, cutaneous immunity, T cell malignancy, cutaneous microbiology and aging are actively pursued by fellows and staff. The Medical School, Medical Library, and associated facilities such as the Wistar Institute are within one block. The Division is completely computerized, and equipped with Medline literature retrieval and Internet access. Frequent departmental lectures and visiting professorships foster interaction with clinicians and researchers of national and international repute.

In addition to the proximity of the Hospital-Medical Center Complex to the undergraduate and graduate facilities of the University and to the cultural resources of Philadelphia, a number of major attractions are within two hours by land. These include Washington DC, New York City, shore points, and mountain ranges to the west.

Fellowship stipends for PGY 5-6 level applicants range from approximately $50,850 to $55,600. A full fringe benefit package accompanies each yearly stipend.