title: Dermatology education and the Internet: traditional and cutting-edge resources.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number and variety of dermatological medical resources available online has grown exponentially over the past decade. Internet-based resources allow for immediate and easy access to information for both medical education and reference purposes. Although clinicians continue to turn to the Internet for clinical information and still images, tech-savvy medical students are currently accessing a variety of exciting new resources, including discussion boards, wikis, streaming video, podcasts, journal clubs, online communities, and interactive diagnostic experiences to augment their medical education.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to identify traditional and cutting-edge online dermatology resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a sampling of the top dermatology Internet resources, as assessed by a group of medical students in our university dermatology research lab. These resources were ranked by using a matrix derived from the Silberg Criteria, which assessed authorship, attribution, disclosure, currency, and content. Results indicate comparable ranking and approval of cutting-edge resources as traditional online sources. The ranked resources in each category are provided with URLs for readers' use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cutting-edge online dermatology resources represent excellent sources for continuing education for students and clinicians alike. Resources such as these likely represent the future of medical education, as they allow for self-directed and supplementary education as well as remote access.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado; Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado; Preventive Medicine Residency Program, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado; Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: L Kendall
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Rachel N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate, Brooklyn, New York; Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, North Shore/Long Island Jewish Hospital, Plainview, New York; Belaray Dermatology, Plainview, New York.
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Ryan G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: J Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Melissa N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Orser
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Suarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado; Dermatology Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado; Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado. Electronic address: robert.dellavalle@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000639:trends; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods