title: The Cadaveric Skin Biopsy Project: description and student evaluation of an innovative approach to dermatology instruction in the preclerkship medical school curriculum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatology can develop creative ways of participating in the preclerkship medical school curriculum.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to describe and report student survey results of a novel collaborative learning activity for medical students, directed by dermatology, histology, and gross anatomy faculty, which used cadavers to replicate the process of skin lesion biopsy and provided a realistic setting in which to learn normal-appearing and abnormal skin histology.
  
  
  METHODS
  First-year medical students were surveyed regarding the impact of this activity on their understanding of skin histology and their appreciation of dermatology and dermatologic procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students were appreciative of the opportunity to perform biopsies and discover the link between the clinical presentation of a lesion and its underlying histopathology. They were less impressed with the ability of the activity to improve their understanding of the characteristics of benign versus malignant lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is an early feasibility trial at 1 institution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project represents one approach to introducing students to dermatology and dermatologic procedures and achieves institutional, Liaison Committee on Medical Education, and Association of American Medical Colleges educational goals. Overall, students highly valued the opportunities to practice clinical procedures and found it aided their understanding and appreciation of dermatology.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Mary Grace
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
authors.forename: Melanie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McCollum
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. Electronic address: mr2h@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001706:Biopsy; D002102:Cadaver; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006653:Histology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: dermatology; education; educational; medical; models; patient simulation; skin diseases; skin neoplasms; teaching