title: Practice and Educational Gaps in Surgery for Skin Cancer.
abstract: Surgery for skin cancer is a major part of clinical dermatology, and the largest single component of dermatologic surgery practice. In general, residency training in dermatology provides comprehensive training in the theory and practice of skin cancer surgery. Practicing dermatologists are similarly expert in this area, and frequently assist other medical and surgical services by managing and coordinating the care of patients with skin cancer. However, there are minor gaps in training and practice that bear scrutiny and are amenable to rectification. This article defines the current practice in surgical treatment of skin cancers by dermatologists, gaps in practice, and mechanisms to improve current surgical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: m-alam@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldman
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University, 1755 South Grand Blvd., St Louis, MO 63104, USA.
authors.forename: Ian A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Maher
mesh_terms: D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Educational gaps; Practice gaps; Skin cancer; Surgical treatment