Dermatopathology Fellowship
Geisinger’s Dermatopathology Fellowship program immerses you in a high-volume service housed in a state-of-the-art center with a perfect record for board certification.
About the program
Take your professional interest in dermatology or pathology to the cellular level with our Dermatopathology Fellowship program — which has a 100% success rate for board certification on the first attempt, dating back to 2006.
Geisinger's one-year ACGME-accredited Dermatopathology Fellowship accepts two fellows each year and is led by nine dedicated dermatopathologists, who will guide your training.
As our dermatopathology fellow, you’ll see a diverse case mix of inflammatory dermatoses and tumors supported by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and molecular testing.
We also offer you:
- A large case volume — more than 50,000 dermatopathology specimens per year — which will help you develop excellent diagnostic skills
- One of the largest immunohistochemical stain panels available anywhere
- An archive of slides dating to the 1980s
- A long-established electronic medical record that enhances collaboration and communication with the entire clinical system
- A spacious, state-of-the-art lab
- Teaching experience, because we encourage lifelong scholarship and leadership
Our program is vital, growing and perhaps most important, guided by faculty mentors who are passionate about their work and excited to foster the next generation of skilled, forward-thinking dermatopathologists.
If you’re always asking questions, eager to learn and grow, and want to join a like-minded dermatopathology team, we hope you’ll apply.
Program overview
Geisinger’s one-year Dermatopathology Fellowship is ACGME-accredited and open to applicants who are board-eligible or board-certified in dermatology or pathology.
You’ll receive comprehensive training in dermatopathology. Fellows with a dermatology background will also be trained in surgical pathology. Fellows with a pathology background will be trained in clinical dermatology.
Along with being a learner, you’ll be an educator. Our fellows teach residents in the departments of dermatology and laboratory medicine and participate in lectures and CME courses offered in and outside of Geisinger.
Teaching is a popular aspect of our Dermatopathology Fellowship. Our fellows often tell us they enjoy the opportunity to share their growing knowledge and expertise with others.
Learning extends beyond the classroom and lab. Geisinger has a long tradition of research and innovation, and we expect those who join our program to be curious and dedicated to pushing the boundaries of our field. Under the director’s supervision, you’ll undertake a research project, with the goal of publication and/or presentation. A generous stipend allows you to attend national and regional conferences. You’ll also receive a stipend and benefits commensurate with the appropriate PGY training level.
At the end of your training, you’ll be a skilled, knowledgeable dermatopathologist who would be an asset to any health system.
A message from our director
Tammie Ferringer, MD
Program director
Publications
- Woloszyn M, Hossler E, Kosik G, Klinger A. Pigmented patches in a pediatric patient. Pediatr Dermatol. 2023 Jan;40(1):190-191. doi: 10.1111/pde.15079. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36468270.
- Bourdages S, Berger A, Hossler E. What Percentage of Hairs Are Infected in Biopsies of Fungal Folliculitis? Dermatopathology (Basel). 2023 Apr 21;10(2):136-141. doi: 10.3390/dermatopathology10020020. PMID: 37092531; PMCID: PMC10123624.
- Shamloul N, Trivedi R, Hossler E. Perceived Benefits of a Research Fellowship for Dermatology Residency Applicants: Outcomes of a Faculty-Reported Survey. Cutis. 2023 Oct;112(4):192-194. doi: 10.12788/cutis.0864. PMID: 37988397.
- Edward Fernandez , Wells Chandler , Paul R Long , Matthew L Palmer , Olajumoke Fadugba. Dupilumab-Associated Sweet Syndrome. Cutis 2023 Jun;111(6):E7-E9 PMID: 37487126
- Li L, Bailiff OA, Blanchard B, Gardner JM. Primary epithelioid sarcoma of the conchal bowl in a 64-year-old male: A case report and review of the literature. Am J Dermatopathol. 2023 Jun;45(6):383-387.
- Ibraheim MK, Gupta R, Gardner JM, Elsensohn A. Artificial Intelligence in Dermatopathology: An Analysis of Its Practical Application. Dermatopathology (Basel). 2023 Feb 16;10(1):93-94. doi: 10.3390/dermatopathology10010014. PMID: 36810572; PMCID: PMC9944453.
- Theroux Z, Gardner J, Ortiz E, Kosik G, Junkins-Hopkins J. Neutrophilic fixed drug eruption, a histopathologic variant or an expected finding?-A report of two cases and review of the literature. J Cutan Pathol. 2023 Oct;50(10):884-889. doi: 10.1111/cup.14487. Epub 2023 Jul 4. PMID: 37403191.
- Mukosera GT, Ibraheim MK, Lee MP, Elston D, Singh R, Ho J, Motaparthi K, Ahn CS, Lee BA, Gardner JM, Ferringer T, Elsensohn A. From scope to screen: A collection of online dermatopathology resources for residents and fellows. JAAD Int. 2023 Jan 30;12:12-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2022.12.007. PMID: 37228363; PMCID: PMC10203758.
- Schukow C, Punjabi LS, Gardner JM. #PathMastodon: An Up-In-Coming Platform for Pathology Education Among Pathologists, Trainees, and Medical Students. Adv Anat Pathol. 2024 Jan 1;31(1):52-57. doi: 10.1097/PAP.0000000000000405. Epub 2023 Jul 24. PMID: 37488707.
- Mukosera GT, Lee MP, Ibraheim MK, Elston D, Singh R, Ho J, Gardner JM, Ferringer T, Elsensohn A. Piloting a comprehensive virtual dermatopathology curriculum. Int J Dermatol. 2023 Nov 23. PMID: 37997204.
- Bourgeau M, Gardner JM. Immunohistochemistry Update in Dermatopathology and Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2023 Aug 3. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2023-0033-RA. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37535665.
- Pitch MA, Gardner JM. Comment on: "Clinicopathologic and molecular analyses of cutaneous leiomyosarcoma: A retrospective, multicenter study of 79 cases". J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Jul;89(1):e49. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.02.055. Epub 2023 Mar 18. PMID: 36935018.
- Pitch MA, Sperling LC. The histopathologic diagnosis of traction alopecia: An evidence-based model. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Oct;89(4):745-749. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.05.094. Epub 2023 Jun 24. PMID: 37356624.
- Lilley CM, Arnold CA, Arnold MA, Booth AL, Gardner JM, Jiang XS, Loghavi S, Mirza KM. Virtual Pathology Elective, Real Education: The PathElective.com Experience as a Model for Novel Pathology Pedagogy and a Primer for Curricular Evolution. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2023 Aug 28. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2022-0259-OA. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37638521.
- Marin LP, Presley JH, Noori K, McKinstry D, Dawson B, Sexton K, Peterson E, Harrington SE, Gardner JM, Nagalo BM, Montzavi-Karbassi B, Post SR, Nicholas RW, Kelly T. Partnership in Cancer Research (PCAR) Program Increases Medical Student Knowledge and Confidence to Perform Cancer Research. J Cancer Educ. 2023 Nov 13. doi: 10.1007/s13187-023-02383-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37957501.
- Petruzzelli CJ, Varano A, Desrosiers A, Hossler EW, Mowad CM. Smokeless tobacco keratosis.
Dermatol Online J. 2023 Jun 15;29(3). doi: 10.5070/D329361430.PMID: 37591270 - Pillai GS, Shah SS, Ferringer T, Salzler GG, Ryer EJ. Diffuse dermal angiomatosis of the thigh as the presenting sign of critical limb ischemia. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023 Aug 23;9(4):101303. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101303. PMID: 37767346; PMCID: PMC10520431.
- Balu B, Ding Y, Junkins-Hopkins JM. VEXAS syndrome: diagnostic clues for dermatologists. Int J Dermatol. 2023 Sep;62(9):e484-e486. doi: 10.1111/ijd.16627. Epub 2023 Feb 25. PMID: 36841896.
- Clark A, Kosik G, Desrosiers A, Tjarks BJ, Junkins-Hopkins JM.J Localized argyria with pseudo-ochronosis: A report of two cases highlighting involvement of elastic fibers. Cutan Pathol. 2023 Sep;50(9):815-818. doi: 10.1111/cup.14476. Epub 2023 Jun 14.PMID: 37316955
- Varano AT, McKinley TD, Junkins-Hopkins JM. Amicrobial pustulosis of the folds: A case report of a rare variant of neutrophilic dermatosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. J Cutan Pathol. 2023 Aug 30. doi: 10.1111/cup.14508. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37646439.
- Ortiz EG, Junkins-Hopkins JM. Reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption due to COVID-19 with erythema-multiforme-like lesions and myeloid cells. J Cutan Pathol. 2023 Apr;50(4):321-325. doi: 10.1111/cup.14339. Epub 2022 Oct 18. PMID: 36194075; PMCID: PMC9874869.
- Christensen RE, Elston DM, Worley B, Dirr MA, Anvery N, Kang BY, Bahrami S, Brodell RT, Cerroni L, Elston C, Ferringer T, Hurley MY, Garton K, Lee JSS, Liu Y, Maize JC, McNiff JM, Rapini RP, Sangueza OP, Shea CR, Zhou C, Alam M. Dermatopathologic features of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis: Consensus criteria and proposed reporting guidelines. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Jun;88(6):1317-1325. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.12.057. Epub 2023 Feb 24. PMID: 36841336.
- Pillai GS, Shah SS, Ferringer T, Salzler GG, Ryer EJ. Diffuse dermal angiomatosis of the thigh as the presenting sign of critical limb ischemia. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023 Aug 23;9(4):101303. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101303. PMID: 37767346; PMCID: PMC10520431.
Neelon D, Lannan F, Childs J. Granular Cell Tumor. 2023 Jul 3. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 33085297. - Holloman AM, Berg MP, Bryant B, Dixon LR, George MR, Karp JK, Knollmann-Ritschel BE, Prieto VG, Timmons CF, Childs JM, Lofgreen A, Johnson K, McCloskey CB. Experiential exposure as the key to recruiting medical students into pathology. Acad Pathol. 2023 Apr 13;10(2):100074. doi: 10.1016/j.acpath.2023.100074. PMID: 37124363; PMCID: PMC10139861.
- Harris CK, Chen Y, Alston EL, Brown A, Chabot-Richards D, Dintzis SM, Graber ML, Jackups R Jr, Lomo LC, Laudadio J, Markwood PS, Nielson KJ, Samedi V, Sampson B, Haspel RL, Zafar N, Montone KT, Childs J, White KL, Heher YK. The next phase in patient safety education: Towards a standardized, tools-based pathology patient safety curriculum: A call to action from the Association of Pathology Chairs' Residency Program Directors Section Training Residents in Patient Safety Workgroup. Acad Pathol. 2023 Jun 2;10(2):100081. doi: 10.1016/j.acpath.2023.100081. PMID: 37313035; PMCID: PMC10258240.
- McCloskey CB, Brissette M, Childs JM, Lofgreen A, Johnson K, George MR, Holloman AM, Bryant B, Berg MP, Dixon LR, Karp JK, Knollmann-Ritschel BEC, Prieto VG, Timmons CF, Hoffman RD. How influential are medical school curriculum and other medical school characteristics in students' selecting pathology as a specialty? Acad Pathol. 2023 Apr 13;10(2):100073. doi: 10.1016/j.acpath.2023.100073. PMID: 37124364; PMCID: PMC10139853.
- Waters J, Desrosiers AS, Flint ND, Ferringer T. Reticular Hyperpigmentation With Keratotic Papules in the Axillae and Groin. Cutis. 2023 Oct;112(4):175-199. doi: 10.12788/cutis.0870. PMID: 37988306.
- Egnatios GL, Ferringer TC. Clinical Follow-up of Atypical Spitzoid Tumors Analyzed by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization. Am J Dermatopathol. 2016 Apr;38(4):289-96.
- Spiker A, Ferringer T. Chromoblastomycosis. Cutis. 2015 Oct;96(4):224, 267-8.
- de Moll EH, Fu Y, Qian Y, Perkins SH, Wieder S, Gnjatic S, Remark R, Bernardo SG, Moskalenko M, Yao J, Ferringer T, Chang R, Chipuk J, Horst BA, Birge MB, Phelps RG, Saenger YM. Immune biomarkers are more accurate in prediction of survival in ulcerated than in non-ulcerated primary melanomas. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2015 Sep;64(9):1193-203.
- Elston D, Ferringer T. Immunohistochemistry. For Practical Immunodermatology. Springer (in press)
- Ferringer T. Immunohistology and Molecular Studies of Smooth Muscle and Neural Cutaneous Tumors. In Plaza JA, Prieto V, eds. Immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of skin tumors (in press)
- Zaleski M, Ferringer T. Extramammary Paget Disease. Cutis. 2015 Jun;95(6):308, 315-16.
- Melnychuk E, Perlmutter AW, Hossler E. A 38-year-old man with extensor surface papules. JAMA. 2015 Jan 6;313(1):83-4.
- Lin, G, and Doyle, LA. An Update on the Application of Newly Described Immunohistochemical Markers in Soft Tissue Pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2015; 139, 106-121.
- Zhu, Shaobo, Markku Miettinen, and George Lin. Chapter 29: Soft Tissue and Bone Tumors. In Handbook of Practical Immunohistochemistry, Frequently Asked Questions, 2nd ed. Lin F, Prichard JW, Liu H, Wilkerson M, Chen ZM, eds. New York: Springer; 2015: 557-589.
- Tyler WB. Application of Direct Immunofluorescence for Skin and Mucosal Biopsies. In Handbook of Practical Immunohistochemistry: Frequently Asked Questions, 2nd ed. Lin F, Prichard JW, Liu H, Wilkerson M, Chen ZM, eds. New York: Springer; 2015: 689-708.
- Ferringer T. Chapter 33: Skin. In Handbook of Practical Immunohistochemistry: Frequently Asked Questions, 2nd ed. Lin F, Prichard JW, Liu H, Wilkerson M, Chen ZM, eds. New York: Springer; 2015.
- Ferringer T. Immunohistochemistry in Dermatopathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2015 Jan;139(1):83-105.
- Hall LD, Bodendorf MO, Najarian DJ, Ferringer T, Elston D. Soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) immunostaining distinguishes pseudomelanocytic nests in lichenoid tissue reaction. J Cutan Pathol. 2015 Mar;42(3):232-5.
- Prickett KA, Ferringer TC. What's eating you? Cutaneous Larva Migrans. Cutis. 2015 Mar;95(3):126-8.
- Gray A, Hossler E, Lin G. Nodule on the scalp of a 76-year-old male. ASDP online Interactive Case Study. July 2015.
- Shockman S, Ferringer T. Crusted plaque on the check of a medical student. ASDP online Interactive Case Study. Mar 2015.
- Fussell JN, Troutman DL, Hossler E, Agarwal S. Malignant melanoma presenting as a nonhealing heel ulceration. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2014 May;104(3):295-7.
- Alexander WS, Hossler E. Asymptomatic facial papules. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014 Aug; 71(2):412-4.
- Pfingstler LF, Hossler EW. The skinny on psoriasis and weight loss. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2014 Nov-Dec;10(6):1159-60.
- Melnychuk E, Perlmutter AW, Hossler E. A 38-year-old man with extensor surface papules. JAMA. 2015 Jan 6;313(1):83-4.
- Vaughan V, Ferringer T. Granular Cell Tumor. Cutis. 2014 Dec;94(6):275, 279-80.
- Prickett K, Ferringer T. Helminths - A Clinical Review and Update. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2014; 33:128-132.
- Hall LD, Ferringer T. Solitary adult myofibroma. Cutis. 2014 May;93(5):225, 235-6.
- Sivendran S, Chang R, Pham L, Phelps R, Harcharik S, Hall L, Bernardo S, Moskalenko M, Sivendran M, Fu Y, deMoll EH, Pan M, Moon JY, Arora S, Cohain A, DiFeo A, Ferringer T, Tismenetsky M, Tsui C, Friedlander P, Parides M, Banchereau J, Chaussabel D, Lebwohl M, Wolchok J, Bhardwaj N, Burakoff S, Oh W, Palucka K, Merad M, Schadt E, Saenger Y. Dissection of immune gene networks in primary melanoma tumors critical for anti-tumor surveillance of patients with stage II-III resectable disease. J Investig Dermatol 2014; 134:2202-2211. (published online 27 March 2014)
- Cole C, Ferringer T. Histopathologic Evaluation of the Sentinel Lymph Node for Malignant Melanoma: The Unstandardized Process. Am J Dermatopathol. 2014 Jan;36(1):80-7.
- Shipp D, Pride HB, Ferringer T. Persistent pruritic plaque on the right forearm of a child. Pediatr Dermatol. 2014 May;31(3):387-8.
- Egnatios GL, Ferringer T, Dorion RP. Multiple skeletal fractures and asymptomatic foot nodule. ASDP online Interactive Case Study. April 2014. http://www.asdp.org/education/case-study-of-the-month/public-case-study/?caseID=30
- Eminger L, Ferringer T. Speckled pigmented patch. ASDP online Interactive Case Study. February 2014. http://www.asdp.org/education/case-study-of-the-month/public-case-study/?caseID=27
- Elston D, Ferringer T, eds. Dermatopathology. Second edition. London: Elsevier, 2014.
- Ferringer T, Ko CJ. (Ch 1) The basics: Diagnostic terms, skin anatomy, and stains
- Ferringer T. (Ch 10) Granulomatous and histiocytic diseases
- Ferringer T. (Ch 12) Genodermatoses\
- Ferringer T. (Ch 13) Alterations in collagen and elastin
- Ferringer T. (Ch 14) Metabolic disorders
- Ko CJ, Ferringer T. (Ch 20a) Key diagnostic features of soft tissue neoplasms
- Ferringer T. (Ch 21) Tumors of fat, muscle, and bone
- Ferringer T. (Ch 22) Neural tumors
- Ferringer T. (App 3) External agents and artifacts
About Geisinger
Geisinger serves more than 1 million people in central and northeast Pennsylvania. We’ve been nationally recognized for innovative practices in quality, delivery models such as ProvenCare® and the use of an award-winning electronic medical record, Epic®. Our physician-led system has about 24,000 employees, including nearly 1,700 physicians, 10 hospital campuses, two research centers and a health plan with more than half a million members, all of which boost our hometown economies by $7.1 billion annually.
Our main hospital campus, Geisinger Medical Center, is in Danville, a charming, historic riverside town with lots of opportunities for outdoor recreation, including kayaking, cross country skiing and cycling. We’re also close to major urban centers. It’s easy to reach New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. We offer the best of both worlds — affordable, relaxing small-town life and access to big cities' excitement and cultural experience.
Location
Danville, Pa., is a unique and wonderful place to train. Opportunities for outdoor recreation are endless, the cost of living is low and traffic is almost nonexistent. And we’re close enough to Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., to make weekend getaways easy. For more information, visit Uncovering PA: Northeastern Pennsylvania.