Diagnostic Dermatopathology

The MSc programme in Diagnostic Dermatopathology represents the first postgraduate programme of its kind in the UK and in Europe with the aim of providing clinicians with skills in research and evidence-based diagnostic dermatopathology necessary to assess and deliver high quality practice, and service delivery of dermatopathology.

KEY BENEFITS

• The programme is the first of its kind with training conducted by dermatopathologists Dr Eduardo Calonje, Dr Alistair Robson and Dr Catherine M. Stefanato who are leaders in the field of dermatopathology with extensive experience in teaching and lecturing in UK and abroad.

• The programme is delivered through the Department of Dermatopathology within the St John's Institute of Dermatology which runs the UK’s largest skin pathology centre. The Department is a major referral centre for both general and specialist dermatopathology with more than 14,000 cases and 23,000 immunohistochemistry specimens per year processed in the laboratory and reviewed by specialist consultant dermatopathologists. The laboratory also provides support for the Mohs micrographic surgery unit.

• Students will benefit from teaching and research facilities including the dermatopathology laboratory, one of the five highly specialised laboratory services within the St John's Institute, dedicated to the diagnosis and management of skin diseases. All laboratories are part of the GSTS Pathology, the largest and most specialised laboratory of its kind in the UK.

• The laboratory's privileged location permits close interaction with other laboratories and clinical dermatologists, allowing effective clinicopathological correlation.

• Students will have direct access to equipment such as multiheaded microscopes, an immunofluorescence microscope with imaging computer, immunohistochemistry lab and online learning facilities.

PURPOSEThe MSc in Diagnostic Dermatopathology, organised by the Department of Dermatopathology of the St John’s Institute of Dermatology, is a newly created postgraduate programme which aims to attract high-calibre students, already trained in either Dermatology or Pathology, who have an interest in dermatopathology and wish to further pursue their training in this subspecialty.

DESCRIPTIONThe programme aims to:

• Provide students with specialised knowledge of the basic and advanced techniques used in diagnostic dermatopathology.
• Provide thorough practical training in diagnostic dermatopathology, allowing candidates to develop expertise in this subspecialty.
• Enable students to write a detailed analytical surgical pathology report appropriate for interpretation by a clinician.
• Enable students to develop a structured approach to critical appraisal of dermatopathological literature.
• Develop student’s knowledge of the theory and practical skills in conducting high-quality rigorous research that is translatable to the patient, and that makes a direct and valuable contribution to the knowledge base in this subspecialty.