Medical Student Mentorship Program
The Medical Student Mentorship Program offers hands-on exposure to students who are interested in learning more about the specialty of dermatology through a one-on-one mentorship experience with a dermatologist of the student's choice.
Who should apply: First- through fourth-year medical students may apply to participate in the program. However, we highly encourage medical students to apply in their third or early fourth year of medical school when they have already decided on dermatology as a career and can use the month-long mentorship experience to work on publications and clinic work to receive an advantageous letter of recommendation from their mentor.
Applications do not request or collect demographic information. Selection is based on eligibility, relevant experience, demonstrated need, mentor fit, interest in serving underserved communities, and program capacity. Equal opportunity statement applies.
Program and grant: The mentorship is a one-month program that consists of a full-time, 40-hour work week for four weeks for a total of about 160 hours of experience. Medical students commonly participate in this program in the summer months, but it must be completed by Dec. 1. The mentorship may be completed in a choice of environments, such as a medical center, hospital, or private practice. A $1,500 grant will be awarded during time of mentorship to assist with travel and living expenses.
Please note that funding is not awarded retroactively for any work completed prior to the official grant announcement.
Application timeline: Applications submitted on or before Nov. 1 will be considered in the selection cycle for the coming year. Applications submitted after this date will be held for the following year’s award cycle.
Apply for a mentorship
Apply for a one-on-one mentorship experience with a dermatologist of your choice.
Apply nowMust be a first- through fourth-year medical student who is enrolled in a U.S. medical school. We highly encourage third and fourth years to apply to use the experience to work on publications and clinic work.
Must be a U.S. citizen or have a permanent resident visa.
Upon completion of the mentorship program, participants are required to complete an online survey evaluating the program and include a brief description of future plans to pursue dermatology.
First/second-year medical students:
A copy of your CV/Curriculum Vitae.
Letter of good standing from medical school.
MCAT scores.
Medical school GPA (if n/a then a copy of college GPA, both overall and science; pass/fail grades, class rank or status, or grades to date).
Two professional letters of recommendation. Letters must come from professors or a dermatologist physician you have worked with who can attest to your moral character. Letters should not be submitted by family members or employers.
Third/fourth year medical students:
A copy of your CV/Curriculum Vitae.
Current medical school transcript.
USLME Scores (Step 1 Exam).
Medical school GPA (if n/a then a copy of college GPA, both overall and science; pass/fail grades, class rank or status, or grades to date).
Two professional letters of recommendation. Letters must come from professors or a dermatologist physician you have worked with who can attest to your moral character. Letters should not be submitted by family members or employers.
For additional questions about the Medical Student Mentorship Program, please contact:
Kandice Rose
Phone: (847) 240-1298
Email: krose@aad.org
Frequently asked questions
If an applicant is not chosen, are there other mentorship experiences available in dermatology?
Yes, applicants may reapply the following year or may do an unsponsored mentorship with a physician of their choice. Unsponsored mentorships are not affiliated with the Academy's Medical Student Mentorship Program.
How do I select a mentor for consideration if they are not listed on the list?
If the mentor is not listed on the mentoring list, the physician member can be added by creating a mentor profile.
Whom should letters of recommendation come from and what should they include?
We request two professional letters of recommendation be provided from professors or dermatologist physicians you have worked with who can attest to your moral character. Letters should not be submitted by family members or employers.
The letters can be uploaded with the online application or sent directly to:
Kandice Rose
Phone: (847) 240-1298
Email: krose@aad.org
American Academy of Dermatology
9500 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Rosemont, IL 60018
If a student already is participating in a medical school program related to dermatology, can the Academy’s Medical Student Mentorship program be combined?
No, the Academy’s Medical Student Mentorship program cannot be combined with any other programs.
How are the mentorship recipients selected?
Applications are reviewed by a group of volunteer dermatologists who serve on the Academy's Diversity Committee. The committee's mission is to promote diversity awareness within the specialty of dermatology and increase diversity of backgrounds and perspectives within the Academy among members, leaders, volunteers, and speakers.
When will applicants be notified of their status?
Applicants will be notified of their status by Jan. 31 of the year the award will be granted.
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