Parenting and female dermatologists' perceptions of work-life balance.

BACKGROUND: Women in medicine may feel pressure to choose between the competing demands of career goals and being a dedicated spouse and parent. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this survey study is to report on the current opinions of female dermatologists with regard to family planning, maternity leave, and career success. METHODS: We surveyed 183 members of the Women's Dermatologic Society using a 13-question survey that was approved for distribution by the institutional review board committee of the University of Connecticut Health Center. RESULTS: We found that women were most likely to have children while they were residents (51%), despite the fact that residents were more likely to report barriers to childbearing at this career stage. These barriers included length of maternity leave, appearing less committed to residency responsibilities compared with peers, and inadequate time and privacy to breast feed. Strategies to achieve a work-life balance included hiring in-home help and working part-time. Of note, many women commented on the need for more family planning resources at work. CONCLUSION: Thought should be given to future administrative strategies that can lessen the burden of parents who are dermatologists and have academic ambitions.

Differences in dermatology training abroad: A comparative analysis of dermatology training in the United States and in India.

Dermatology residency training is not standardized internationally, and each country dictates how training is conducted within its own borders. This article highlights the types of variability in training that can occur from country to country by comparing dermatology residency training programs in the United States and India. This article specifically analyzes the differences that pertain to application and selection, residency program structure, and post-residency opportunities.

Dermatologic diseases of the breast and nipple.

Breast and nipple skin is commonly affected by various inflammatory and neoplastic processes. Despite this fact, many physicians are unaware of the spectrum of diseases that can involve this area. Because breast and nipple skin represents a cosmetically, sexually, and functionally important entity to most patients, awareness of these disease entities is invaluable. This article reviews the normal anatomy of the breast, cutaneous manifestations of neoplastic processes that can present in these areas, and common inflammatory diseases of the breast and nipple skin.

Mucocutaneous reactions to chemotherapy.

UNLABELLED: Chemotherapeutic agents are a widely used treatment modality. Side effects range from common to unusual and may be confused with other cutaneous sequelae of oncologic treatment. The goal of this communication is to elaborate on previous descriptions of the cutaneous manifestations of chemotherapeutic treatment and to discuss more recent findings. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: At the conclusion of this learning activity, participants should be able to generate a differential diagnosis of possible etiologies for varying patterns of cutaneous involvement in patients receiving chemotherapy and identify the various cutaneous side effects of chemotherapeutic treatment. In addition, they should be able to distinguish life-threatening side effects that require immediate management from more benign manifestations of chemotherapeutic treatment.