In this issue:
- Dermatology Research Opportunity at Northwestern University
- Career Advising Tip of the Month
Dermatology Research Opportunity at Northwestern University
Second- and third-year medical students considering a career in dermatology are invited to apply for a one-year gap year research fellowship with the Division of Dermatologic Surgery, Department of Dermatology at Northwestern University. Running from June 2026 through May 2027, this mentored, unpaid position focuses on clinical research in skin cancer and skin surgery, with support to present at national meetings. Graduates of the program have had a strong track record of matching into dermatology residencies.
Interested students should email Dr.AlamLab@gmail.com with their CV, Step 1 and 2 score reports (if available), and at least two letters of recommendation from prior clinical or research mentors who know them well. All documents should be combined into one PDF titled the applicant’s first and last name.
The application deadline is January 31, 2026, and interviews will be offered on a rolling basis.
Career Advising Student Advisory Board Tip of the Month
This advice is for all MS2 students and includes first generation and BIPOC student lenses.
We hope you had a restful winter break! As you begin your STEP 1 dedicated period, make sure you have a weekly schedule with at least one full day off. Folks usually study for 8 – 10 hours daily but do what is best for you! Make sure to check in with your support system as this time can be hard. Once you take the exam, use the rest of your break to relax and do the things you love, prioritizing your well-being before clerkships. Good luck everyone!
Edited & reviewed by MS4 Cara Chapman. Originally written by alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.
Career Advising welcomes tips and ideas from all students. Please reach out to Career Advising at medadv@uw.edu.
This link takes you to past information for MS2s.