Medical Student Dermatology Interest Groups

Sheila Z. Jalalat, Lindsey Hunter-Ellul, Richard F. Wagner

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Dermatology Interest Group (DIG) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) blog (digutmb.blogspot.com) was created in 2004 with the aims of increasing communication and collaboration among students, faculty, residents, and alumni, promoting educational opportunities, and fostering the missions for which DIG was created. This blog is unique, because its frequent activity is directed toward the educational and professional needs of medical students and residents. We assessed the use of this blog by evaluating the number of blog views and audience members with relationship to the number of posts and post content over time via a tracking system. We found that there has been an increase in blog posts, views, and subscribers, as well as in areas of post content including dermatology resources/news/articles, residency applications, and resident-related information. Usefulness of such posts expands beyond UTMB students, which increases blog views and widens viewer audience. An international viewer population also was evaluated. Recorded blog viewing time was 1 minute, 57 seconds, which is more time than needed to read a post, suggesting use of additional blog information. This review of the DIG at the UTMB blog demonstrates how the use of web-based tools, in addition to the inherent benefits of medical student interests groups, are valuable resources for students, residents, and faculty.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)656-660
Number of pages5
JournalClinics in Dermatology
Volume31
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology

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