Singapore
National Skin Centre: Fellowship in Dermatopathology
Since Dec 2015, the National Skin Centre (NSC) has been accredited as a specialty training centre in dermatopathology by the International Committee for dermatopathology (ICDP) and European Union of Medical Specialists Section of Dermato-Venereology and Section of Pathology (UEMS). The fellowship will be suitable for qualified dermatologists or pathologists interested in pursuing dermatopathology as a subspecialty practice.
The training objective of the dermatopathology fellowship is to equip the dermatopathology fellow with diagnostic skills to report and interpret skin pathology that is commonly encountered in dermatology or histopathology practice. NSC being a tertiary referral dermatological centre, receives a wide range of skin pathology covering inflammatory dermatoses, tropical dermatology and neoplastic conditions. He/she should be competent in ordering relevant histochemical and immunohistochemical stains and interpreting them, rendering a histopathological report, giving recommendations where appropriate, and performing accurate clinicopathological correlation.
Program Director
Dr. Joyce LEE
Academic appointments and affiliations
- Head, Dermatopathology and Laboratory Services, National Skin Centre
- Consultant-in-charge, Hair and Nail Clinic, National Skin Centre
- Clinical Tutor, National University Singapore and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
- Course instructor, Histopathology National Training Programme (Singapore)
- Course organiser and instructor, Dermatopathology National Training Programme (Singapore)
- Secretary/Treasurer, International Society of Dermatopathology (2019-)
- Executive committee member, International Society of Dermatopathology (2010 - 2013)
- Member, International Committee for Dermatopathology (from 2010 to 2012)
- Member, Chapter of Dermatologists, Fellowship of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore
- Member, Dermatological Society of Singapore
Qualifications
- 1996: MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Science) (National University of Singapore)
- 2000: MMED (Internal Medicine)/MRCP (United Kingdom)
- 2003: Specialist accreditation in Dermatology (Singapore)
- 2005: Joined Fellowship of the Academy of Medicine Singapore (FAMS)
- 2006: ICDP-UEMS International Board Certification – Diploma in Dermatopathology
Dermatopathology Faculty
- Prof Tan Suat Hoon (Dip RC Path (Dermpath))
- Dr Joyce Lee (ICDP-UEMS dip dermpath)
- Dr Tee Shang Ian (ICDP-UEMS dip dermpath)
- Dr Chia Hui Yi (ICDP-UEMS dip dermpath)
- Dr Michelle Liang (ICDP-UEMS dip dermpath)
Program Curriculum
The duration of fellowship is typically 9 months to a year, although shorter durations can be arranged. He/she will be exposed to daily sign-outs with the dermatopathologist on duty, and learn about tissue specimen grossing and processing, special stains, and direct immunofluorescence. There are monthly histology slide quizzes and clinicopathological conferences. An intensive 2-day dermatopathology workshop is held annually at NSC, and will cover a range of topics including inflammatory and neoplastic conditions.
Regular meetings with the supervisor will be arranged to discuss difficult cases. Unknown slides of various topics will be given to the fellow as preparatory practice to aid in the fellow’s self-directed reading of the topic, after which the supervisor will go through the unknown slides with the fellow. A wide range of dermatopathology topics will be covered, including spongiotic dermatitis, psoriasiform dermatitis, blistering diseases, vasculitis, panniculitis, deposition disorders, alopecia, epidermal tumours, follicular and sebaceous tumours, adnexal neoplasms, soft tissue tumours, melanocytic lesions, lymphoma etc. Well-organized teaching slide boxes are also available for referencing and learning.
Facilities
At NSC, there are more than 1000 patient attendances daily in the outpatient clinics and day care centre. There are general dermatological clinics, as well as subspecialty clinics for various dermatological conditions. The dermatopathology unit also takes in referral cases from dermatologists in private practice and receives consultations for second opinion. This allows the dermatopathology fellow to be exposed to a wide range of dermatopathological conditions of varying complexities. A number of dermatopathology text books are available for referencing in the sign-out room. The library at NSC, for which trainees have access to, houses most of the major dermatology journals, such as the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, British Journal of Dermatology, and JAMA dermatology, as well as major dermatopathology journals such as the American Journal of Dermatopathology and Journal of Cutaneous Pathology.
To facilitate group learning and teaching, there is a 10-header microscope in the histopathology laboratory.
Contact
Entry requirement
- A recognised basic degree in medicine
- Specialist certification in dermatology or pathology
Contact person
Interested parties are advised to submit their applications at least 6 months before the desired commencement of the fellowship program.
An administration fee is applicable.
For further enquiries, kindly contact:
- Head, Medical Affairs
- National Skin Centre
- 1 Mandalay Road
- Singapore 308205
- Tel: +65 6350 8405
- Fax: +65 6253 3225
- Email: training@nsc.com.sg