DermWorld Academy Insider: New course on advanced imaging techniques

Oct. 17, 2024

The AAD recently developed a Learning Center course to teach members about the new advanced imaging techniques for skin cancer diagnosis and reduction of unnecessary biopsies. By taking the course, you’ll learn to recognize imaging modalities to aid in the diagnosis of skin cancer, identify ways to reduce unnecessary or inadequate biopsies, and describe the criteria to select the appropriate imaging modality to diagnose skin cancer, among other things. You can earn 7 CME credits for taking it!

In this exclusive DermWorld Academy Insider interview, Jane Grant-Kels, MD, FAAD, who helped develop the course, discusses the course, its benefits, and why members should take it.

DermWorld: What is the advanced imaging techniques course, and why was it created?

Dr. Grant-Kels: The AAD requested that Dirk Elston, MD, FAAD, and I create a virtual online course reviewing new diagnostic techniques for cutaneous malignancy. Dr. Elston spearheaded the area of molecular testing, and I was asked to lead the segments reviewing new technologies now available that have the capability of assisting us by enhancing our diagnostic acumen and thereby sparing patients unnecessary biopsies, decreasing patient morbidity, and hopefully saving the health care system money. Now that the course is completed, it will be maintained by the AAD as enduring material. All the participants were able to resource IT experts at the AAD to ensure these lectures would be uniformly excellent.

DermWorld: What can members expect to learn?

Dr. Grant-Kels: For my part of the curriculum, our members can anticipate enhancing their knowledge on when and how to use reflectance confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, and ultrasound. I asked the leaders in each of these fields to explain how these technologies work, when and how to use them appropriately, the pros and cons of the various technologies, and how to integrate these technologies into a busy dermatology practice. To accomplish this, I led the curriculum on reflectance confocal microscopy (asking many to join me, including Harold Rabinovitz, MD, FAAD, Maggie Oliviero-Rabinovitz, NP, MSN, Daniel Siegel, MD, MS, FAAD, Catarina Longo, MD, PhD, IFAAD, and Kishwer Nehal, MD, FAAD). Julia Welzel, MD, from the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital in Augsburg, Germany led the course on optical coherence tomography with the assistance of Sandra Schuh, MD. Ultrasound was led by Ximena Wortsman, MD, FAIUM, from the Departments of Dermatology at the Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile as well as the Institute for Diagnostic Imaging and Research of the Skin and Soft Tissues in Santiago, Chile. The faculty was chosen for their recognized expertise and amazing teaching abilities. I am incredibly grateful for their time and efforts in creating this resource to our members via the AAD.

DermWorld: Why is it important for members to take the course?

Dr. Grant-Kels: When I started in dermatology many decades ago, we were still using a significant amount of radiation therapy, we had none of the new targeted therapies, and technology (even the dermoscope) was not yet developed. Since then, the field has exploded with new drugs that are life altering and new technologies that advance the way we can diagnose and treat patients. In my opinion, we need to embrace these changes so that we reduce patient morbidity, advance patient quality of life, and add excitement to our own work lives by learning new skills. These lectures can be listened to in sections, when you have a 15-20 minute break, and at your leisure from the office or the comfort of your home. Additionally, the courses provide us with free CME credit. Education does not get better or easier than this!