The Washington University Dermatopathology Center offers a one-year fellowship designed to prepare aspiring dermatopathologists to work independently in an academic or practice setting.

The program provides intensive training in the evaluation of cutaneous disease, including the use of immunofluorescence, immunohistochemical stains and molecular diagnostics. Cases are obtained from in-house, hospital-based and outpatient-based dermatology as well as outside consultations. Research opportunities in a wide range of fields are available and participation is encouraged.

Curriculum
Education

Supported by a world-class medical school, the Washington University Dermatopathology Center strives to provide superior education to future generations of dermatologists and pathologists. Our trainees augment our team, allowing us to handle a large caseload of both basic and complex cases.

Dermatology Grand Rounds

Patients presenting with diagnostic or therapeutic challenges may be examined at the weekly Grand Rounds conference held by the Division of Dermatology. Clinical faculty members will discuss the clinical presentation and biopsy results of each patient and offer diagnosis and treatment recommendations to the referring physician. Dermatopathology faculty play a key role in this discussion by clarifying pathologic findings and working with clinical faculty for appropriate clinicopathologic correlation.

Requirements

Fellows must be board-certified or board-eligible in anatomic pathology or dermatology.

Application

The Center accepts one fellow each year for a one-year program designed to prepare aspiring dermatopathologists to work independently in an academic or practice setting.

The fellowship provides intensive training in the evaluation of cutaneous disease, including the use of immunofluorescence, special and immunohistochemical stains and molecular diagnostics. Cases are obtained from in-house, hospital-based and outpatient-based dermatology as well as outside consultations. Research opportunities in a wide range of fields are available and participation is encouraged.

Requirements
Board eligible in Dermatology, Anatomic Pathology or Anatomic Pathology/Clinical Pathology.

The 2025/26 position has now been filled.

Program Director
Leigh Compton, MD, PhD
Dermatopathology Center
Washington University
School of Medicine
CORTEX Building, Suite 212
4320 Forest Park Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
Phone: (314) 362-5757

Program Contact
Lana Torry
Senior Fellowship Program Administrator
600 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8118
St. Louis, MO 63110
lanaktorry@wustl.edu

Faculty and trainees
Leigh A. Compton, MD, PhD

Leigh A. Compton, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Pathology & Immunology
Director, Dermatopathology Fellowship
Director, Dermatopathology Laboratory

Division: Anatomic & Molecular Pathology

Louis P. Dehner, MD

Louis P. Dehner, MD

Professor, Pathology & Immunology

Division: Anatomic & Molecular Pathology

Ilana Rosman, MD

Ilana Rosman, MD

Associate Professor, Medicine (Dermatology)
Associate Professor, Pathology & Immunology
Section Head, Dermatopathology

Division: Anatomic & Molecular Pathology

Aaron Russell, MD

Aaron Russell, MD

Assistant Professor, Medicine (Dermatology)
Assistant Professor, Pathology & Immunology

Division: Anatomic & Molecular Pathology

Trainees

Lea Bellomo, MD, FAAD

Lea Bellomo, MD, FAAD

Fellow, Dermatopathology