day in the life of a dermatologist (derm resident)

Channel: Dr. Madalyn Nguyen

Summary for practice owners

This resident day-in-the-life video follows a dermatology trainee through clinic, patient presentations, documentation, a procedure setup, and studying after work. The resident works with a medical assistant and presents cases to an attending, illustrating a layered care team in which trainees gain responsibility while still having access to experienced review. She is on a general dermatology rotation and describes the uncertainty that can accompany moving toward independent practice. For practice owners, the scene offers a grounded look at how clinical training and supervision shape the early-career workforce. The day includes seeing patients, writing notes between visits, catching up on messages and pathology calls during lunch, and preparing a laser room for a cosmetic treatment near the end of the schedule. Her end-of-day recap mentions a mix of rashes, acne, medication starts, procedures, and a cosmetic service. That variety is part of the appeal of dermatology work, but it also means a team needs room turnover, documentation, and procedure preparation built into its operating rhythm. The resident also describes two hours of evening reading as a regular part of training, alongside a clinic day that generally runs from morning to late afternoon. Owners recruiting residents or newly trained dermatologists may find this useful context for understanding the learning load and transition from supervised practice. The video is personal instead of a management guide, yet it makes visible the daily touchpoints around physician work: assistant support, attending consultation, notes, patient communication, procedure-room logistics, and continued study. It offers a positive portrait of a busy specialty while acknowledging that trainees are still building confidence and carry significant work beyond face-to-face appointments.

Owner takeaways

• 1:49 An MA and attending can give trainees structured support throughout a clinic day.
• 2:20 Case presentation and attending review help bridge trainee responsibility and independent practice.
• 3:54 Use lunch periods for documentation and callbacks only when workload allows recovery time too.
• 4:26 Procedure rooms need setup and comfort details planned in advance.
• 4:59 A dermatology schedule may combine medical visits, procedures, and cosmetic services, so plan support across visit types.

Why it made the list

It made the list for its useful perspective on dermatology practice ownership and workforce, careers and compensation. The video has 50,811 views and 1,613 likes.

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This video is published by Dr. Madalyn Nguyen on YouTube. Dermatologists.com is not affiliated with the creator, and inclusion is not an endorsement by either party. Watch it on YouTube.