With an emphasis on pathophysiology of cutaneous disease, the lecture-based didactic curriculum offers high quality instructional talks given by the UCSF Dermatology faculty, visiting faculty, and invited guest lecturers from throughout the United States and beyond. Instruction is delivered daily in the following format.

The didactic curriculum incorporates a wide range of instructional formats, including: traditional text-based learning, unknown cases, multi-headed microscope sessions, and web-based interactive live lectures. The teaching series is organized largely around the topics covered in the following primary textbooks.

Odom, James, Berger, Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology, 9th edition.

Bolognia, Jorizzo, Rapini, Dermatology, 1st edition, Volumes 1 & 2.

Maize Cutaneous Pathology

Wolverton Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy

In addition to lecture-based learning, the residents also organize two journal club sessions per month. All residents read each month's Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Archives of Dermatology in their entirety and survey a wide range of other dermatologic, pathologic and medical literature. Furthermore, there is a structured basic science journal club curriculum which reviews cutting-edge investigational techniques and highlights emerging laboratory discoveries.