Dr. Aaron Wong is a clinical instructor of dermatology and program co-director of UBC’s five-year Dermatology Residency Program, which sees doctors-in-training working alongside dermatologists and other physicians in teaching hospitals and subspecialty dermatology clinics around the province.
This summer, Dr. Wong became one of only two recipients in the nation to earn the Canadian Dermatology Association Resident and Fellow Society’s Resident Teaching Award, which recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to resident and medical student dermatology education.
We sat down with Dr. Wong to find out what attracted him to a career in dermatology and discover what he enjoys most about teaching residents.
What attracted you to a career in medicine, and specifically dermatology?
I was always drawn to medicine — it’s a field that offers the perfect intersection between science and art, and affords endless opportunities to have meaningful interactions with people.
Before medicine, I gained experience in several research labs, and though the work was incredibly interesting, I ultimately knew I wanted to pursue a career where I would be working directly with patients. So after wrapping up my undergraduate degree in pharmacology, I went on to complete my MD, as well as my five-year residency training in dermatology at UBC.
When it comes to dermatology, I was attracted to the discipline early on in my medical training, and it’s proven to be an incredibly gratifying profession! The skin, as the biggest organ, can reveal a lot about a person — from how much time they’ve spent out in the sun to whether they may have an underlying health condition. I find there are a lot of exciting challenges, and countless rewards of seeing how the skin can be used as a barometer to gauge a person’s wellbeing, and help make a diagnosis.
Outside of working as a clinical instructor of dermatology, you’re also the co-director of UBC’s Dermatology Residency Program. Having been a resident in the program a few years ago, what has it been like to move into this role?
I have been working as the co-director of the dermatology residency program for just over a year now. I help support with all the ins and outs of running the residency program — from helping to implement curriculum to supporting with accreditation needs, or meeting with residents to speak with them about their training experiences.
It’s been really interesting serving as the co-director, having gone through the residency program myself. But I think my personal experience has given me a lot of insight and helped me to become a stronger co-director. I have fairly thorough knowledge of all the dermatology rotations and a strong relationship with the residents, many of whom were my peers only a short time ago.
I’ve also had the opportunity to go to Prince George to teach medical students with the Northern Medical Program during an outreach clinic. It’s a great opportunity to expose medical students to the field of dermatology, while helping to provide health care services to patients in northern B.C.
During the World Congress of Dermatology in June, you received the Resident Teaching Award from the Canadian Dermatology Association Resident and Fellows Society. What was it like to learn that you had been nominated for the award by the dermatology residents?
It was really exciting to learn that the residents had nominated for me for the award! As the program co-director of the residency program, ‘teacher’ is just one of the many hats that I wear, but I take the role very seriously and educating residents is something I feel very proud to be involved with. Having received this award after my first year as the co-director of the residency program, I feel like the residents have set a very high bar for me — but that’s a good thing — it will encourage me to excel and keep me motivated to keep my teaching fresh, and highly interactive.
What have you learned from the residents?
They’ve taught me a lot this past year! I’ve learned more about the art of listening, and the importance of meeting people in person at every opportunity. In a world where it’s so easy to communicate over email, I’ve found making the time to meet with residents face-to-face makes the world of difference.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years from now?
I hope I’m still actively involved in teaching dermatology residents — they keep me on my toes, and I really enjoy the opportunity to serve as a mentor, and be part of training the next generation of dermatologists.