Mohs surgery is a delicate, intricate, highly effective treatment for skin cancer. While many physicians may perform Mohs surgery, board certification is not required. If you are interested in treatment of your skin cancer through Mohs surgery, how do you choose a qualified doctor?
The American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) was founded by Dr. Frederic Mohs himself. ACMS-approved fellowship training programs are significantly more rigorous than other Mohs programs. Fellows-in-training undergoes months of extensive, hands-on direction from highly qualified instructors. By choosing a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon you can be assured that you will receive the highest standard of quality and competency, as well as an optimal outcome.
Why Choose An ACMS Surgeon?
Source: ACMS
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Upon completion of a dermatology residency, a physician can apply to participate in a Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology (Mohs) fellowship training program. Qualified applicants undergo an extremely competitive review and selection process to obtain a 1- to 2-year fellowship position with a program accredited by the ACMS (international programs), the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME; U.S. programs), or the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
ACGME and ACD programs are recognized by the ACMS, and fellowships accredited by these organizations safeguard the standards of Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology (Mohs) by ensuring that fellows-in-training are properly trained and acquire the necessary expertise to perform the Mohs procedure. Accredited programs follow a structured curriculum that includes graded responsibility, operative and non-operative education, and exposure to long-term results, recurrences, and complications.
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Each fellow-in-training is paired with an accredited, veteran ACMS surgeon who has demonstrated proficiency and expertise in Mohs surgery. The fellow-in-training receives direct Mohs surgery direction and mentoring for the duration of the program. To ensure adherence to the ACMS academic and clinical requirements, training centers are re-evaluated every 1 to 5 years.
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Fellowship training programs are designed to impart experience and judgment into each graduate. By design, these programs are comprehensive and rigorous because skin cancer itself occurs in a diversity of forms, degrees, and areas of the body. To complete an ACMS-approved fellowship, a physician must:
Participate in a minimum of 600 Mohs surgery cases
Learn to accurately interpret slides of tissue samples that have been removed during Mohs surgery
Perform a wide breadth of reconstructions, ranging from simple closures to complicated multi-step repairs
Because fellows-in-training undergo training over months, they gain a breadth of exposure – under the guidance of a qualified Mohs surgeon – that includes rare tumor pathology, difficult tumor locations, and complex wound reconstruction. This fellowship training provides a depth of experience unmatched by other Mohs programs.
Why Choose An ASDS Surgeon?
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is the largest specialty organization in the United States exclusively representing dermatologic surgeons who have unique training and experience to treat the health, function and beauty of skin throughout every stage of life. ASDS members are recognized as leaders in the field of cosmetic and medically necessary skin surgery. They also are pioneers in the field; many are involved in the clinical studies that bring popular treatments to revitalize skin and fill and diminish wrinkles to the forefront.