On dermatological surgery, registrars and residents.

Training in aspects of skin surgery is now a requirement of general dermatology registrars and residents in the UK and USA, respectively. We compare this component of the training programmes at St John's Institute of Dermatology in London and at New York Medical College in New York City. Because of their understanding of cutaneous pathology, dermatologists are often best qualified to assess patients for skin procedures and should therefore be involved, directly or indirectly, in their surgical management. In our view, the curricula should be changed to place more emphasis on the supervised assessment and treatment of patients with skin tumours as well as to reflect the growing importance of laser treatments and the demand by patients for cosmetic interventions.