A rose by any other name: Incidence and implications of donor-named dermatology departments

Summary: Abstract Body: This study aims to identify donor-named dermatology programs, their specific donation amounts, and explore how private funding sources shape the field of dermatology. We identified all dermatology residency programs participating in the 2024–2025 application cycle through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) directory. Two independent reviewers confirmed department names, and discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. Literature and internet searches were used to determine donation amounts. We identified 139 ERAS dermatology residency programs. Six were named after a prominent donor or donors. Geographically, three (50%) of these were located in the South and three (50%) in the Northeast. Eight programs were under private ownership without bearing the name of a specific donor. Four (50%) were in the Midwest, two (25%) in the West, and one each in the South (12.5%) and Northeast (12.5%). No privately owned departments disclosed funding. Of programs named after donors, four disclosed donation amounts, on average $9.5 million. The future of dermatology training and research requires diverse funding sources to ensure equity and long-term sustainability. Naming departments after private donors should come with great consideration, as donor objectives may not align with a department’s mission. Future studies will investigate implications of named programs, specifically impacts on research, patient populations treated, and clinical training offered. Kevin Kamel⁹, Emily Deehan², Kenny Ta³, Noah Keime¹, Daniel Uy², Claire Reynolds⁴, Dana Simon⁷, Nicole Case¹, Tasneem Issa³, Patrick McClain⁸, Hani Abi³, Madison Reed⁵, Angela R. Loczi-Storm⁶, Robert Dellavalle³ 1. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States. 2. Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States. 3. University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States. 4. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States. 5. A.T. Still Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO, United States. 6. Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States. 7. Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI, United States. 8. Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO, United States. 9. Huntington Hospital, Huntington, NY, United States. Minoritized Populations and Health Disparities Research