Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO

WashU

St Louis, MO

Website: dermatology.wustl.edu/content/education.html
NRMP: 1353080A0
ACGME: 0802821051

Applicant sentiment — from 96 anonymous posts, 2016–2027

3.5 / 10

What anonymous posters said

Several posts describe the away rotation as largely shadowing-based with limited chances to present, and multiple posters mention that letters of recommendation are not provided to rotators. Some commenters raised concerns about mentorship and support within the department, while others referenced a leadership transition and an internal review tied to resident survey feedback. A few posts also noted lower-than-expected match numbers in a recent cycle.

AI-generated summary of opinions expressed in anonymous, unverified posts. It describes what posters wrote, not verified facts about this program. Based on these 96 posts · Updated Aug 2026 · Contest or respond to this entry · Takedown & right of reply

Match terms

barnes jewishbarnes-jewishst louis dermst louis washwash mewash uwash u st. louiswashington universitywashington university st louiswashington university st louis dermwashuwustlwustl derm

By match cycle

What applicants said in 2027· 3.2 / 10 What applicants said in 2022· 6.8 / 10 What applicants said in 2020· 5.3 / 10 What applicants said in 2019· 4.4 / 10

Related programs

Also discussed alongside

Hosp of the Univ of PA (Dermatology/3 yr)· 11 threads Henry Ford Hospital-MI· 9 threads Mayo Clinic School of Grad Med Educ-MN· 8 threads U Michigan Hosps-Ann Arbor· 8 threads Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr-TN· 8 threads Mass General Brigham-MA· 7 threads NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY· 7 threads Stanford Health Care-CA· 7 threads

Other programs in Missouri

SSM Health/St Louis Univ SOM-MO· St Louis Univ of Missouri-KC Programs· Kansas City University Hosps-Columbia-MO· Columbia Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO (Dermatology/Pediatric)· St. Louis Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO (Dermatology/Physician Scientist)· St. Louis SSM Health/St Louis Univ SOM-MO (Dermatology/KAT)· St Louis Still OPTI-Northeast Reg Med Ctr-MO (Dermatology/Osteopathic)· Kirksville

Page 1 of 11

Someone asked about WashU away. WashU told all rotators last year the night before rotations started that they would not give LORs and if you wanted one, then you'd have to meet with them separately and tell them your reasons why and convince them super hard. Their rotation was 65-75% shadowing (edited because there were certain faculty that took a shine to me and let me present lol), with 25% somewhat clinical mostly in the consult week. Hard to stand out when you're shadowing and faculty not getting to know you. Residents were fine. Would not do this away again, signed matched 2026 applicant, and 10/10 would not do this process ever again lol.

#1712026-2027 DermMay 10

Is it true that WashU doesn't write LORs? Got a July spot but I need derm LORs obviously...

#1652026-2027 DermMay 10

Is WashU really that bad of a rotation mill? I got my first offer from them, but I have applied to lower tier programs with no luck. My application is mediocre, so should I turn it down if the odds of an II are low to begin with? x 2 lol

#1142026-2027 DermApr 13

steak too juicy lobster too buttery

Apr 13

pls I am being 100% serious here :( i just dont want to waste my time and money and they have 14 internals apparently

Apr 13

you will not get a letter of rec from WashU which they tell you on your first day. Lots of shadowing, rarely get to present to attendings who will not remember your name

Apr 13

so theres basically nothing you gain/no building a connection that can increase your chances of a II?

Apr 13

its one thing for a program to not gaurantee rotators an interviewer, but it's even more heinous when they won't even write you a LOR???? Like i'm dropping bands for zero

Apr 13

literally robbery, and thats something that should be disclosed before applying and not something you are told ON the rotation

Apr 13

recently matched applicant- i would suggest reaching out to coordinators/PDs/any contacts you have at other places you applied to aways at, let them know you have an external offer for x month but would prefer their institution if given the opportunity. this worked for me once, and once is all you need! alternatively if you get an offer later after youve accepted washu, would rescind washu if the new offer is known to take rotators/write LORs

Apr 13

I am being 100% serious here :( i just dont want to waste my time and money and they have 14 internals apparently

Apr 14

I am being 100% serious here i just dont want to waste my time and money and they have 14 internals apparently

Apr 14

yes it's a huge rotation mill

Apr 14

Has anyone heard back about the prelim screening from wisconson or washU

#712026-2027 DermApr 2

no, applied to both

Apr 2

Has anyone heard back about wisconson or WashU prelims?

Apr 8

yes, rejected from wisconsin

Apr 9

yes, rejected from wisconsin x 2

Apr 9

yes, rejected from wisconsin x 3

Apr 9

Which programs are known rotation mills?

#742026-2027 DermApr 2

Harvard

Apr 2

USC

Apr 2

Even more important than rotation mills are programs that only take their own research fellows. While rotation mills will still interview and match a percentage of their rotators (with variability between programs), programs that only take their research fellows will rotate and interview many of their rotators, but ultimately offer little to no chance of matching for those outside their fellows.

Apr 2

what programs do this besides sinai

Apr 2

what programs do this besides sinai, Mayo AZ

Apr 2

Rotating, signaling, and interviewing at these programs is a waste of time and is performative; they already know who they plan to take for the upcoming cycle

Apr 2

WashU

Apr 3

very true. Do NOT waste your time at Mayo AZ or Sinai. UConn also (at least this year). CWRU as well is a major rotation mill people need to talk more about

Apr 3

UCONN

Apr 3

Penn

Apr 7

Wake

Apr 8

CWRU

Apr 8

northwestern

Apr 9

Every other year uconn has taken a lot of their away rotators, including all their current residents.

Aug 29

Can someone explain what a "rotation mill" is/means?

#302026-2027 DermMar 22

take a bunch of students for away roations and rarely offer those rotators interviews

Mar 22

Why do programs do this? Seems like a waste of time for everyone involved

Mar 22

Free Labor

Mar 22

What schools are known as "rotation mills"

Mar 22

you don't want to do any research yourself huh

Mar 22

WashU, USC

Mar 22

barely free labor if most of these schools don't let students do much anyways. i think they may not have the bandwidth or a good system in place to thoroughly vet students prior to offering aways but may later realize they are not competitive for their program

Mar 22

Not OP, but the purpose of this sheet is to spread the word... let's not gatekeep (if possible!). No hate!

Mar 22

WashU, USC()

Mar 22

WashU, USC() F*ck USC. Look at last years spreadsheet

Mar 23

its ok ur not missing out the training is skewed to obscure med derm u would need training outside of residency to feel comfortable as non academic/private practice gen derm

Mar 23

Quick question for yall. Pre-med here who got into med school recently. pretty much deadset on derm. I have a full tuition scholarship at WashU st. louis or could pay $200k to go to Yale (which would result in about $140k in debt over 4/5 years). I know Yale is possibly better for dermatology, does anyone have any advice on where to choose?

#72026-2027 DermMar 21

go WashU. no debt is huge

Mar 21

WashU is also a really great school and I think the stress of loans hanging over your head makes you a less happy person in general, affecting all facets of your life. Unless you have other reasons to go to yale, I think you could make derm either way! At the level of washU vs yale, matchign derm really depends on you and your personality and motavation to be a good student and researcher! I also recommend you stay off the spreadsheets at least until your M4 year. congrats on the A and go enjoy your spring!

Mar 21

$140k is not a ton in the grand scheme of things. Wouldn't get too hung up or stressed over that. If it makes you feel better, I'm at like $700k 😂 it could always be worse lmfao. One thing I'd compel you to consider is that at Yale you'll be ranked against other competitive applicants whereas you may have a higher class rank at WashU! Also keep in mind tons of people at ivy leagues applying derm don't make it. I don't know that going to Yale will truly be better for your app

Mar 21

agree with this last part, I don't know if it will be better for your app (derm resident here)

Mar 21

WashU doesnt have class ranks (huge pro) and the students are just as competitive academically

Mar 21

$140k of debt is not that much but both WashU and Yale are phenomenal programs. That being said, I'd probably pick Yale personally, just because I like the program better... depends on how much the debt means to you

Mar 21

Hi, congrats on your acceptances! Truly wishing that you make the best decision for what you need. Absolutely, the cost/loans matter. But if you're dead set on derm, I'd highly recommend you consider Yale. WashU's derm match last year was insane, but that was a fluke. WashU has a difficult time matching anywhere outside the Midwest (especially in derm), and our previous years' data have been meh and don't even tell you the number of students who did not match derm or matched to the second specialty they applied into. Yale is stronger academically, particularly for derm. If you are open to considering other specialties (ENT, plastics, ortho, etc.), by all means, come to WashU; these departments have excellent research and mentorship -- not derm. I wish someone would have warned me, so I make it my job to tell everyone else.

Mar 21

I'm the OP. After seeing this, i think i am going to choose yale... i am really deadset on derm (fav specialty by far, and i dont imagine myself switching), and i think ill be able to pay off the debt anyway. thanks.

Mar 21

you should ask how yale derm match went this year (spoiler: not well)

Mar 21

wait can you clarify, why didn't yale derm match go well LOL (Im OP).

Mar 21

Yo I'm OP, can the previous commenter talk about how Yale match went this year? what % matched approximately? i heard there were a ton of internal candidates.> ya how do you know how it went this year already?

Mar 21

because people talk and they already know if they matched or not

Mar 21

were there a ton of unmatched applicants from Yale this year?

Mar 21

Yes. idk ask your yale friend, and also get off this spreadsheet

Mar 21

seriously LMAO get off

Mar 21

More people went unmatched than matched applying into dermatology from Yale this year… just fyi. Last year they also had a few go unmatched.

Mar 21

Save the money - both amazing schools. If you're committed to derm you will make it happen either way. Financial freedom is so underrated

Mar 22

Does anyone have July for Wash U that would be able to switch with August?

#3562026-2027 DermJun 16

Does anyone know if WashU dermatology is a more supportive department now that the PD has turned over? I heard the new PD is great but I also heard the department in general wasn't willing to mentor or teach people. Wondering if this problem is fixed with a new PD.

#832026-2027 DermApr 4

It's really not something you can know right now. Will need to give it a few years.

Apr 4

Incoming M1 here deciding between vanderbilt and washu. I heard WashU had a rough derm match this year. Does anyone know if WashU is a good school if derm is my end goal?? I heard from current students that their match list has been good in the past, but their department isn't super supportive in terms of mentorship/research.

#542026-2027 DermMar 26

Does anyone know how many internals were at WashU this cycle?

#34932025–2026 DermMar 24

I need an honest answer regarding WashU. Can someone explain why everyone keeps saying it is "toxic"?

#31762025–2026 DermMar 4

residents overworked

Mar 7

that's it? Nothing else? Basically no admin time, 7:15 didactics Mon+Tues

Mar 7

PD (both old and new) really don't care about residents. Some very aggressive faculty (Grand Rounds is just a roasting session)

Mar 7

where are people getting this info about the new PD? genuinely starting to question peoples motives on this sheet because she's a wonderful human being who absolutely cares about trainees

Mar 7

for people who interviewed for WashU peds derm, do we have to rank WashU peds as #1 for our supplemental rank list? or just any peds prelims fine?

#31282025–2026 DermFeb 27

Please be careful if you interviewed with WashU/rank WashU highly. The program was under ACGME review because the residents were so unhappy >> this checks out bc residents seemed miserable on my away

#28962025–2026 DermFeb 21

How do you know this?

Feb 21

and can you provide more info on how resident displeasure resulted in ACGME review!?

Feb 21

yappers gon yapp >> review meaning within the GME department at WashU/Barnes Jewish. the review was the result of increasingly negative resident survey results over 3-4 years https://gme.wustl.edu/items/rrc-review-committee-residency-review-committee/

Feb 21

without further explanation/ verification this is bait to not rank it highly

Feb 21

there is so much to back this up in prior years spreadsheets. Ilana Rosman was a super toxic PD

Feb 21

She is no longer PD at WashU (although there have been some gossip that the new PD is not the best either)

Feb 21

and can you provide more info on how resident displeasure resulted in ACGME review!?

Mar 7

there is so much to back this up in prior years spreadsheets. Ilana Rosman was a super toxic PD

Mar 7

She is no longer PD at WashU (although there have been some gossip that the new PD is not the best either)

Mar 7

can confirm about new PD

Mar 7

felt like the washU interview was surprisingly chill. thoughts?

#27592025–2026 DermFeb 21

agree, wonder how they'll evaluate

Feb 21

Some posts are shown because their comments mention this program.