UConn School of Medicine once again is home to a Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology (MSDO) Fellowship training program. The School of Medicine previously had one from 2013-2019.

Fellows will train predominantly in the Mohs surgery clinic taking care of a multitude of skin cancer patients ranging from routine to complex. They will also gain exposure and expertise weekly in the laser and cosmetic dermatology clinic working with the Mohs surgery faculty. In addition, they will spend time with other oncologic and surgical specialties including otolaryngology (facial plastic surgery and head and neck surgery), plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery, radiation oncology, and medical oncology throughout their year of training.

Now under the leadership of Fellowship Program Director Dr. Hao Feng, associate professor of Dermatology and director of Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology, the program will annually train one future Mohs surgeon in the one-year program.

The fellowship, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and recognized by the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), relaunched this August 2026 with the arrival of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shane McTighe who practices at Lane Dermatology in Georgia. He interestingly trained as a resident in the U.S. Army at William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss in Texas and a dermatologist resident at the National Capital Consortium in Bethesda, Maryland.

McTighe and other future UConn fellows will receive comprehensive training in Mohs surgery, reconstructive surgery, cutaneous oncology, and laser and cosmetic dermatology at UConn Health Department of Dermatology’s very busy skin cancer practice that performs over 2,600 Mohs surgery cases and 1,000 skin excisions per year. The vast majority of the reconstructions are performed by Mohs surgeons.

“We are very excited to relaunch the Mohs surgery fellowship program as we have a very high volume of Connecticut patients in need,” shares Feng, the new Fellowship Program Director. “There is definitely an increase of skin cancers every, single year, and a lot of patient care need here in our state. The Mohs Surgery fellowship also completes our UConn medical school’s dedicated mission of always training the next generation of providers.”

Plus, fellows will participate in regularly scheduled didactics, journal clubs, surgical conference, multidisciplinary tumor board, and assist with teaching dermatology residents at the UConn School of Medicine as well through didactic sessions and supervising procedure clinics.

“Fellows always bring a lot of energy, ideas, and collaboration to make dermatologic patient care better and better, and to keep UConn on the cutting-edge of patient care,” says Feng. “Having trainees really helps you stay innovative, up to date on the latest scientific knowledge and treatments, and striving to always be the best for our trainees and patients. It’s really wonderful to have this Mohs surgery fellowship back at UConn, for the benefit of our institution, dermatology department, our trainees – but most importantly so many patients.”