I am extremely grateful to the British Society for Medical Dermatology for supporting my fellowship in cutaneous infections and tropical dermatology between June 2025 and June 2026.

A key component of the fellowship was attending the returning travellers and leprosy clinics with Dr Steve Walker in London on two occasions. The leprosy clinic provided invaluable learning opportunities. I observed several patients with leprosy-associated neuropathy and gained a greater appreciation of the long-term complications of the disease. I was taught how to perform a focused examination of patients with leprosy and had the opportunity to observe slit-skin smear sampling. These experiences significantly improved my understanding of the diagnosis, assessment and monitoring of leprosy, a condition rarely encountered in routine UK dermatology practice.

Additionally, I attended my local infectious diseases clinic with Dr Katherine Woods. One particularly rewarding aspect of this experience was seeing a patient with leprosy whom I had previously assessed and biopsied within dermatology services. This experience has provided valuable insight into the multidisciplinary care required for patients with complex infectious conditions and highlighted the importance of collaboration between specialties.

I spent time in the mycology laboratory with Dr Richard Barton. This placement provided a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with specimen preparation and microscopy. I was able to prepare fungal samples on glass slides and examine specimens under the microscope, improving my understanding of laboratory diagnostic techniques. Discussions with Dr Barton regarding several memorable cases, including congenital candidiasis and histoplasmosis, helped bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical practice.

Attendance at HIV and genitourinary medicine clinics with Dr Sarah Schoeman provided valuable exposure to both genital dermatology and HIV medicine. Within the genital dermatology clinic, I encountered a range of challenging conditions including recalcitrant genital warts and limited treatment options in recurrent genital herpes simplex virus in pregnancy.

The HIV clinics provided insight into the long-term management of people living with HIV and the wider psychosocial issues affecting this patient group. I gained a greater understanding of the stigma that patients may still encounter despite advances in treatment. Discussions regarding the fact that patients are not obliged to disclose their HIV status to their general practitioners, as well as the ongoing issue of unnecessary double-gloving practices within healthcare settings, were particularly thought-provoking and emphasised the importance of reducing stigma through education and evidence-based practice.

An important highlight of the fellowship was attending the EADV Parasitologic Dermatology course at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. The course provided comprehensive teaching on parasitic skin diseases including scabies, pediculosis, tungiasis, cutaneous larva migrans, leishmaniasis and other neglected tropical diseases. The combination of case-based discussions and practical microscopy workshops provided a unique opportunity to consolidate diagnostic skills while gaining a broader understanding of the global burden of parasitic skin disease. During the course, I presented a case of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection.

The fellowship culminated in attendance at the EADV Tropical Dermatology course in Amsterdam. This intensive programme covered a broad range of imported and tropical skin diseases, including superficial and subcutaneous mycoses, helminth infections, mycobacterial diseases, leprosy, leishmaniasis and other common dermatological conditions encountered in resource-limited settings. The course highlighted the growing relevance of tropical dermatology within European practice and provided practical approaches to diagnosing and managing patients presenting with imported skin disease. Equally valuable were the networking opportunities, which enabled me to establish connections with dermatologists and infectious disease specialists with shared interests in tropical dermatology.

I would like to sincerely thank the British Society for Medical Dermatology for funding this fellowship and providing these invaluable opportunities. I am also grateful to Dr Steve Walker, Dr Katherine Woods, Dr Richard Barton, Dr Sarah Schoeman and all the colleagues and faculty members who contributed to my training throughout the fellowship. The experiences gained through this fellowship will continue to influence my clinical practice.