A full-circle journey back to UNT Health and TCOM for Dr. Marshall Hall
Marshall Hall, DO, is back where it all started. The 2022 graduate of the Texas College
of Osteopathic Medicine has returned to UNT Health Fory Worth as a dermatologist in
the Department of Internal and Specialty Medicine.
After completing his dermatology residency training at Medical City Fort Worth, where
he trained alongside physicians affiliated with UNT Health, Dr. Hall now joins many
of those same physicians as faculty colleagues. His return represents a full-circle
journey from medical student to resident physician to faculty member, providing a
unique opportunity to help prepare the next generation of physicians.
“It’s a new beginning and a homecoming,” Hall said.
His journey brings together his professional interests, academic aspirations, and
personal ties to the North Texas community.
When Hall first entered medical school at TCOM, he envisioned a career focused on
osteopathic manipulative medicine and family medicine. However, as he progressed through
his coursework and clinical training, an attending physician introduced him to dermatology,
opening the door to a specialty he hadn't initially considered.
“I saw the holistic work that dermatologists do and how skin health reflects and affects
so much of the body,” Hall said. “That’s what got me interested in the field and what
motivated me to get to where I am today.”
His experiences also shaped his understanding of patient care. Hall sees modern medicine
increasingly emphasizing partnership with patients, meeting people where they are
and considering their individual circumstances when developing treatment plans.
Hall’s path also highlights the opportunities and challenges facing osteopathic medical
students interested in dermatology. Hall noted that DOs remain underrepresented in
the specialty and that matching into dermatology residency can be more challenging
for DO students than for their allopathic counterparts.
“The match rate is still lower for DO students vs. MDs,” Hall said. “I think it’s
getting better, but it still has a way to go.”
Having successfully navigated that path himself, Hall brings a valuable perspective
to learners exploring competitive specialties. A key aspect of that perspective includes
scholarly activities, an interest Hall has continued to develop throughout his medical
training.
His first major research project at TCOM was a unique one: Hair loss among break dancers.
“They spin on their heads a lot,” Hall said with a laugh.
The results?
“Well, it was a kind of common sense: the more often you do it, in our study, more
than three sessions a week, you had a significantly greater risk of traction-related
hair loss compared to those who did less than three sessions per week.”
The project helped introduce him to the research process and demonstrated how clinical
questions can emerge from everyday activities and communities.
Over time, research became something Hall particularly enjoyed and hopes to incorporate
into his faculty role. For Hall, sharing what he has learned about research is just
as important as conducting it. Medical students and residents benefit from understanding
how research questions are developed, how studies are carried out, and how findings
contribute to clinical practice.
Because dermatology is a specialty that physicians across disciplines encounter, he
sees opportunities to help learners beyond dermatology residents develop an appreciation
for research and the field itself.
Hall’s return is particularly meaningful for the Department of Internal and Specialty
Medicine because it reflects the lasting relationships that can develop between an
institution and its learners.
Dr. Asim Kichloo, chair of the department, sees Hall’s journey as an example of the
department’s investment in medical education and professional development.
“It is especially meaningful to welcome Dr. Hall to our faculty because we have had
the opportunity to see his growth from a TCOM student, through his residency training,
and now into the next stage of his career as a physician and educator,” Kichloo said.
“We are incredibly pleased that he has chosen to continue his journey with UNT Health,
and we look forward to the impact he will have on our patients, learners, and community.”
Hall’s decision to return to UNT Health was shaped by both professional and personal
considerations. He had long been interested in academic medicine, and returning to
North Texas also made sense because of his familial ties to the area.
Together, those factors made UNT Health a natural place to continue his career.
For Hall, the journey has come full circle — with new opportunities to shape the future of the specialty that first captured his interest as a medical student.