The tradition of Dermatology at MetroHealth Medical Center dates back to the time when the hospital was called Cleveland City Hospital. From the early 1920's through 1930's there was a strong Professor of Dermatology at Western Reserve University, Harold Cole, Sr, M.D.  One of Dr. Cole's associates, John E. Rauschkolb, M.D., was affiliated with the Cleveland City Hospital. Residents who trained with Dr. Cole also spent time at this institution.

City Hospital, as it was known, had over 150 beds devoted to Dermatology, primarily for the treatment of patients with various forms of syphilis.  With the arrival of the antibiotic era, the need for inpatient beds decreased dramatically.  After Dr. Rauschkolb died, Benjamin Persky, M.D., served as interim head of the division for approximately six months.  Dr. Persky was succeeded by Ruth Rauschkolb, M.D., wife of Dr. John Rauschkolb.  Dr. Ruth Rauschkolb developed an approved residency program as an appendage of the residency training program at University Hospital under Richard Stoughton, M.D.  When Dr. Ruth Rauschkolb retired in 1965, Jerome Pomeranz, M.D., became the Director of Dermatology at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital. Over the next several years, through negotiations with the American Board, the residency program at Cleveland Metropolitan General, now MetroHealth Medical Center, became an independent, separate entity.  Western Reserve University was the only university with two separately approved Dermatology Residency Training Programs. Western Reserve University finally merged with Case Institute of Technology.

At the time that Dr. Pomeranz arrived in 1965, the Dermatology unit consisted of himself and three residents. Over the succeeding years the department grew to seven faculty members and eight residents.  Dr. Pomeranz retired in 1996.

In July 1996, the residency program merged with its sister program at the University Hospitals campus of Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.