In December 2024, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention presented the platinum level Skin Smart Campus Award to Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM). This award recognizes WFUSM’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of the campus community, providing a safe, healthy learning and living environment on and off campus. WFUSM pledges to keep indoor tanning devices off the campus and out of all affiliated buildings. In addition, WFUSM promotes skin cancer prevention and UV safety education.
The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus Initiative was developed in response to the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer which concluded that there is a strong association between increased risk of skin cancer and indoor tanning use. Numerous studies have found that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer—is one of the most common cancers diagnosed among young adults. According to The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group, the use of indoor tanning facilities before age 35 increases the risk for melanoma by 75 percent.
Promoting Sun Safety
The journey to join the Skin Smart Campus Initiative began with the passion and dedication of medical students and faculty committed to improving skin safety. Nathan C. Schedler, a first-year medical student, led the Skin Smart Campus initiative at WFUSM, along with Megan M. Mukenge, a third-year medical student, and Hannah Y. Gantz, a fourth-year medical student. Schedler, who was inspired by the opportunity to combine community outreach with dermatology public health, said, "Skin cancer prevention is an often-overlooked area where small changes can have a significant impact on countless lives. I wanted to drive this initiative forward to ensure our community has the resources and education to stay safe. By collaborating with institutional leadership, developing an educational webpage, and installing sunscreen dispensers in high-traffic areas, we’re working to make skin safety resources and education more accessible for Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the broader Winston-Salem community.”
As part of this initiative, Schedler created an educational webpage through WFUSM’s platform, offering essential information on skin cancer prevention. The page hopes to raise awareness of skin cancer and the risks of UV exposure, providing the community with knowledge and resources on skin health.
To view the webpage, visit Skin Cancer Prevention Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
“Bringing the Skin Smart Campus program to Wake Forest School of Medicine is such an exciting opportunity to promote sun safety and skin cancer prevention within our school and the surrounding community,” said Mukenge. “Through our partnership with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, we’re taking proactive steps to help reduce skin cancer risks through accessible sunscreen dispensers and practical education, empowering our community with the tools and knowledge to make informed choices about their skin health.”
Dr. Christine Ahn, MD, FAAD, director of the High-Risk Cutaneous Oncology and Melanoma Clinics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and mentor of the students driving skin safety across Winston-Salem, said, “As the director of the high risk cutaneous oncology and melanoma clinics at Wake Forest School of Medicine, I have the honor of working closely with patients who are deeply impacted by skin cancer. In addition to clinical care, I am really passionate about helping to shape our perceptions of sun safe practices and contribute to a culture shift that allows us to do the things we love while promoting our health. I went through medical school and all of my post-graduate training here at Wake Forest so it is especially meaningful to implement the Skin Smart Campus initiative at Wake Forest School of Medicine.”
The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention partners with IMPACT Melanoma to award two free sunscreen dispensers and a year’s worth of sunscreen as part of the platinum award. WFUSM plans to install sunscreen dispensers in key locations on campus, such as the atrium of the Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education and Biotech Place, to ensure convenient access to sun protection for students, faculty, and staff. The dispensers will serve as a tangible reminder to the campus community to take steps to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors.
In addition to the Skin Safe Campus initiative, earlier in 2024, Hannah Y. Gantz spearheaded, along with the team, a separate project funded by the ‘Challenge 100: Little Ideas for Big Impact’ grant. This project sought to expand access to sunscreen and sun safety knowledge in the Winston-Salem community and successfully secured the installation of a free public sunscreen dispenser at Bailey Park in Winston-Salem, NC.
“As aspiring dermatologists, not only is it important to educate our community members about the dangers of sun exposure and the role of primary prevention, but it's crucial that we dually recognize and address the barriers to sunscreen access that so many experience. By providing free sunscreen dispensers, we hope to overcome these access barriers and reduce the burden of skin cancer in our community” Gantz said.
The team is continuing its efforts, in collaboration with Dr. Christine Ahn and other community stakeholders, to further expand access to sun safety resources by installing additional sunscreen dispensers in high-traffic areas throughout Forsyth County. Additionally, they are organizing educational events to highlight the importance of skin cancer prevention. Through these efforts, WFUSM students and faculty aim to reduce barriers to sunscreen access, raise awareness about melanoma risks, and create a lasting impact on public health.
The success of the Skin Smart Campus Initiative was recognized in a 2019 JAMA Dermatology editorial by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Boris Lushniak. Lushniak emphasized that when prevention works, “there is no disease and therefore nothing bad happens to the person. Oftentimes we do not appreciate or celebrate the successes of prevention. Let’s make nothing happen! Let’s keep on track on that bold and noble mission of preventing skin cancer.”
Individual sunscreen dispenser locations:
References:
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group. The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: a systematic review. Int J Cancer 2006; 120:1116-1122.
- Lushniak, Boris D, MD, MPH. When Prevention Works, Nothing Happens. JAMA Dermatology, jamadermatology.com, published online Oct 2, 2019; E1-E2