JABSOM Receives Good Skin Knowledge Grant

The University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine has been awarded a Good Skin Knowledge Grant from the American Academy of Dermatology.

The grant provides education on hair, skin, and nails to dozens of children in Hawaiʻi.

JABSOM leads, MS2s Heather Zimmerman, Kirsten Chun, Dermatology Interest Group members Ralina Karagenova, Ana Danko,Taylor Ho, Quinci Salvador, Katelyn Stenger, Lauryn Liao and their mentor Dr. Greg Sakamoto traveled to several schools on Oʻahu as well as Lānaʻi to share tips to achieve “good skin.” 

“Since launching the Good Skin Knowledge program in Hawaiʻi, we’ve educated over 200 students about their skin. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many excited to learn more,” Zimmerman said. “Our goal is to expand GSK further, promoting self-acceptance and reducing appearance-related bullying, one student at a time.”

JABSOM’s Dermatology Interest Group would like to send special thanks to the Hawaiʻi/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center for funding Zimmerman and Chun’s flights to Lānaʻi. 

“We believe that providing dermatological education to students in rural areas is crucial, particularly on the neighbor islands,” Zimmerman said. “Many of these students lack easy access to a dermatologist, so our goal is to help close that gap and raise awareness about the importance of skin health.”

Since its launch in 2013, the AAD’s Good Skin Knowledge Program has educated over 16,500 children. The goal of the program is to teach young people the facts about common skin, hair, and nail conditions. Misunderstanding can lead to teasing and bullying, which is associated with anxiety and depression.

The AAD Good Skin Knowledge Grant awards non-profit and community-based organizations funds to educate children in underserved populations on healthy hair, skin, and nails. To learn more about the Good Skin Knowledge Grant click here.