Allergan and SkinBetter Science Support Inclusive Atlas

Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, and SkinBetter Science announced in a press release that they used their DREAM (Driving Racial Equity in Aesthetic Medicine) initiative to support the development and distribution of the “The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas.” This dermatology atlas will display images of the most-seen dermatology conditions in an array of skin tones.¹

The goal of the full-color atlas is to advance education among physicians, with the intent to visually teach dermatologists, dermatology residents, and other clinicians to recognize various skin conditions in different skin tones. This resource includes high-quality images taken by dermatologists trained in medical photography which provide side-by-side images of the most commonly seen dermatology conditions in a full spectrum of skin tones, according to the release.

The Atlas was developed by co-editors Misty Eleryan, MD, MS, a micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology fellow at the University of California, in Los Angeles, and Adam Friedman, MD, professor and chair of dermatology at GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in Washington, DC, and published by SanovaWorks and Educational Testing & Assessment Systems. 

"To effectively diagnose and manage skin diseases in all patients, dermatologists need to be fluent in the diverse array of clinical presentations of even the most common skin diseases in all skin tones," said Friedman. "The investment being made by leaders of our dermatology community and industry in this innovative project validates and highlights its extraordinary importance."

"As physicians, we take an oath to do no harm to our patients; we can now better live up to this oath for ALL of our patients, especially those with darker skin, by educating ourselves on the variations of presentations of common dermatoses on all skin tones," said Eleryan,

The Atlas received funding from both SkinBetter Science and Allergan Aesthetics as it aligned with the DREAM initiative and it will make copies available to all dermatology residents and program directors in the United States.

"Understanding the need for racial equity in all sectors of society, Skinbetter Science and Allergan Aesthetics, as part of their DREAM Initiative, supports the Atlas' efforts to advance the education of healthcare practitioners. This comprehensive collection of images is designed to better serve the full spectrum of skin tones--hopefully providing physicians and other healthcare practitioners the opportunity to advance diagnosis," said Jonah Shacknai, executive chairman of SkinBetter Science, in Irvine, California.

"The DREAM Initiative is committed to furthering the principles of racial and ethnic diversity, inclusion, respect and understanding in the fields of dermatology and plastic surgery. We're proud of the release of this Atlas and continue to work with SkinBetter Science to create meaningful, positive change within our own companies, and with our customers," said Carrie Strom, senior vice president, AbbVie and president, Global Allergan Aesthetics, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Contributing fellows and members of the Atlas Advisory Committee include:

Fellows

• Nagasai Adusumilli, MBA
• Gabrielle Benesh, BS
• Alexis Carrington, MD
• Nneamaka Ezekwe, MD

Advisory Council

• Blair Allais, MD
• Olabola Awosika, MD
• Steven R. Cohen, MD, MPH
• Holly Kerr, MD
• Adeline Kikam, DO, MS
• Jenny Kim, MD, PhD
• Alex Ortega Loayza, MD
• Lynn McKinley-Grant, MD
• Ginette Okoye, MD
• Lauren Payne, MD
• Raja Sivamani MD, MS, AP
• Mara C. Weinstein Velez, MD

Reference:

1. Dream initiative releases, the full spectrum of dermatology: a diverse and inclusive atlas. Published September 29, 2021. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dream-initiative-releases-the-full-spectrum-of-dermatology-a-diverse-and-inclusive-atlas-301383427.html