The Skin Smart Campus Initiative: Promoting Skin Health and Public Awareness at GW

Recently, George Washington University (GW) was officially designated as a Skin Smart Campus by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention.¹

The Skin Smart Campus Initiative represents a university-wide commitment to advancing skin health through education, accessibility, and proactive measures.²

Spearheaded by a collaboration between faculty and medical students, including Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD, professor and chair of dermatology at GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and medical student Savanna Vidal, this initiative exemplifies the integration of public health principles into dermatological practice and education.

Origins of the Initiative

"This initiative has been in the works for a very long time at this point, which I think speaks to the fact that it's been something that we've been committed to for a while" shared Vidal.

The program traces its roots back to a former GW medical student, Sarah Millan, MD, who brought the concept to Friedman’s attention. Millan’s efforts laid the groundwork for subsequent contributions by other medical students, including Nikkia Zarabian and Vidal.

The Skin Smart Campus Initiative seeks to address skin health comprehensively through 3 main components: eliminating indoor tanning facilities, installing free sunscreen dispensers, and hosting an educational website on the GW domain.

Key Components of the Skin Smart Campus Initiative

GW has formally committed to ensuring that no indoor tanning facilities operate on its campus or within its properties. This measure acknowledges the significant risks associated with indoor tanning, equating them to other harmful behaviors. "We will not allow tanning beds on our campus because, for all intents and purposes, they are cigarettes," Friedman said.

While the university already lacked such facilities, the initiative ensures this prohibition is codified, reinforcing the institution’s dedication to protecting students and staff from the dangers of ultraviolet exposure.

Recognizing the importance of daily sunscreen use, the initiative includes the installation of free sunscreen dispensers in high-traffic areas across campus. "Right now, the plan is to put one of the dispensers in this main courtyard that is between the medical school and the hospital, which is an extremely high-traffic area," Vidal explained.

Other locations will be strategically chosen to maximize accessibility and encourage the habit of applying sunscreen.

Friedman highlighted the broader impact of these dispensers: "This is hosted by GW for GW, but it’s also a really great way in which people who are just around GW can benefit."

To enhance awareness about skin health and sun safety, the initiative includes the creation of an educational website hosted on GW’s domain. The site provides evidence-based information about skin cancer, UV protection, and general dermatological health. "This will pop up when someone is trying to learn more because people will follow the path of least resistance," said Friedman.

Bridging Education and Public Health

Educational outreach is a cornerstone of the Skin Smart Campus Initiative.

"Every single time I'm talking to somebody, there's this massive misconception about who gets skin cancer, how people get skin cancer, what skin cancer looks like," Vidal noted.

By broadcasting accurate information through various channels, the initiative seeks to correct these misconceptions and empower individuals to take proactive steps for their skin health.

Friedman elaborated on the need for multifaceted outreach: "In a day and age where, unfortunately, social media...spreads misinformation, it’s important there’s not one approach that works for reaching everyone. It’s about utilizing every resource, every opportunity."

Inspiring Future Generations of Clinicians

The initiative also aims to instill a strong foundation in public health among medical students, shaping their future practice. Vidal reflected on how GW’s emphasis on public health has influenced her perspective: "Having that background, but also doing that and carrying that over into our work as future physicians, I think will both make us more well-rounded and able to serve our patients better"

Friedman echoed this sentiment, saying, "Public health is imprinted on the DNA of GW students… Initiatives like this inspire medical students to get involved early and make these principles part of their footprint as they go throughout their careers."

A Model for Public Health Advocacy

The Skin Smart Campus Initiative demonstrates how academic institutions can lead public health efforts. By addressing skin health through prevention, accessibility, and education, GW sets a precedent for other universities to follow.

As Vidal aptly summarized, "By having free accessible sunscreen in places where people are already going to be… and by having information about skin cancer and sun safety in a publicly hosted domain, the initiative creates a path of least resistance for individuals to protect themselves."

References

1. GW receives ‘Skin Smart Campus’ recognition. News release. GW Today. January 16, 2025. Accessed January 23, 2025. https://gwtoday.gwu.edu/gw-receives-skin-smart-campus-recognition
2. Skin Smart Campus. National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention. Accessed January 23, 2025. https://skincancerprevention.org/get-involved/skin-smart-campus/