The Impact of Dermatology Community Outreach Programs: Improving Health Equity Through Service
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|November 4, 2025
Summary
Dermmunity, a dermatology education program, successfully increased participants' knowledge and confidence in accessing dermatologic care. This community outreach initiative helps bridge care gaps for underserved populations.
Area of Science:
- Community Health
- Dermatology
- Health Equity
Background:
- DermmunityTM is a community service program established in 2020 at the University of Southern California Department of Dermatology.
- The program aims to provide dermatologic education to underserved communities in Los Angeles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the impact of the Dermmunity program.
- To evaluate the program's effectiveness in improving dermatologic knowledge and access to care.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis and a prospective survey conducted over a one-year period (2023-2024).
- Lectures on dermatologic health topics were delivered by faculty and trainees.
Main Results:
- Dermmunity reached 406 participants from 2020-2024.
- Most participants were female (85.6%), Hispanic/Latinx (74.8%), and insured (88.2%).
- A significant portion (61.3%) had never seen a primary doctor for dermatologic issues, and many faced challenges accessing dermatologists (30.5%).
Conclusions:
- Community outreach programs like Dermmunity enhance dermatologic knowledge and confidence in accessing care.
- Findings suggest that community-based educational outreach can improve health equity by bridging gaps in care for underserved communities.
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