Medical students volunteer at GO Run skin screening

USA Health plastic surgeon Kimberly Donnellan, M.D., dermatologist Roberta Swain, M.D., and a group of medical students from the Whiddon College of Medicine volunteer at the GO Run.

Several medical students at the Whiddon College of Medicine gained hands-on experience in dermatology while providing free skin cancer screenings at the 15th Annual GO Run for Gynecologic Oncology on Saturday, Sept. 17.

“Offering this type of service at community events is important as we can be proactive in identifying skin cancers and treating them as early as possible,” said Chandler Hinson, a second-year medical student who helps train volunteers on the signs of common skin cancers.

Hinson and the other medical students worked alongside USA Health plastic surgeon Kimberly Donnellan, M.D., and dermatologist Roberta Swain, M.D., to screen about 40 participants at no charge. The volunteers asked standard screening questions and conducted physical exams to identify any concerning markings that needed follow-up care.

The student volunteers included Hinson, second-year medical student Hanna Bobinger, and first-year medical students Grace Sullivan, Caroline Howell, Cya Johnson and Anjali Vira.

Hinson said the event provides an opportunity to educate the community about skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States. “Living in south Alabama, it is essential to do as much as we can to prevent harm from sun exposure, such as the use of sunscreen and long-sleeve, breathable clothing,” he said.

The GO Run 5K and 1-mile fun run, held on the USA campus, raises awareness and funds for GYN cancer research at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute.