Miss Pennsylvania Helps Youth Get a Picture of Skin Cancer Risks, Causes

 
Shannon Doyle, the current Miss Pennsylvania and a third-year medical student at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, talked to many future health care providers at the Nov. 10, 2009, Health Care Career Kickoff. The Harrisburg event was hosted by the state of Pennsylvania.

But Doyle, a Pennsylvania Medical Society member, wasn’t the biggest draw at the booth co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Medical Society’s Institute for Good Medicine and the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery.

She was just fine with that. Many of the teenagers, along with some adult teachers and chaperones, stood in line for half an hour or more just to have a photo taken with a special camera to uncover any potential sun damage.
 
They then had the opportunity to have the photo analyzed by Jennifer Mueller, MD, a Harrisburg dermatologist. Many of the photos showed significant skin damage. Dr. Mueller and Doyle counseled the youth and adults to stay away from tanning beds, use sunscreen, and limit exposure to the sun.

While at the Institute for Good Medicine’s booth, students could pick up materials to learn how to become a physician.
In addition, a representative of the Health Care Scholars Academy at the University of Pittsburgh, formerly known as the Governor’s School for Health Care, was at the booth to recruit applicants for next summer’s program.

Learn more about the Institute for Good Medicine or check out our patient materials on sun safety.

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Last Updated: 12/7/2009
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