Dr. Kaufmann chatted with DermWire about her efforts to provide access to dermatological care in rural and underserved areas of Jamaica. 

Louise Kaufmann, MD, a general and cosmetic dermatologist in Great Neck, New York, took home an International Award for Social Responsibility in Dermatology for her efforts to provide access to dermatological care in rural and underserved areas of Jamaica. 

The awards, spearheaded by L’Oréal in partnership with the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the World Congress of Dermatology (WCD), recognize dermatologists leading high-impact projects in three categories: (1) prevention and education on skin health, (2) improved quality of life and self-esteem for people facing skin issues, and (3) access to care coverage and surgery. 

One winner from each ILDS geographic region was selected from 193 applications from 66 countries by an independent scientific committee of five dermatologists and ILDS board members. Each winning project was awarded a $20,000 grant to fund its continuation. Winners received their awards at the 2023 WCD in Singapore.

Dr. Kaufmann’s project was launched in 2016 in cooperation with the LJDR Davis Foundation initiative. It provides free dermatological services to people in rural Jamaica who have never had access to a dermatologist. In the 4 years since the Dermatology Clinic’s opening, 1,200+ people have benefitted from free dermatological care. The grant will be used to extend the program by educating health care professionals, expanding health care personnel in the Dermatology Clinic, and helping the community access clean, running water. 

Dr. Kaufmann chatted with DermWire about this passion project and where she hopes to see it go in the future.

DermWire: Tell us why you started your project to provide access to dermatological care in rural and underserved areas of Jamaica.

Louise Kaufmann, MD: “In 2016, I joined the LJDR Davis Foundation, which is a group of volunteer health care providers who go to a rural town in Jamaica called Brandon Hill. They have been providing free medical care, but there had never been a dermatologist as part of their group. The people in this area have never had access to a dermatologist, so as a board-certified dermatologist, I decided to volunteer and open up a free dermatology clinic as part of the LJDR Davis Foundation’s yearly medical mission trip.”

DermWire: How big an issue was access to dermatological care in Jamaica?

Dr. Kaufmann: “The majority of the people in Jamaica do not have access to a dermatologist for several reasons. There are very few dermatologists in Jamaica for a population of about 3 million people, and most of these dermatologists are located in the major cities of Jamaica, not in rural areas of the island. Many people live in remote areas where the closest dermatologist is several hours away, and they have no way to reach them. In addition to having no transportation, the financial burden of seeing a dermatologist is too high for most people in rural areas since they do not have the finances to spend on a dermatologist or the medication needed for treatment.”

DermWire: How has your project helped to reduce these barriers?

Dr. Kaufmann: “I am able to give free dermatological care to anyone that needs it when I am there in Brandon Hill. In addition to diagnosing patients, I am also able to treat them free of charge with medicine that is brought with us from the LJDR Davis Foundation as well as medicine that I collect during the entire year to bring with me. I also supply moisturizers, sunscreen, medicated shampoos, and more to anyone that needs this. I am educating the patients about proper skin care so that their skin conditions such as eczema, tinea, and seborrheic dermatitis improve and remain in remission. With my grant from L’Oréal, I hope to start a program where I can reduce the barriers even further.”

DermWire:  Where do you see this effort in the coming years?

Dr. Kaufmann: I see my role with the LJDR Davis Foundation becoming even stronger in the years ahead. I hope to establish a collaboration with Jamaican dermatologists who can work with me to provide access to care in the rural areas of Jamaica where resources are so limited. Perhaps this will happen via telemedicine platforms as well with collaboration with local hospitals. I also hope to increase education programs for local providers to learn more about dermatology and advance skin care in these communities.

DermWire:  Any plans to expand elsewhere?

Dr. Kaufmann: I hope to open a no-cost dermatology clinic at a nearby hospital called Chapelton Hospital. By educating the providers that are at Chapelton Hospital about the most common dermatological problems, they will be able to start to provide care to the patients. The collaboration of these local providers along with Jamaican dermatologists and myself is the future I envision to give the people of rural Jamaica the dermatological care they need.

DermWire:  Any advice for other dermatologists who are also looking to improve access at home or elsewhere?

Dr. Kaufmann: I think others that would like to improve access for people to see dermatologists should start any way they can by using their skills to help others in need. It is one small step at a time. Start small, and there will be a slow but sure blossoming of knowledge and care for the people that need it. There are also programs that are available such as Gloderm, an international alliance for global health dermatology. They do many things but also help connect dermatologists and trainees who want to advance skin care in communities with poor access and resources.

DermWire:  How does it feel to be recognized for your work?

Dr. Kaufmann: I am very honored and thankful for the recognition of my work by L’Oréal. This has been an amazing experience at the World Congress of Dermatology in Singapore! The entire team of LJDR Davis Foundation volunteers works very hard to bring medical care to rural Jamaica and has given me an opportunity to start improving people’s lives and confidence by treating their skin. I am so excited by all that I can still accomplish in Jamaica in the years ahead.

Other winners included:

SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA 

Dr. Adriana Raquel Cruz Aconcha, Colombia 

Going beyond skin in Colombian Pacific Coast rural areas 

Colombia ranks seventh among the world’s most unequal countries according to the World Bank, which has serious implications for accessing dermatological care, especially in rural areas. The MISIÓN PAÍS team travels to distant Pacific Coast territories and has treated over 180 patients suffering from skin issues such as scabies, impetigo, and atopic dermatitis. The grant will be used to enhance skin health services, increase visits to rural communities, and develop scabies mass treatment programs through education, improved patient documentation, and telemedicine. 

EUROPE 

Dr. Nathalie Sultan, France 

Sun prevention in schools 

Reunion Island experiences high levels of UV radiation and has seen skin cancer cases increase. Mission Soleil Réunion (MiSolRé) aims to change student behavior around sun exposure through sun prevention programs, teacher training, and the distribution of sun protection products. MiSolRé also works to raise awareness in preschools and encourage municipalities to invest in shaded areas. More than 15,000 students have been reached since the campaign’s launch. The grant will be used to extend the group’s efforts to include nursery schools, train general practitioners in skin cancer screening, and help workers exposed to UV radiation. 

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST 

Prof. Wendemagegn Enbiale Yeshaneh, Ethiopia 

Improving access to services for podoconiosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in the Amhara region 

NaPAN aims to provide medical care to Ethiopians with skin neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)—podoconiosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis in particular. Podoconiosis, which affects 1.5 million Ethiopians, is noninfectious leg swelling caused by long-term exposure of bare feet to irritant soils. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that impacts the skin and internal organs. NaPAN raises community awareness, trains health professionals, and provides disease management and disability prevention (MMDP) within the affected communities, resulting in more than 300,000 patients' having accessed MMDP services. The grant will be used to expand access to treatment for podoconiosis patients with massive nodules by training health care professionals in highly endemic areas and exploring the feasibility of decentralizing cryotherapy treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. 

ASIA PACIFIC 

Dr. Marlous Grijsen, Indonesia 

Improving access to skin care through teledermatology in Eastern Indonesia 

Indonesia’s Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) launched a teledermatology service in a remote and economically underdeveloped island with a high burden of skin diseases. Since its launch, the platform has trained and supported 30 health workers, with the intent to treat more than 600 patients with a broad range of common and neglected skin diseases. Around 8,000 to 10,000 patients who presented with skin diseases have since benefitted from the initiative. The grant will be used for continuous education and training on common and neglected skin diseases, strengthening the quality of care for people and increasing local capacity to deliver multidisciplinary health care services. 

“Access to skin health should be an inherent human right. Our winning dermatologists have dedicated their time and paved the way to make this dream a reality,” says Myriam Cohen-Welgryn, worldwide president of L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty, in a news release. “Expanding access to dermatological care, empowering individuals with knowledge, and serving areas of high unmet needs will contribute to improved skin health for many individuals all over the world, not just in towns and cities." 

Professor Roy Chan, president of the WCD, adds, "The work of dermatologists often goes unrecognized, yet dermatologists play a vital role in maintaining not only physical health but also the mental health of the population. We do this through preventative education and expert care of common as well as rare and neglected skin diseases." 

“Our partnership with L’Oréal allows us to celebrate talented and caring dermatologists who are leading by example through people-centric care and educational initiatives,” says Professor Lars French, president of ILDS.