Skin Cancer Champions to Host Inaugural Patient Advocacy Summit

Skin Cancer Champions will convene its inaugural Patient Advocacy Summit on October 30, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts, bringing patients and caregivers together with clinicians and industry representatives to discuss nonmelanoma skin cancer care, emerging therapies, and patient advocacy.

The free event will take place at The Fairmont Copley Plaza and is hosted by Emily S. Ruiz, MD, MPH, FAAD, founder of Skin Cancer Champions, dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and director of the High Risk Skin Cancer Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“When we launched Skin Cancer Champions 2 years ago, our goal was to improve the journey for those affected by nonmelanoma skin cancer,” Dr. Ruiz said. “The Patient Advocacy Summit is a realization of our vision to keep patients and caregivers at the center of all that we do.”

Summit to Address Emerging Skin Cancer Therapies and Patient Needs

Programming will examine the experience of navigating nonmelanoma skin cancer and include an expert panel addressing novel therapies for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Industry representatives will also discuss patient and caregiver education and the process of bringing new therapies to market.

Another focus will be incorporating patient perspectives into research, clinical care, and drug development. Organizers said the summit is intended to provide opportunities for patients and caregivers to share their experiences directly with clinicians and industry representatives.

The event runs from 8 AM to 5 PM, with breakfast beginning at 8 AM and opening remarks from Dr. Ruiz scheduled for 9 AM. Patients, care partners, medical experts, industry representatives, and members of the press are invited to attend.

The summit is sponsored by Sun Pharma and Castle Bio.