Skin of Color Update, a medical education event focused on the dermatologic treatment of patients with skin of color, is expanding in 2021 with an additional half day of programming and pre-conference symposium. The event will be held virtually September 10-12 with the symposium on August 3.

The pre-conference symposium will focus on treating pigmentary disorders in patients with skin of color through case-based conversations with national and international experts in the field. The experts will share challenging and unique cases involving a variety of disorders. The expanded program also provides room for new topics, including equity, inclusion and diversity in dermatology; standards of beauty across ethnic groups; and culturally competent care.

“The expanded program will allow us to address even more topics and provide more in-depth coverage of topics that are core to our educational mission,” says Shelley Tanner, CEO and president of SanovaWorks, which produces Skin of Color Update. “We recognize education and training gaps have contributed to disparities in the dermatologic and aesthetic care of patients with skin of color. Expanding the Skin of Color Update program is part of our commitment to ensure all dermatology patients receive high-quality care no matter the color of their skin.”

While the event will be held virtually, the Skin of Color Update agenda will continue to offer live sessions, Q&As, poster sessions and panel discussions. The program covers a broad range of dermatologic disorders that are prevalent in patients with skin of color, as well as safe approaches to aesthetic procedures in patients with darker skin pigmentation. Dermatologists Eliot Battle, MD, and Andrew Alexis, MD, co-founded the event and serve as event co-chairs.

“As co-chairs, Dr. Eliot Battle and I are honored to have the privilege of sharing this valuable education with our colleagues who are not merely attendees, but rather part of an engaged community that is committed to advancing the care for patients of all backgrounds,” says Dr. Alexis, who also is vice chair for diversity and inclusion at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.

“I personally invite medical professionals to come and join us at the meeting and, as importantly, join the network of practitioners who seek to improve their ability to effectively treat patients with skin of color,” adds Dr. Battle, who is co-founder and medical director of Cultura Dermatology & Laser Center in Washington.

Registration is available at skinofcolorupdate.com.