网曝吃瓜 Medical Students Host First-Ever Free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic for Billings Community
Medical students from 网曝吃瓜 Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine (网曝吃瓜-MCOM) hosted a free, physician-supervised skin cancer screening clinic for members of the Billings community on April 11, providing preventative care and early-detection services while gaining hands-on clinical experience.
Held on the 网曝吃瓜 Montana campus, the student-led clinic offered 128 appointment slots for full-body skin examinations. In total, 79 patients were screened throughout the day. While the event was organized by the 网曝吃瓜-MCOM dermatology club, other students volunteered their time. Screenings were conducted by 55 medical students under the supervision of four 网曝吃瓜 faculty physicians, giving participants the opportunity to receive professional skin evaluations at no cost and without the need for insurance.
鈥淭here are difficulties for some patients in rural states like ours to access healthcare, dermatologic care in our instance,鈥� said Matthew Schmeiser, OMS-II and outgoing 网曝吃瓜-MCOM dermatology club president. 鈥淪o, we were hoping to kind of bridge that gap a little bit and provide the screenings for the general public.鈥�
Expanding Access to Preventative Care
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, , and early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes. In Montana, , routine skin examinations can play an important role in prevention and early diagnosis.
The clinic aimed to help address those risks by offering accessible screenings to community members who may not otherwise receive regular dermatologic evaluations. Students looked for abnormal moles, pre-malignant lesions, or any other issues that could potentially develop into skin cancer.
The clinic鈥檚 purpose was not to diagnose a patient with any particular ailment, Schmeiser said, but to inform them of any suspicious skin lesions and recommend they follow up with their primary care physician or dermatologist for further medical evaluation.
鈥淲e are intentional about creating opportunities where education and service align,鈥� said Dr. Dennis Kinder, MD and 网曝吃瓜 faculty who volunteered at the clinic. 鈥淭his clinic is a strong example of how we can deliver high-value care while shaping physicians who understand the importance of prevention and community engagement.鈥�
A Student-Led Initiative
The clinic event took about a year to prepare and involved the dermatology club, other students, and faculty and staff, Schmeiser said. The goal was to not only provide a valuable service to the Billings community but also to give OMS-I and OMS-II students the opportunity to learn and expand their medical knowledge.
Students prepared for the event by attending a training session led by a physician assistant who specializes in dermatology. The clinic聽used the campus鈥檚 simulation facility as exam rooms and operated like a normal outpatient clinic. Patients reserved their appointment times and checked in at the simulation lab patient entrance. Medical students practiced rooming patients, reviewing patients鈥� medical histories, conducting preliminary skin checks, and presenting their findings to their assigned attending physician. The physician conducted their own skin check, and together, the physician and student delivered their findings to the patient.聽聽
“This was an opportunity to really engage with the patient and just focus on the clinical side of things,鈥� Schmeiser said.
Planning for Next Year
Schmeiser and incoming dermatology club president Aleia Ott, OMS-I, hope that next year鈥檚 free screening clinic will have increased patient participation and expanded training opportunities for students.
鈥淚t was incredibly meaningful to see the Billings community place their trust in us and allow us to be part of their healthcare journey,鈥� Ott said. 鈥淢oving forward, I am committed to refining and scaling this clinic to serve more patients and maximize its impact in our community.鈥�
网曝吃瓜 students embody the school’s vision of achieving new heights in medical education, spearheading new initiatives and events that make a powerful impact in local communities.
To learn more about what 网曝吃瓜 students are doing, visit the Peak News & Stories on the 网曝吃瓜 website. To learn more tips about how to keep your skin healthy, check out Schmeiser’s blog, Caring for the Skin You’re In: National Healthy Skin Month.