I am a second-year dermatology resident at UC Davis participating in the annual LJDR Davis Foundation medical outreach clinic in Brandon Hill, Jamaica. The clinic is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, midlevel providers, nurses, and support staff providing free medical care to the surrounding community. I will be joining the dermatology team, which expects to evaluate approximately 120 patients during the mission.
In addition to dermatologic evaluation and treatment recommendations, we distribute donated skincare products and medical supplies collected through community and industry partnerships. Through this experience, I hope to further develop my clinical skills in global health and skin of color dermatology while contributing to a longstanding community outreach effort.
Brandon Hill is a mountain community in Clarendon Parish where access to specialty medical care can be limited by geography, transportation, and concentration of specialists in larger urban centers such as Kingston. Over the years, the annual clinic has expanded beyond Brandon Hill to serve patients traveling from nearby towns and surrounding parishes.
The dermatology clinic serves both children and adults presenting with a wide range of conditions including eczema, acne, pigmentary disorders, inflammatory skin diseases, and infectious skin conditions.
This project will help expand access to dermatologic care, patient education, and treatment resources for individuals who may otherwise lack access to specialty evaluation. For many years, the outreach clinic has largely been staffed by a single dermatologist, so joining as a second dermatology provider will significantly increase the number of patients able to be evaluated during the mission.
I have already seen and been inspired by examples of the long-term impact this work can have through collaboration with local healthcare partners. One example shared by my mentor involved an older woman who was diagnosed with leprosy during a prior outreach clinic. Through coordination with dermatologists at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a local free clinic, the team was able to facilitate dermatopathology review of a biopsy obtained during the mission and arrange access to multidrug therapy. My mentor has continued to follow this patient between mission trips and reconnects with her during annual return visits.
As a Jamaican immigrant, this experience is especially meaningful to me personally. I hope to return regularly through future outreach clinics and continue building long-term relationships with the communities served while strengthening my skills in global health and skin of color dermatology.
