The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center and UNM Department of Dermatology will offer two skin cancer screening events on May 6, 2023.
One event will take place from 9-11:30 a.m. at the UNM Dermatology Clinic, 1021 Medical Arts Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. The other event will take place from 9-11 a.m. at the UNM Center of Excellence for Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation, 3200 Broadmoor Blvd NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144.
Both events are free, and everyone arriving during event hours will be seen. The public is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for skin cancer screening without needing a doctor’s appointment or referral to a dermatologist.
Background
Up to 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet sun rays. Having regular skin cancer screenings can help detect potential cancerous cells before they become cancerous. New Mexico faces a significant shortage of practicing dermatologists, which can make it challenging for some residents to get the screenings and care they need. That's why the public is encouraged to take advantage of events like this one.
For more information about this event please contact Lalita Lopez at 505-272-6027, or Jaclyn Gallegos at 505-272-9824.
John Durkin, MD, FAAD, UNM assistant professor of Dermatology, leads these skin cancer screening events throughout the state. For interviews, please contact Chris Ramirez.
Press Contact:
Chris Ramirez
Communications Manager
UNM Health and Health Sciences
cramirez@salud.unm.edu
(505) 589-8107
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UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius.
Its more than 136 board-certified oncology specialty physicians include cancer surgeons in every specialty (abdominal, thoracic, bone and soft tissue, neurosurgery, genitourinary, gynecology, and head and neck cancers), adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, and radiation oncologists. They, along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provide treatment to 65% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from all across the state and partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer care closer to home. They treated almost 15,000 patients in more than 100,000 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital.
A total of nearly 1,855 patients participated in cancer clinical trials testing new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing.
The more than 123 cancer research scientists affiliated with the UNMCCC were awarded $38.2 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects. Since 2015, they have published nearly 1000 manuscripts, and promoting economic development, they filed 136 new patents and launched 10 new biotechnology start-up companies.
Finally, the physicians, scientists and staff have provided education and training experiences to more than 500 high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowship students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery.