Time spent outside yields many physical and psychological benefits. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, however, can lead to skin cancer. To make sun safety more accessible in outdoor spaces, Assistant Professor of Dermatology Jeffrey M. Cohen, MD, teamed up with non-profit advocacy organization IMPACT Melanoma to install free sunscreen dispensers and increase skin cancer awareness among members of the public.
Among other precautions, experts recommend applying sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every two hours to prevent skin cancer caused by chronic sun exposure. IMPACT Melanoma estimates that one person dies every hour from melanoma in the United States, and the American Academy of Dermatology notes that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the nation. Through targeted outreach, Cohen is aiming to combat these statistics.
The pilot program, which launched in September of 2024, included dispensers at Jacob’s Beach (Guilford, Conn.), Guilford Community Center (Guilford, Conn.), and Surf Club Park (Madison, Conn.). The dispensers, sunscreen, and signage were ordered through IMPACT Melanoma and the dispensers were installed and maintained by employees of Guilford and Madison.
“We are proud to bring sun protection and skin cancer awareness to our communities,” says Cohen.
In the future, Cohen hopes to be able to expand the reach of this program to other public spaces in the New Haven area and beyond. The Yale School of Medicine Dermatology Interest Group has also connected with IMPACT Melanoma and hopes to provide skin cancer education to members of the community.
This pilot campaign was executed with generous support from the Office of Marketing and Communications at Yale New Haven Hospital.