Inclusive Dermatology: Creating a Diverse Visual Atlas of Skin Conditions
Mission: Our goal is to collect and share images of dermatological conditions in all skin types, with an emphasis on including those who have been traditionally excluded in medical education. We hope to create a database that celebrates inclusivity and reflects our diverse population, with the ultimate aim of advancing medical education and improving patient care for all and doing our part in beginning to correct these historical disparities and inequities in our field. Here in New Mexico specifically, we are so proud and honored to serve our unique population with its strong Hispanic/Latinx and Native American/American Indian/Indigenous communities among others.
Background: Individuals of color and from underrepresented minorities are often marginalized and known to experience adverse health outcomes, in Dermatology and more broadly. There has traditionally been a deficiency in images and education in Dermatology depicting conditions in all skin types, with fair/white skin being represented as the “norm”. That means learners are typically taught how to recognize various skin condition presentations in fair/white skin only, and as they go on to provide care as physicians and allied health professionals, they are likely not providing the same quality care to patients of color.
We are just starting to understand how these biases can affect patients in so many ways, and we at University of New Mexico (UNM) Dermatology want to do our part and contribute in repairing these structural deficiencies in Dermatology and medicine in general. Expanding the availability of images in varying skin types – Black, brown, white and in between - may help patients, learners and providers recognize skin conditions more readily and therefore be able to deliver more effective, high quality and safe patient care. We are proud to introduce this free resource accessible to any who may benefit. While we also know that there are several large initiatives ongoing at the national level, we aim to start local and highlight the inclusivity and equity for which our program and Department strives.