Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with more than 100,000 new cases expected in 2025, according to the American Cancer Society. Projections indicate that by 2040, skin cancer will become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
“Although skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, it is also one of the most preventable given the right resources and is highly treatable when detected early,” said Brenda Santellano, MD.
Several factors contribute to rising skin cancer rates in Georgia, including limited access to sunscreen, lack of patient education, lower prioritization of sun protection, and a shortage of specialist practitioners across the state.
To address these challenges, the Georgia Cancer Center (GCC) at Augusta University has launched two projects focused on prevention and detection. Both initiatives are supported by funding from Unite in the Fight Against Cancer, a fundraising event aimed at supporting patient-centered programs.
The first project, Sun Safe Augusta: Safeguarding Skin Health with Sun Safety Education and Public Sunscreen Access, is a partnership between GCC’s Sun Safe Team, the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), and IMPACT Melanoma. The goal is to provide free sunscreen throughout the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).
“This program provides the resources for sun protection but also the education and knowledge to make more informed, conscious decisions daily about their general health and well-being to continue doing things we all enjoy, like spending time outdoors,” said Mitchell Hanson, an MCG student and one of the leaders of the Sun Safe Team.
The team has installed nine public sunscreen dispensers in locations such as Boeckh Park in North Augusta, Pisgah Road, Medac Garage, Enterprise Mills’ boat canal area, and other sites along the Greenway. Each dispenser includes a QR code for users to access additional information. Maintenance will be handled by MCG students and local park service members on a weekly basis.
“Given the significant role of early-life sun exposure in the development of melanoma, implementing a long-term sunscreen intervention could greatly enhance skin cancer prevention,” said Santellano.
The second initiative—Teledermatology Serving Georgia—is designed to address gaps in specialist care across rural parts of Georgia. This project brings together GCC and MCG’s Department of Dermatology and plans expansion into Albany through collaboration with Phoebe Family Medicine Residency Program. It focuses on training residents about skin cancer screening and providing instruction on using advanced dermatoscopes and software for detection.
“Due to the scarcity of specialist practitioners, specialty health care in skin cancer screening and dermatologic care remain beyond the reach of many citizens in Georgia, especially in more rural areas,” said Kendall Buchanan, MD, dermatologist with Wellstar MCG Health and professor at MCG’s Department of Dermatology.
By improving access to educational tools for future healthcare providers—including primary care physicians—the project aims to enhance both prevention messaging and clinical care related to skin cancer.
“This opportunity to expand medical care and educate the next wave of primary care providers is critical to the health of our state, and we want to push the education even further,” said Jorge Cortes, MD, principal investigator on this project and director at GCC.
Other investigators involved include Santellano; Cortes; Buchanan; Kenza Mamouni, PhD; Rhea-Beth Markowitz, PhD; and Loretta Davis, MD. The team also plans outreach efforts targeting barbers and tattoo artists across Georgia. They believe these professionals can help with early detection by noticing unusual spots on customers’ scalp or skin that might otherwise go unnoticed.
