Laurel Park Women’s Health in Granite Falls, North Carolina
IMPACT Melanoma is proud of the work we do in communities throughout the United States. The following is a conversation with Jennifer Boaz, a medical aesthetician at Laurel Park Women’s Health in Granite Falls, North Carolina. Jennifer solicited information about our sunscreen dispenser units and Practice Safe Skin program, which in turn, put the wheels in motion to get the units dispersed and implemented throughout her community. It’s people like Jennifer that help us in our quest to raise awareness and extinguish incidences of skin cancer worldwide.
Here’s her story:
IMPACT Melanoma: How’d you learn about IMPACT Melanoma?
Boaz: Through Skin Inc. magazine
IM: What led you to engage with Laurie Seavey (and/or IMPACT Melanoma)?
Boaz: Working in skincare and previously with a dermatologist, I understand how important sun protection is to lower the rates of skin cancer. My goal was to incorporate free sunscreen to the public.
IM: Tell us about your project? What was the scope? What were your goals?
Boaz: Living in a small community, I have several connections to managers and directors within the town. My goal was to present the idea to people that could help place sunscreen dispensers in high-traffic outdoor areas where they would be utilized during the Spring and Summer months.
IM: What was the process like for you with regard to engaging with IMPACT Melanoma and figuring out the logistics of whether or not this was even possible?
Boaz: Laurie was very helpful in explaining how the dispensers worked and how to order. The YouTube videos for installation were very helpful as well. I knew that as long as the dispensers were fairly easy to install and maintain that I could convince certain people to install them in their parks, etc.
IM: How many dispensers did you purchase/install?
Boaz: The community purchased 7 dispensers total that are now located in different parts of the community.
IM: Where did you install dispensers?
Boaz: Local playground (x2), walking park (x2), downtown square, public utilities building (for outdoor workers), hospital (this one is mobile in order to use for events).
IM: What good do you hope comes of them?
Boaz: My hope is that the citizens of our community will be more willing to apply sunscreen while they are out, especially because it is free. This will hopefully make them think more about applying sunscreen before participating in outdoor activities.
IM: What is your own personal philosophy in regard to sun safety?
Boaz: I think it is extremely important and can prevent a lot of time spent in a dermatology office in the future having pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions removed. It is also very important in slowing down the visible aging process for those concerned with anti-aging.
IM: What sort of impact does this project leave on your community? How have they been received and what are next steps in assuring that they are properly utilized and taken advantage of?
Boaz: This is another ‘gift’ our community has provided for our citizens to show we care about where we live and the people who live here. The community has loved the idea and received it well. My goal is to promote them through our community Facebook page when the weather starts to warm up again to remind people the dispensers are there for usage. Myself and a few others will check the dispensers weekly in the warmer months to ensure they are staying clean and full.
IM: What’s your battle cry sound like with regard to getting surrounding communities in your area, and across the globe, to adopt a similar proactive approach to helping combat skin cancer with these dispensing devices?
Boaz: Skin cancer is on the rise and is a very preventable problem. By providing ‘free’ sunscreen that is easy to access, this could be a small step in lowering incidences of skin cancer, and also slow down cosmetic aging (which is currently a billion dollar industry and shows the concern men and women have in that area!).
Would you like to get involved? Click here to learn more about IMPACT Melanoma’s Practice Safe Skin program today! Or, if you’d like to have an open conversation, contact us today!
