Havre de Grace, MD (June 21, 2007) - An energetic sun safety team of local volunteers representing the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) distributed a record-breaking amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen to massive crowds and provided skin cancer screenings for an at-risk population at the recent McDonald’s LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, MD.

Through the WDS award-winning community outreach service, PLAY SAFE IN THE SUN, Board-certified dermatologist members from Maryland screened 195 golf enthusiasts, including members of the media, LPGA Tour players and caddies, while Washington, DC dermatologists and a cadre of other volunteers promoted sun safety among the event’s 95,000 attendees. Golf enthusiasts, who face a heightened risk of developing skin cancer due to prolonged overexposure to the sun, received a record 25,000 samples of high SPF sunscreen providing UVA and UVB protection, with memorable reminders from the WDS volunteers to “Use a golf-ball size amount of sunscreen when you apply” and “Reapply every nine holes!”

As a result of four days of skin cancer screenings, the WDS dermatologists reached a new referral record of 45% for further diagnosis and/or biopsy of suspicious sites on individuals screened. This rate reflects the highest referral level since the WDS screening program began in 2004.

The successful outreach, which marks the tenth LPGA event presented by the Women’s Dermatologic Society, was expertly co-hosted by WDS Board members Cheryl Burgess, MD, Medical Director of the Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Washington DC, and Valerie Callender, MD, Director, Callender Skin & Laser Center, Mitchellville, MD.

In a show of support for skin cancer prevention and sun safety, Havre de Grace Mayor Wayne Dougherty underwent a skin cancer screening, and declared “Play Safe in the Sun” Day in that city, in recognition of the local WDS volunteer outreach.

Board-certified Maryland dermatologists who conducted the well-received skin cancer screenings included co-host and WDS board member Valerie Callender, MD, Lynn McKinley-Grant, MD, Beverly Johnson, Mary Shepherd, MD, and Barbara Williamson, MD. Sun safety education was led by WDS Board members from Washington, DC Cheryl Burgess, MD, event co-host and Sandra Read, MD, former Past President of WDS, with support from Jennifer Chwalek, MD, Monica Francis, PA-C, Chesahna Kindred, MD, Sayyida Martin, MD, Simone McKitty, MD, Brooke Resh, MD, Dwana Shabazz, MD, Sharleen St.Surin-Lord, MD, Sheila Stump, RN and Sumayah Taliaferro, MD. Additional volunteer support was provided by corporate representatives Michelle Bingham (Johnson & Johnson), Brendan Gaeng (Medicis), Bonita Jones (Valeant), Wendy Pittman, (Allergan), Ted Rose (Galderma), Kirk Wiems (Graceway) and Wendy Williams (Valeant).

The WDS “Play Safe in the Sun” campaign at LPGA tournaments was awarded the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) prestigious national “Gold Triangle” in 2005. This WDS community outreach service, chaired by WDS Executive Board member Wendy E. Roberts, MD (Rancho Mirage, CA), reports a significantly high overall referral rate of 42% for further diagnosis or biopsy since the golf tournament screening program was launched at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2004.

Funding for “Play Safe in the Sun” at the McDonald’s LPGA Championship was generously provided by Medicis, The Dermatology Company, Doak Dermatologics and La Roche-Posay. Product contributions were furnished by Allergan, Galderma, Hawaiian Tropic, Johnson & Johnson, LaRoche-Posay, OrthoNeutrogena, Procter & Gamble, and Valeant.

• Pre-Event News Release (Also Available In PDF)
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