La Roche-Posay's Dermatologist from the Heart Grant Winner Candrice R. Heath Making Strides to Prevent Skin Cancer in Skin of Color

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Nov 30, 2015, 11:32 ET

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- After being awarded as a grant winner of the second annual La Roche-Posay-sponsored Dermatologist from the Heart Program in fall 2014, Dr. Candrice R. Heath has made significant developments in her proposal to provide health professionals education about skin cancer among ethnic minorities.

To further raise awareness, Dr. Heath is leading the Frontline Skin Cancer Education Conference along with Ms. Eunice Cofie, a cosmetic chemist, at the Florida State Conference Center in Tallahassee, FL on December 5. Health care professionals will be trained on skin of color topics, including:

Proper skin examinations
Skin cancer lesion detection
Classifying various types of skin cancer and melanoma
Outlining skin cancer prevention technological innovations
Understanding sunscreens and sun protection options

"It is a compelling idea that every person has a need for a skin check and there are only about 10,000 dermatologists in the US – they're not able to see the entire population," notes Dr. Heath. "We need more eyes, like those of primary care providers on the frontlines of healthcare, to help identify patients that need urgent referrals to dermatology."

La Roche-Posay is looking for the next dermatologist program to support through the Dermatologist from the Heart. Entrants must submit a grant proposal to the La Fondation La Roche-Posay outlining the plan and a winner will be awarded with $10,000 to support carrying out their project. Applications for the 2015 program are currently under review, and the 2016 winner will be announced at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery meeting in October.

About the Dermatologist from the Heart Program
Committed to working alongside dermatologists, La Roche-Posay created its namesake foundation in 1995 to encourage dermatological research in the fields of clinical medicine, biology and pharmacology. The Dermatologist from the Heart program is the latest initiative to join the La Fondation La Roche-Posay's several other global community-oriented programs, which include the Atopy Schools initiative that helps atopic dermatitis patients and their families face the challenges of the disease, as well as the Corrective Make-Up Workshops, which are devoted to instilling self-confidence in patients suffering from skin lesions.

For additional information about La Roche-Posay, visit www.laroche-posay.us

SOURCE La Roche-Posay