Skin disease is the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide and disproportionately affects underserved populations2. The establishment of the inaugural Chair aims to address this growing global impact in skin health needs, underscoring CeraVe's dedication to its "Care For All" social impact mission. Through this collaboration with CeraVe and MGH, Dr. Freeman, who currently serves as the Director of Global Health Dermatology at MGH and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School, will be provided with dedicated time and enhanced resources to address the growing needs in global health dermatology.
"I am honored to be named the inaugural L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty/CeraVe Endowed Chair in Global Health Dermatology," said Dr. Freeman. "This support will be instrumental in expanding our reach, training more healthcare workers, and improving skin health outcomes for vulnerable populations around the world. By investing in long-term mentorship, my goal is to help create a true ripple effect that will inspire sustainable care and empower the next generation of leaders in global health dermatology."
Since 2003, Dr. Freeman has been working to improve healthcare access around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, she continues to work as a physician-scientist performing epidemiological research in HIV, Mpox, COVID-19, cancer, infectious disease, and global health dermatology, while collaborating with the World Health Organization on skin disease guidelines, outbreaks, emerging infections, and policy.
"We at CeraVe have had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Esther Freeman over the past few years through her work at MGH and her philanthropic efforts, seeing firsthand her commitment to creating long-lasting change around the world," said CeraVe Global SVP, Medical Affairs & Communications Gene Colón. "As a brand that believes everyone deserves access to skin health and resources, CeraVe sees this endowed Chair as an opportunity to work alongside changemakers like Dr. Freeman to improve access to essential dermatological care – a goal we're committed to with CeraVe Care For All."
"This initiative is truly pioneering, as it is not only the first corporate-named chair at MGH, but also the first endowed chair in global health dermatology anywhere in the world," said Dr. William Curry, Chief Medical Officer, Academic Medical Centers, Mass General Brigham. "This new position, and the collaboration with L'Oréal, marks a significant milestone in how we advance medicine through philanthropic partnerships. An endowed chair is the highest honor we can bestow at Mass General Brigham, and we know this role will provide lasting support that strengthens our ability to shape the future of global health dermatology."
MGH has outlined key outcomes of the Endowed Chair, including the flexibility to address urgent needs globally and the provision of up to 20% protected time to focus on increasing access to dermatologic care in under-resourced settings worldwide through research, policy, training/mentoring and advocacy. This investment reflects a joint commitment to expanding and sustaining global access to dermatological care. CeraVe and Mass General share a common vision of improving lives through accessible skincare and skin health. The establishment of the L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty / CeraVe Endowed Chair in Global Health Dermatology signifies a lasting commitment to that vision.
1IQVIA, ProVoice Survey, rolling 12-month data as of February 2025
2According to the 2013 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study
About CeraVe Care for All
CeraVe Care for All, the brand's social impact program, was created in 2022 to help close the skin health access gap. CeraVe believes that skin health access should be a fundamental human right. Its mission is to make dermatology accessible to underserved communities around the world by providing frontline caregivers with mentorship, training, and funding for more accessible dermatology consultations.
About CeraVe
Founded in 2005 with a mission to provide therapeutic skincare for all, CeraVe creates products developed with dermatologists to restore and maintain the skin's natural barrier. All CeraVe formulas are enriched with three skin-identical ceramides AP, NP & EOP (also called 1, 3, and 6-II), with select products featuring MVE Technology for controlled, long-lasting hydration. CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist-recommended skincare brand in the US1 and is recommended by over 90,000 dermatologists worldwide2. It is now available in over 100 countries around the world. For more information, visit the brand on Facebook (@ceraveusa), Instagram (@cerave), TikTok (@cerave), X (@cerave), or visit www.cerave.com.
SOURCE CeraVe
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