SPOTS

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SPOTS: Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students

What is SPOTS?

SPOTS (Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students) is a community outreach program in which medical students-in-training teach teens and children about skin cancer detection and prevention.

Understanding that adolescents are highly motivated by their physical appearance, SPOTS uses both health-based and appearance-based motivators to encourage teens to use sun protection and avoid tanning beds. And since teens are strongly influenced by peers, medical students are in a perfect position to influence them – they’re young enough to be relatable, but have the credibility to be impactful.

SPOTS was recognized as a TOP PROJECT by the 2023 International Awards for Social Responsibility in Dermatology.

SPOTS programs

SPOTS’ evidence-based programs are engaging, interactive, and easy to implement – they can be given in 1 hour in the classroom setting!

We have 2 programs:

  • Education for ages 12+: Includinginteractive PowerPoint slides, speaker notes, a 6-minute video of teens describing their personal journey with melanoma, and a brochure.
  • Education for elementary school age: Including an animated video with a “Sun Safety Hero,” a poster, a brochure, and a bookmark – available in English and Spanish!

SPOTS programs can be given in-person, virtually over Zoom, or self-guided.

For students of all skin colors

SPOTS teaches that sun protection is important for everyone – even people with darker skin that doesn’t burn easily. It covers how skin cancers present differently on darker skin, and the importance of prevention and early detection for teenagers with skin-of-color.

Benefits to adolescents and medical students

SPOTS has demonstrated significant improvements in:

  • Adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and intended behaviors toward sun protection and tanning bed avoidance
  • Medical students’ confidence in counseling patients and recognizing malignant lesions

SPOTS around the country!

To date, the SPOTS chapters in St. Louis, Missouri have trained more than 600 medical student teachers who have taught more than 40,000 middle and high school students at over 30 public and private schools. SPOTS has now partnered with over 60 medical schools across the country.

Join us!

If you’re a medical student and want to learn how to start a chapter at your medical school, visit our website at: SpotsEducation.org and click “Sign up”!