A casual scroll through Instagram turned into something much bigger for Alicia Fields, a rising fourth-year medical student at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine–Bowling Green Campus. After discovering an advocacy event organized by dermatology trainees in Indiana, she began to wonder why Kentucky didn’t have something similar. That curiosity set in motion a year-long effort culminating in the launch of the Commonwealth’s first Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day (DTAD) in 2024.
Now in its second year, KY DTAD continues to grow, with Governor Andy Beshear issuing an official proclamation recognizing June 16, 2025, as Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day. The declaration honors the dedication of medical trainees to improving health care access, advancing skin cancer prevention, and shaping policy that affects dermatologic care across the state.
“To receive this kind of recognition from state leadership validates the importance of what we’re doing,” said Jacqueline Leon, a rising third-year medical student at the Bowling Green Campus. “It also elevates the visibility of the event, encouraging even more students, residents, faculty, and community members to engage.”
History of DTAD
DTAD was originally established in 2020 by Avery LaChance, MD, MPH, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. With support from the Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Group (DTAG), Dr. LaChance has helped expand the DTAD model to over 25 states and more than 30 medical schools across the United States.
After connecting with Dr. LaChance and the DTAG for guidance, Fields was named chair of Kentucky’s inaugural DTAD planning committee, with enthusiastic support from the Kentucky Medical Association and the Kentucky Dermatological Association. Alongside a small group of students from all four UK College of Medicine campuses, Fields led the development of a collaborative, state-wide event focused on dermatologic advocacy and physician leadership.
Held virtually to maximize accessibility, the inaugural Kentucky DTAD drew over 40 participants from institutions including the UK College of Medicine, the University of Louisville, and the University of Pikeville.
“Collaborating with medical students across the state has greatly enriched our planning process,” Fields said. “With students promoting the event from multiple locations, our outreach has expanded significantly.”
“Each campus provides a slightly different medical school experience,” said Leon, who serves as this year’s event chair. “These varying mindsets allow KY DTAD to be successful as the committee brainstorms a variety of ideas.”
Looking ahead
Now in its second year, the event continues to grow in reach and relevance. The 2025 event featured presentations from the Melanoma Research Foundation and IMPACT Melanoma, as well as Cody Estep, MD ’24, a UK College of Medicine alumnus who now serves rural and underserved populations as a dermatology resident in Mississippi. Topics such as melanoma prevention and rural dermatology reflect the unique challenges and opportunities facing future dermatologists in Kentucky.
“Since the core curriculum of medical school is focused on the foundational sciences, the topics of health care policy and advocacy may not get enough discussion,” shared Fields. “This emphasizes the importance of events like DTAD to expose medical students to the challenges that may await them—and to show them that they can bring about positive change.”
Leon added that KY DTAD also expands students’ awareness of dermatologic issues they may not encounter in clinical rotations. “With Kentucky having many rural counties, highlighting rural dermatology will bring awareness to how students can get involved in this area of interest,” she said.
In addition to exploring broad policy concerns, DTAD has tackled specific, actionable topics such as sunscreen policies in schools, insurance coverage for skin cancer screenings, and indoor tanning regulations for minors. Fields remains passionate about advocating for enhanced tanning laws. “Right now, children under 14 can use indoor tanning facilities if accompanied by a parent. We need to do better,” she said.
She has also taken advocacy into the classroom, partnering with Warren County Public Schools to introduce sun safety and skin cancer prevention education to elementary students. “Looking back, I wish I had understood the long-term risks of tanning when I was younger,” she reflected. “By sharing this message, we can empower children to make informed, healthy decisions about their skin.”
For both Fields and Leon, DTAD has not only been a meaningful educational experience but also a call to action. “Advocacy doesn’t require an advanced degree or a specific knowledge set,” Fields said. “You simply need passion, perseverance, and patience.”