A New Focus on Philanthropy at Elevate Derm
In this episode, Buchi Neita, PA-C, welcomes fellow Atlanta-area dermatology PA Jenny Laminack, who has practiced dermatology for 10 years and now serves as the Elevate-Derm Alliance philanthropy chair. As Laminack explains, the role centers on ensuring a philanthropic presence at all Elevate Derm conferences—spotlighting charities and nonprofits, especially those that support APPs —so the community can raise awareness, donate, and lend a hand.
Neita quickly notes this isn’t a brand-new effort for Elevate-Derm, but one the organization is now leaning into more intentionally. The conversation explores what philanthropy means in dermatology, why it matters for patients, and — just as importantly — why it matters for the clinicians doing the giving.
Why Giving Back Is Good for Clinicians, Too
Both hosts argue that philanthropy isn't purely altruistic — clinicians get something back. Laminack points out that giving to others can reduce stress and boost happiness, and she describes it as a real morale boost coming off long, exhausting conference days and events. Neita agrees that raising money and hosting these organizations makes the grind feel more fulfilling and less stressful.
Neita ties this directly to burnout. When the job feels heavy, and the temptation to leave the profession creeps in, doing things outside of yourself helps you remember why you chose this work and the positive impact you can have on people's lives. Laminack adds that there's evidence of physical health benefits as well, noting studies suggesting philanthropy can help lower blood pressure and even boost the immune system, with a rise in leukocytes tied to giving — as she puts it, the science cosigns it.
Organizations Elevate Derm Has Partnered With
The pair walk through several partnerships. The Sun Bus is a charitable mobile dermatology clinic offering free skin screenings, sun safety education, and sunscreen samples. Neita shares that she volunteered on the Sun Bus as a skin cancer screener — a highly organized RV with private patient rooms and a jam-packed schedule of spot checks and full-body exams. Both hosts admit clinicians often don't get their own skin checked as often as they should.
They also highlight Project Happy Face, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oregon and founded by PA Amy Snow, which provides free dermatologic care, acne treatment, and skincare products to underserved teens via a mobile clinic. Neita notes Snow—a fellow PA—was interviewed on a previous episode and even has patients sign a contract to do good in the world in exchange for care and products.
Laminack introduces the Cutaneous Medicine Education Foundation, a new nonprofit she serves as volunteer chair. Its goal is to build a library of reliable patient education materials so patients aren't turning to TikTok and other unreliable sources; she invites APPs to volunteer at cmefoundation.org. The hosts also discuss the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center in Austin, where team members made blankets and heard firsthand that homelessness involves far more than housing — including substance use, mental health, and readiness for support.
Coming Up and Camp Wonder
Looking ahead, Laminack previews the next Elevate-Derm conference, RAPIDS in April, which will feature the Children's Skin Disease Foundation, with founder Francesca presenting that Friday. The foundation works to improve the lives of children with skin disease and their families and is a major sponsor of Camp Wonder, a camp for children with chronic skin disorders ages 6 through 16.
Laminack volunteered at Camp Wonder this past summer in Rutledge, Georgia. Though she describes herself as not an outdoorsy girl, she calls it a life-changing experience — zip lining, arts and crafts, and children with painful blistering dermatoses simply getting to be kids.
Practical Ways Busy APPs Can Get Involved
The hosts close with realistic options for clinicians juggling families and full-time jobs. Free skin cancer screenings are the low-hanging fruit; Neita has done Northside Hospital screenings that book 70 to 80 patients in a couple of hours and consistently turn up skin cancers in people without dermatologic care. She notes the AAD offers resources and paperwork for those wanting to run screenings. Volunteering at free (non-derm-only) clinics is another option that depends heavily on providers donating their time.
If time is short, product donation is easy — many drives need good-quality, unexpired skincare and travel-size items. Neita shares her experience with the nonprofit Beauty and the Builder, founded by aesthetic NP Claire Taylor, which provides skincare products and simply sits to talk with women at the House of Cherith at Atlanta's City of Refuge. The hosts also encourage mentoring and precepting, sharing knowledge through short community talks (Neita uses Canva for quick lectures at cosmetology schools and youth groups; Laminack hosted Girl Scouts for a skincare and sun-protection session), micro-volunteering at food banks or shelters, and — if nothing else — donating money.