UNM School of Medicine to Provide Free Skin Cancer Screenings
Screenings made possible by the Ryan F. Daniell Memorial Fund
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – May 8, 2024 – The University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM) will offer skin cancer screenings on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., in two locations:
UNM Hospital Dermatology Clinic, 1021 Medical Arts Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, 3001 Broadmoor Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144
Screenings are free and open to the public.
“During May, which is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we want to continue to highlight the importance of early-detection initiatives in memory of Ryan Daniell, who passed away from melanoma,” says Aimee Smidt, MD, Chair of the Department of Dermatology at UNM SOM. “It was his hope that his struggle would lead to increased awareness, early detection, and accessible medical care for New Mexicans.”
An Albuquerque native, Ryan was diagnosed with melanoma in 2012 and died 18 months later at age 32. He left behind his wife, two young daughters, parents and siblings, and numerous other family members.
During his battle with melanoma, Ryan expressed a wish to raise awareness about skin cancer and increase opportunities for screening and early detection in New Mexico. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and early detection is vital in fighting the disease. Ryan’s family established the Ryan F. Daniell Memorial Fund to fulfill his wish. The fund supports initiatives focused on skin cancer awareness, education, screening, and early detection.
Funding has allowed UNM to offer free skin cancer screenings in Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Gallup, Las Vegas, Rio Rancho, and Taos. In 2023, one-third of the 200 patients screened required a follow-up dermatology visit due to cancerous or pre-cancerous skin lesions.
Learn more about Ryan Daniell and make a tax-deductible gift to the Ryan F. Daniell Memorial Fund at the UNM Foundation website.
About the UNM Foundation
The UNM Foundation promotes excellence at the University of New Mexico by raising, investing, and managing private gifts through the cultivation of long-term partnerships with donors, and by matching their interests to the University’s priorities.
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