Laila Barkoudeh, second-year medical student at the University of the Incarnate Word's (UIW) School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM), recently received the $1,000 Good Skin Knowledge Community Grant from the American Academy of Dermatology. In collaboration with Healing the Children - Texas, the grant will support a community outreach initiative focused on providing dermatologic health education to underserved youth within the Southside Independent School District in San Antonio.

"The project aims to increase awareness of common skin conditions, sun protection and healthy skin practices through accessible, school-based educational programming," noted Barkoudeh. "The initiative seeks to expand access to dermatologic health education and promote preventive health practices among local students."

Having grown up during the Syrian Civil War, Barkoudeh witnessed the extraordinary dedication of physicians who continue to extend healing, no matter the circumstances. Despite the potential to lose their own lives, they didn't hesitate to provide care for those in their most vulnerable moments. These experiences inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare, aspiring to be a healthcare professional who can be a brighter spot amidst the darkest of moments.

Barkoudeh came across the grant while independently researching opportunities to expand community-based dermatologic education and decided to apply. She reached out to Roberto Fajardo, PhD, UIWSOM associate professor, and Healing the Children - Texas, to discuss how they could build a sustainable outreach initiative to provide dermatologic education to local students. Through their collective collaboration and shared commitment to service, they developed a proposal and submitted the application and have now humbly received the grant.

Barkoudeh strives to utilize the grant funds to make dermatologic health education engaging, accessible and meaningful to students. By emphasizing skin care at a young age, students will become more aware of how dermatological health impacts them and the positive preventative practices they can use to protect themselves.

"I want students to leave with confidence in understanding their own health," expressed Barkoudeh. "Education has the power to remove fear, encourage healthy habits and help young people recognize when medical attention is needed. By providing these resources early, I hope we can improve health literacy while empowering students and their families to take an active role in their well-being."

Congratulations, Laila Barkoudeh!