Jamie Warner is a young woman who doesn’t let obstacles get in her way. Her personal motto is, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” As Jamie, a native Floridian, graduates from the University of Florida, College of Medicine this spring, she is preparing to bring that motto with her to her residency. She’s already made a difference on the UF campus where she has been actively involved with IMPACT Melanoma as a DIGA student. DIGA, the Dermatology Interest Group Association, is a national organization with chapters throughout the country that attract many undergraduate and medical school students who are interested in and hope to pursue dermatology as their medical specialty. DIGA students have become an integral and essential group of volunteers who advocate for skin health, who introduce IMPACT Melanoma programs to communities and organizations nationally, and who deliver and train some of our biggest advocates across the country on our Skinny on Skin program, a first line of defense for early detection.
When asked for a few words about Jamie, Laurie Seavey, Director of Sales and Operations for IMPACT Melanoma said, “I’ve had the privilege of working with Jamie since her first year of medical school, and watching her passion for dermatology evolve into true leadership has been remarkable. From presenting together in Orlando to educating with confidence and clarity, she has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to prevention and patient care—Jamie is absolutely going to be an exceptional dermatologist.”
We chatted with Jamie recently to share all that Jamie has accomplished on campus through her active involvement with IMPACT Melanoma.
How did you get involved with IMPACT Melanoma?
Jamie was looking for new ways to get involved. “I had done work in my community with a program for high school students to educate them about skin care and sun safety. I’m very community service-oriented and I was looking for somewhere meaningful to get involved. I was a first year medical student; my involvement with IMPACT Melanoma began when I went to a UF DIGA meeting. I had an idea for how I could make a difference and it grew from there.
Tell us about some of the activities you’ve done with IMPACT Melanoma?
“When I began attending UF chapter meetings of DIGA I discovered there were no pre-med students involved.” On a university campus with a medical school, it seemed obvious that involving the pre-med students would make DIGA better and benefit undergrads.
“I reached out to IMPACT Melanoma and worked with them to create a chapter of Be Skin Smart UF. We were given the opportunity to run a one-year pilot program for IMPACT’s Be Skin Smart program, a prevention education program designed to increase awareness among students of the dangers of UV exposure. In the first year we were able to reach over 5,000 people!” This included community outreach, free sunscreen dispensers, and education. And not only was Jamie the first to get the pre-med undergrads involved, she created a mentorship program.
Interested pre-med undergraduates are matched with students from the medical school who are planning to pursue dermatology as their specialty. This mentorship program ensures a strong Be Skin Smart UF chapter with leadership continuity over time. Jamie speaks highly of her mentee, Victoria. As Jamie heads to her medical residency she is leaving the Be Skin Smart – UF Chapter in good hands. As Jamie explains, “We need to trust the people we choose and let them run with it. We need to share our vision and then learn what their vision is and let them take on the role and realize their vision.”
It was important to Jamie that she made sure Victoria understood that they were colleagues, that Jamie valued Victoria’s input, and they imagined their visions of the future together. That model will ensure that the program will pass seamlessly year after year to the next wave of students.
The mentorship program was so successful at UF that once Jamie had it up and running, she then set out to create Be Skin Smart chapters with mentorship programs to promote and enable continuity at other universities with medical schools. Her success reaching out to other universities is impressive; the list of Be Skin Smart chapters includes Tulane University, University of Miami, Louisiana State University, University of Southern Florida, and the University of Central Florida.
Do you have a personal connection or experience with skin cancer or melanoma that inspired your action?
My mother is a dermatologist. I’ve wanted to follow in her footsteps since I was six years old. My mom had basal cell carcinoma, my fiancé’s mother has had melanoma which was caught early and nevus syndrome runs in our family so we’re very aware of caring for our skin.
As Jamie finishes her time in medical school, she is proud of all she has been part of accomplishing. The Be Skin Smart UF chapter is now well-established. The organization does community service and outreach as well as fundraising. They raise community awareness of sun safety in a region where people spend much of their leisure time in the sun.
What do you want other people to learn or know when they hear about IMPACT Melanoma or skin cancer/melanoma in general?
“We’re all responsible for one another. When I am applying sunscreen I remind others around me and, if needed, I share my sunscreen. Making simple changes (like long sleeves, UV-protective clothes, putting on a hat) to your routine can make a huge difference. If you have the knowledge, share the knowledge.”
At IMPACT Melanoma, we applaud all that Jamie has accomplished and wish her all the best as she pursues her career in dermatology.
Ready to volunteer your time and talents to IMPACT Melanoma?
If you are currently a member of a DIGA chapter, learn more about the opportunities with IMPACT Melanoma here, including taking action to join us!
To Make a Difference by volunteering for IMPACT Melanoma, learn more here and complete the initial Volunteer form to get started.
