The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Clean Slate Free Tattoo Removal Program provides free laser tattoo removal services for justice-impacted adults who are reintegrating into the community, and the program is getting great reviews from the clinical team and medical students, according to the Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Journal.
Volunteer-attending physicians and residents from the UCSD Department of Dermatology provide free laser tattoo removal services to reentrants referred by local law enforcement agencies and selected community programs.
The clinic operates one Saturday per month, and approximately 25 patients are served at each session.
Student volunteers participate in consent form preparation, patient check-in, rooming, consent form collection, shadow procedure, assist with post-procedure tasks, and patient education as needed.
Now in Its Second Year
The program is in its second year and has been piloted with eight students, with sessions attended ranging between 1 and 13.
Motivations for working in the clinic primarily included interest in providing medical services to adults impacted by the justice system (100%), followed by interest in gaining experience in dermatology to potentially support a career in this discipline. Students felt the program would prepare them to serve underserved communities and for a career in dermatology (33% for each).
All students reported being very satisfied with the program’s training activities, and the majority were able to participate in most activities.
Most students reported being confident or very confident in their abilities to carry out the activities assigned to volunteers and build relationships with students and clinicians. Areas for program improvement include streamlined onboarding of new students.
Medical students who expressed a desire to address social justice issues also benefit by receiving hands-on experience in dermatology. Fully 100% of students wanted to provide medical care for justice-impacted adults, and 83% were interested in dermatology training for a future career.
