UNM Health Offers Free Skin Cancer Checks in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho

ALBUQUERQUE — The University of New Mexico Hospital and Sandoval Regional Medical Center will host free skin cancer screenings Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. as Skin Cancer Awareness Month begins. Walk-ins are welcome at the UNMH Dermatology Clinic, 1021 Medical Arts Ave. NE in Albuquerque, and the SRMC Dermatology Clinic on the third floor at 3001 Broadmoor Blvd. NE in Rio Rancho. Anyone checked in by 11:30 a.m. will be screened, with no insurance card, appointment or referral required.

UNM School of Medicine students will assist dermatologists at both sites, providing reports and follow-up options if concerns arise. The initiative, part of the American Academy of Dermatology's Spot Me campaign, stems from efforts by Dr. John Durkin, who launched it in May 2019 to combat "Dermatology Deserts" in rural New Mexico and reduce cancer disparities in underserved communities.

New Mexico's intense sunshine heightens skin cancer risks, with past UNM events held in Albuquerque, Gallup, Carlsbad and Taos thanks to donations to the Ryan Daniell Memorial Fund. Open to all ages, the screenings address barriers for those without easy access to specialists.

"Skin cancer can affect anyone regardless of age," UNM Dermatology states, encouraging high-desert residents to prioritize early detection amid the state's limited dermatology resources.