DIGA Officer Blog

DIGA Officer Applications are Now Open

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:12:00 GMT

Tis the Season... To select next year's DIGA Officers.

If you are interested in becoming an officer of the Dermatology Interest Group Association, please send us your application (see below). Serving as a DIGA officer is a great opportunity to benefit your community of student dermatologists and meet practicing dermatologists from around the country. The deadline for applying is January 27th, 2012.

To apply, simply download, complete, and email your: DIGA Officer Application.

Positions available include:

Vice President

Webmaster

Treasurer 

Secretary 

Community Service Director

Professional Societies Liaison

Residency Interviews Database Director

Southern Regional Director

Northeastern Regional Director

Midwestern Regional Director

Western Regional Director

Public Relations/Fundraising Chair

Curriculum Development Chair

Sun Protection Chair

Melanoma Fundraising Chair

Allied Health Outreach Chair

Psoriasis Awareness Chair

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UV Bead Bracelets

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:04:00 GMT

UV Bead Bracelets

Research Grants 2012 Funding

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:38:00 GMT

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VisualDX Webinar - July 17th, 2011

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:24:00 GMT

Art Papier MD invites you to attend this online meeting to learn how to use VisualDx and provide direct feedback to the creators of VisualDx. Click "Read More" below for all of the details on how to access this Webinar.

FDA Announces Changes to Better Inform Consumers About Sunscreen

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:58:00 GMT

New Rules Give Consumers More Information to Help Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer, Early Aging

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week that sunscreen products meeting modern standards for effectiveness may be labeled with new information to help consumers find products that, when used with other sun protection measures, reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, as well as help prevent sunburn.

The final regulation allows sunscreen products that pass the FDA’s test for protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays to be labeled as “Broad Spectrum.”

Under the new labeling, sunscreens labeled as both Broad Spectrum and SPF 15 (or higher), if used regularly, as directed, and in combination with other sun protection measures will help prevent sunburn, reduce the risk of skin cancer, and reduce the risk of early skin aging.

“FDA has evaluated the data and developed testing and labeling requirements for sunscreen products, so that manufacturers can modernize their product information and consumers can be well-informed on which products offer the greatest benefit,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families.”

Products that have SPF values between 2 and 14 may be labeled as Broad Spectrum if they pass the required test, but only products that are labeled both as Broad Spectrum with SPF values of 15 or higher may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, when used as directed.

Any product that is not Broad Spectrum, or that is Broad Spectrum but has an SPF between 2 to 14, will be required to have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.

In addition to the final rule for sunscreen labeling, the FDA released three additional regulatory documents -- a Proposed Rule, an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) for Dosage Forms, and a Draft Enforcement Guidance for Industry.

The proposed rule would limit the maximum SPF value on sunscreen labels to “50 +”, because there is not sufficient data to show that products with SPF values higher than 50 provide greater protection for users than products with SPF values of 50. The proposal creates the opportunity for the submission of data to support including higher SPF values in the final rule. FDA looks forward to receiving public comment on this document.

The ANPR will allow the public a period of time to submit requested data addressing the effectiveness and the safety of sunscreen sprays and to comment on possible directions and warnings for sprays that the FDA may pursue in the future, among other issues regarding dosage forms for sunscreens.
The Draft Enforcement Guidance for Industry outlines information to help sunscreen product manufacturers understand how to label and test their products in light of the new final rule and other regulatory initiatives.

To ensure that sunscreen products meet modern safety standards, FDA is also currently reexamining the safety information available for active ingredients included in sunscreens marketed today. The ingredients in sunscreens marketed today have been used for many years and FDA does not have any reason to believe these products are not safe for consumer use.

The new regulations will become effective for most manufacturers in one year. Manufacturers with annual sales less than $25,000 have two years to comply.
For more information: www.fda.gov/sunscreen

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EVENT: Live Webinar to be hosted by VisualDx on July 17, 8pm EST

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:23:00 GMT

Interested in learning how to use VisualDx? Want to provide direct feedback to the creators of VisualDx?

DIGA and VisualDx have set up a live webinar session, tentatively scheduled for July 17 at 8pm EST.

Please check back here in July for a direct link to the web session!

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"It was my first week on the pediatric rotation when I was paged for a new consult in the emergency room. The patient was a 5 year old boy presenting with fever, rash and appeared quite ill. I did the history and physical exam and by the time I finished talking to the family I had less than 10 minutes before the start of rounds with my attending. I knew I needed to have at least a couple of ideas for my differential diagnosis, most likely diagnosis, what test I would do and what treatment options. As this was my first week on pediatrics, I couldn't come up with any of this information, so i quickly pulled out my phone and launched the VisualDx app to help me with ideas. I used the Differential Builder, selected pediatrics, selected the type of rash and its location and distribution, answered keys questions which included fever and the degree of distress the baby was in. As soon as submitted, VisualDx gave me a differential list with the most likely being Kawasaki Disease. I clicked on Kawasaki, read the diagnosis synopsis, diagnostic pearls and pitfalls.

On attending rounds, I presented the patient and for my assessment I stated that I was concerned that this child may have Kawasaki disease. My attending then asked for the diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease which I answered very easily because I had just read it on VisualDx. That day, I was confident on rounds and contributed to the treatment plans simply because I did a quick look up on VisualDx that took me less than 5 minutes."

- Third-year medical student

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Category: Student Opportunities

News from Indiana University DIG

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:29:00 GMT

Indiana University DIG has paired up with Outrun the Sun for a Race Against Melanoma. The Outrun the Sun Race Against Melanoma is the largest evening event of its kind in the United States supporting skin cancer education/prevention and melanoma research. This unique evening event occurring at 7pm keeps participants out of the sun's harsh daytime ultraviolet rays. Stay posted for results and pictures of this incredible event!

For more information check out http://www.outrunthesun.org

Share with us what your school's dermatology interest group is doing this summer!
Please email shayna.gordon@derminterest.org to have your school DIG featured on the new DIGA blog!

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Category: Chapter Updates

Category: Service

Welcome to the DIGA Blog!

Fri, 27 May 2011 14:22:00 GMT

The DIGA blog is a new addition to the national Dermatology Student Interest Group website! This purpose of the DIGA blog is to unite student dermatology interest groups across the nation and allow DIGs to communicate in an easy effective manner.

Is the dermatology interest group at your school having a skin screening, hosting a dermatology fundraiser or giving a skin protection presentation to teenage students?

If you would like to share what your DIG is planning or what your DIG accomplished this semester please email shayna.gordon@derminterest.org and have your school featured on our blog!

Also please help us improve the blog and make it meet your needs by giving us feedback on what you'd like to see, as well as suggestions for improvements (or critiques).

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