American Academy of Dermatology
News Release
CONTACTS: John O'Brien
847-330-0101, ext. 339
Donna Stein
847-330-0101, ext. 341
PROTECTING FUTURE GENERATIONS: AAD/CDC JOIN FORCES
NEW YORK, NY (April 21, 1997) - Protecting children from the dangers of
the sun is the focus of a joint American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national skin
cancer prevention conference at the New York Hilton and Towers, May 1-2.
The mission of the "Sun Safety: Protect Our Future" conference is to
explore effective mechanisms for developing partnerships with industry,
media, and the health community to provide direction for the development
and delivery of media messages aimed at children, parents with young
children, and adults.
With one million new cases of skin cancer projected for 1997, the aim
is to change Americans' attitudes and behaviors about sun exposure.
"To combat this epidemic, our challenge is to make the public aware of
the early signs of skin cancer, the hazards of sun exposure and the
dangers of indoor tanning," said Roger Ceilley, MD, AAD President. "No
one expects people to stay out of the sun completely, but a few simple
sun safety measures can do much to safeguard millions of people."
Stephen Wyatt, DMD, MPH, Director, Division of Cancer Prevention and
Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, CDC, added, "Skin cancer can be prevented. The challenge
however, lies in changing attitudes and behaviors that place individuals
at increased risk of developing skin cancer."
The CDC's National Skin Cancer Prevention Education Program is
developing partnerships with professional organizations, other federal
agencies, voluntary organizations, and the private sector to educate the
public by communicating skin cancer primary prevention measures.
Conference speakers include: Patricia Farris, MD, Ultraviolet Light:
Impact on Health; Rex Amonette, MD, National Coalition for Sun Safety;
Catherine Winters, Senior Editor, Parents magazine,
AAD/Parents/Safeguard Soap Survey; Elizabeth Brous, Beauty Director,
Seventeen magazine, AAD/Seventeen/Nivea Sun Skin Protection Survey;
Donald Shifrin, MD, AAD/American Academy of Pediatrics Survey: and Wilma
Bergfeld, MD, Reaching Audiences.
Representatives at the conference include the Boy Scouts of America, the
US Soccer Federation, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the
Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America, the American Cancer
Society, manufacturers of sunscreen and sun protective clothing, and
members of print and broadcast media.
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