Free public event promoting skin health, cancer awareness set for November 15 at UH Cancer Center

Dermatologist screenings, family activities, risk-factor presentations among offerings University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

The Hawaiʻi Skin Cancer Coalition will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a dynamic free community event on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center in Kaka‘ako, 701 Ilalo St. The celebration, in the center’s Sullivan Conference Center, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will commemorate the Hawaiʻi Skin Cancer Coalition’s three decades of public education, outreach, prevention and research, and will bring together survivors, medical professionals, students, and community members of all ages. Parking will be available on-site and in nearby lots. Light refreshments will be served. Preregistration is required at aarii@cc.hawaii.edu or (808) 564-3809; a reservation is required to receive a dermatologist appointment.

The program will reflect the Hawaiʻi Skin Cancer Coalition’s past, present and future:

1. Free skin cancer screenings, from 1 to 3 p.m., will be provided by dermatologists from the Hawai‘i Dermatological Society on a limited basis (registration is required);
2. A physician from the Hawaiʻi Dermatological Society will speak about diagnosis and treatment;
3. A local skin cancer survivor will share their personal story of resilience and advocacy;
4. Terrilea Burnett, PhD, UH Cancer Center, will present on cancer risk factors and causes;
5. Kevin Cassel, DrPH, MPH, Associate Director of Community Outreach & Engagement at the UH Cancer Center, will present the latest strategies in skin cancer prevention.
6. Lily Johnson, a fourth-year University of Hawaiʻi dermatology student, will discuss what inspired their commitment to helping patients through early detection and treatment.

“Skin cancer affects thousands of Hawaiʻi residents every year, yet it remains one of the most preventable forms of cancer,” said Kevin Cassel, DrPH, MPH, Associate Director of Community Outreach & Engagement at the UH Cancer Center. “For 30 years, the Hawaiʻi Skin Cancer Coalition has worked to bring education and screening directly into our communities, helping individuals protect themselves and their families through early detection and practical sun safety.”

Additional highlights include:

1. Poster presentations and University of Hawaii medical student-led displays on skin cancer awareness, prevention, and research.
2. Fun activities for the whole family, designed to teach about skin cancer.

More information on the UH Cancer Center: UHCancerCenter.org

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About the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center

The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center is dedicated to saving lives in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, and inspiring hope by working to conquer cancer. The flagship priority is to understand and address cancer health disparities. The center strives to achieve this through research, education, patient care, and community outreach, focusing on the unique and diverse ethnic, cultural, and environmental characteristics of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

The UH Cancer Center is one of only 74 institutions designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), representing a significant mark of excellence, and is the only NCI-designated cancer center in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. The center contributes more than $57 million to Hawaiʻi's economy through scientific research, clinical trials, and other activities.

As part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the UH Cancer Center operates out of facilities located in Kakaʻako. The center directly employs more than 300 faculty and staff, with an additional 200 affiliate members and cooperative agreements with organizations that are part of the Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium. The consortium includes The Queen’s Health Systems, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Kuakini Medical Center, Adventist Health Castle, Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), and the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), all working together with the UH Cancer Center to advance cancer research and treatment in the state.

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