Improving access to dermatologic care: insights from a student-run free clinic

Access to dermatologic care remains limited among uninsured and economically disadvantaged populations, contributing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. St. Vincent’s Hope Clinic, a student-run free clinic in Galveston, Texas, offers monthly dermatology nights through a multidisciplinary model involving dermatology faculty, residents, and students from multiple health professions. From December 2024 to May 2025, 132 patient encounters demonstrated a broad range of dermatologic conditions, most commonly benign lesions (27.3%), psoriasis (11.8%), eczematous rashes (10.7%), and actinic keratoses (7.5%). Procedures included cryotherapy (41.1%), tangential biopsies (23.1%), and excisions (10.5%). This model provides no-cost specialty dermatologic evaluation and treatment to an underserved population while offering valuable interdisciplinary training. Expanding clinic capacity and implementing structured triage may improve access, prioritize urgent conditions, and reduce treatment delays.