RVU Medical Students Host First-Ever Free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic for Billings Community
Medical students from Rocky Vista University Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVU-MCOM) hosted a free, physician-supervised skin cancer screening clinic for members of the Billings community on April 11, providing preventative care and early-detection services while gaining hands-on clinical experience.
Held on the RVU Montana campus, the student-led clinic offered 128 appointment slots for full-body skin examinations. In total, 79 patients were screened throughout the day. While the event was organized by the RVU-MCOM dermatology club, other students volunteered their time. Screenings were conducted by 55 medical students under the supervision of four RVU faculty physicians, giving participants the opportunity to receive professional skin evaluations at no cost and without the need for insurance.
“There are difficulties for some patients in rural states like ours to access healthcare, dermatologic care in our instance,” said Matthew Schmeiser, OMS-II and outgoing RVU-MCOM dermatology club president. “So, we were hoping to kind of bridge that gap a little bit and provide the screenings for the general public.”
Expanding Access to Preventative Care
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, and early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes. In Montana, where high altitude and strong year-round ultraviolet exposure increase risk, routine skin examinations can play an important role in prevention and early diagnosis.
The clinic aimed to help address those risks by offering accessible screenings to community members who may not otherwise receive regular dermatologic evaluations. Students looked for abnormal moles, pre-malignant lesions, or any other issues that could potentially develop into skin cancer.
The clinic’s purpose was not to diagnose a patient with any particular ailment, Schmeiser said, but to inform them of any suspicious skin lesions and recommend they follow up with their primary care physician or dermatologist for further medical evaluation.
“We are intentional about creating opportunities where education and service align,” said Dr. Dennis Kinder, MD and RVU faculty who volunteered at the clinic. “This clinic is a strong example of how we can deliver high-value care while shaping physicians who understand the importance of prevention and community engagement.”
A Student-Led Initiative
The clinic event took about a year to prepare and involved the dermatology club, other students, and faculty and staff, Schmeiser said. The goal was to not only provide a valuable service to the Billings community but also to give OMS-I and OMS-II students the opportunity to learn and expand their medical knowledge.
Students prepared for the event by attending a training session led by a physician assistant who specializes in dermatology. The clinic used the campus’s simulation facility as exam rooms and operated like a normal outpatient clinic. Patients reserved their appointment times and checked in at the simulation lab patient entrance. Medical students practiced rooming patients, reviewing patients’ medical histories, conducting preliminary skin checks, and presenting their findings to their assigned attending physician. The physician conducted their own skin check, and together, the physician and student delivered their findings to the patient.
“This was an opportunity to really engage with the patient and just focus on the clinical side of things,” Schmeiser said.
Planning for Next Year
Schmeiser and incoming dermatology club president Aleia Ott, OMS-I, hope that next year’s free screening clinic will have increased patient participation and expanded training opportunities for students.
“It was incredibly meaningful to see the Billings community place their trust in us and allow us to be part of their healthcare journey,” Ott said. “Moving forward, I am committed to refining and scaling this clinic to serve more patients and maximize its impact in our community.”
RVU students embody the school’s vision of achieving new heights in medical education, spearheading new initiatives and events that make a powerful impact in local communities.
To learn more about what RVU students are doing, visit the Peak News & Stories on the RVU website. To learn more tips about how to keep your skin healthy, check out Schmeiser’s blog, Caring for the Skin You’re In: National Healthy Skin Month.