Tattoo removal program provides experience for med students

Photo by: Alice Pien, MD, via Wikimedia Commons

A novel service-learning initiative at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is providing medical students with hands-on exposure to dermatology and laser medicine while addressing social justice issues through free tattoo removal for formerly incarcerated adults. The UCSD Clean Slate Free Tattoo Removal Program, established in 2016, has recently integrated a structured medical student volunteer component, aiming to enhance both clinic operations and medical student education.

The program, now in its second year, is part of a monthly clinic that serves approximately 25 re-entrants per session, all referred by local law enforcement and community organizations. With no additional administrative staff, the clinic relies on volunteer attending dermatologists and residents to deliver laser tattoo removal services. According to a press release, the new student volunteer protocol was co-designed by faculty and students with previous dermatology experience, ensuring that student roles are appropriate to their level of training and maximize educational value.

Medical student volunteers provide clinical and supportive activities, including preparing and collecting consent forms, patient check-in and rooming, shadowing laser procedures, assisting with post-procedure care such as ointment application and sun protection, and providing patient education. The program also emphasizes peer mentorship, with second-year students transitioning into leadership roles to co-mentor incoming first-year volunteers.

A review of the program and its early results, led by Victoria D. Ojeda, PhD, a professor at the UCSD School of Medicine and the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science, was published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

Evaluation data from the first two student cohorts (n=6, 75% response rate) indicate high satisfaction with the program’s training and structure. All participating students had prior clinical experience and were primarily motivated by a desire to serve adults impacted by the criminal justice system, as well as to gain exposure to dermatology. One-third of respondents felt the program would prepare them to serve underserved communities and support a future career in dermatology. Most students reported confidence in their assigned tasks and in building relationships with both patients and clinical staff. Suggestions for improvement centered on streamlining the onboarding process for new volunteers.

The program’s goals include providing early exposure to dermatologic clinical settings, strengthening of communication skills with a diverse patient population, fostering relationships with dermatology faculty and residents, and facilitating observation of laser procedures and bedside manner. The initiative also seeks to cultivate leadership and mentorship skills among students to support their personal and professional development.

Preliminary outcomes suggest that the program is achieving its intended objectives, offering a replicable model for other institutions seeking to combine service learning, specialty exposure, and social justice in medical education. As the program continues to evolve, ongoing evaluation will inform further refinements, with the aim of sustaining its dual impact on student training and community health.