our collaborators:
IMPACT = Improving Medicine’s Power to Address Care and Treatment
Our Mission
Project IMPACT is a global effort brought to you by VisualDx to reduce disparities in medicine and highlight the tools we use to bridge gaps of knowledge and improve care.
Our Values
- We believe health care providers who evaluate and treat dermatologic conditions should be able to recognize disease in all skin colors.
- We believe technology that brings images and information to the point of care can reduce biases in medicine by bridging knowledge gaps.
- We believe it is imperative to address health care disparities and to work towards health equity for all citizens of the world.
Disease Presentation in Different Skin Colors
Recognizing how diseases present on all skin types is key in reducing diagnostic error and improving patient care. Unfortunately, many professional resources often do not adequately provide medical education on diseases in skin of color. VisualDx has been committed to reducing bias in medical knowledge for 20 years. A recent JAAD study showed that “VisualDx demonstrates pathology on dark skin in remarkably high proportion to other resources.”4
Key Research
Healthcare
Disparities
Renewing the case for enhancing minority participation in cancer clinical trials
Representation
in Education
Representation of dark skin images of common dermatologic conditions in educational resources
Digital Resources
VisualDx is an award-winning application designed to enhance diagnostic accuracy, aid therapeutic decisions, and improve patient safety. Features include the world’s best medical image library to make timely clinical decisions. See the video on how to use our Skin of Color feature.
Contact us to see how other educational programs are using VisualDx to supplement their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Resources for Patients
Aysa
A mobile app by VisualDx that uses artificial intelligence to give personalized guidance for your skin based on your photo submission.
Skinsight
Patient website by VisualDx dedicated to providing medical information on conditions affecting skin, nails, and hair.
Skin of Color Society
Articles and videos to educate on skin diseases that impact people of color.
Spotlight Series
A deeper dive on industry leaders who are making an impact, the skin conditions that affect people of color, the latest health equity research, and more.
IMPACT Leaders
Skin of Color Conditions
Coming Soon: Fellowship Opportunities
Diagnosis of Impact: Postinflammatory pigment alteration in skin of color
In darker skin colors, changes in skin pigmentation are more frequent, more noticeable, and they tend to persist. The prevalence of postinflammatory pigment changes can result in over-assumption of this diagnosis and anchoring, premature closure, or other bias—preventing additional findings or diagnoses to be sought. This can result in diagnostic error and misdiagnosis.
Read MoreEducational Partner Resources
The Impact of Skin Color and Ethnicity on Clinical Diagnosis and Research
A series of four educational webinars in which clinical experts, thought leaders, and advocates discuss issues of health disparities, structural racism, and medicine while examining specific dermatologic diseases. This event series is brought to you by the Skin of Color Society, NEJM Group, and VisualDx.
learn more
17th Annual Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium
The Symposium brings together international colleagues, residents, and research fellows who will present on new research, share experiences, and discuss the new direction of the special interest of dermatology–skin of color.
learn moreTake the Pledge and Join the #ProjectIMPACT Community
Take the Pledge
Then share the message about #ProjectIMPACT on your own social channels.
“I’m taking the #ProjectIMPACT pledge because I am committed to reducing bias and improving dermatologic care for people of color. https://www.visualdx.com/projectimpact/”
Improving health equity is a goal that will take a collaborative and dedicated effort. There are many ways to be part of #ProjectIMPACT and help make a difference. Join us and feel free to share your ideas, feedback, and how you’d like to get involved below:
- 2019 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; December 2020. AHRQ Pub. No. 20(21)-0045-EF.
- Nelson B. How dermatology is failing melanoma patients with skin of color: Unanswered questions on risk and eye-opening disparities in outcomes are weighing heavily on melanoma patients with darker skin. In this article, part 1 of a 2-part series, we explore the deadly consequences of racism and inequality in cancer care. Cancer Cytopathol. 2020 Jan;128(1):7-8. doi: 10.1002/cncy.22229. PMID: 31905269.
- White S, Ojugbele O. Addressing racial disparities in medical education: Commentary on the Curriculum Inventory Report: Coverage of racial disparity in medicine education content in accredited U.S. medical schools, academic year 2017-2018. Curriculum in Context. 2019:6(2):1-6.
- Alvarado SM, Feng H. Representation of dark skin images of common dermatologic conditions in educational resources: a cross-sectional analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Jun 18:S0190-9622(20)31138-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.06.041. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32565205.