SOCS Serves - Skin of Color Society

SOCS Serves: Advancing Dermatology Through Service

SOCS Serves aims to advance the Skin of Color Society’s mission by creating impact both along the dermatology pathway and within communities. Anchored in service, the initiative empowers members to lead local events and outreach efforts—domestically and internationally—that foster a more diverse, informed, and representative physician workforce and elevate community education and health literacy.

Through structured programming and standardized toolkits, SOCS members can lead initiatives that:

Inspire students to pursue careers in medicine and dermatology
Increase dermatologic literacy in underserved communities
Address health disparities affecting skin of color
Strengthen the impact of SOCS across the globe

SOCS Serves is a dual-armed service initiative designed to create meaningful impact along the dermatology pathway and within communities through two focused service arms:

SOCS Serves the Pathway
SOCS Serves the Community

SOCS Serves the Pathway introduces students—from K–12 through medical school—to careers in dermatology and healthcare.

By providing early exposure, mentorship, and educational programming, members help build a more diverse, informed, and representative future physician workforce.

Focus Areas:

Classroom presentations and career panels
Hands-on exposure to dermatology concepts
Mentorship connections and pathway guidance
Supporting underrepresented and underserved students

SOCS Serves the Community delivers culturally relevant dermatologic education to minority and underserved populations.

Through outreach events, partnerships, and public education efforts, members provide essential skin health guidance that improves awareness, prevention, and care.

Focus Areas:

Community health fairs and educational workshops
Public awareness campaigns on conditions affecting skin of color
Distribution of educational materials and referral resources
Collaboration with community-based organizations

My Best Winter Skin Day (MBWS)

A signature example of SOCS Serves the Community is My Best Winter Skin™ Day (MBWS)—SOCS’ annual public education campaign focused on winter skin health for skin of color.

MBWS mobilizes SOCS members to host local outreach events that deliver culturally relevant education and practical, preventive skincare guidance—helping improve dermatologic literacy and advance health equity in underserved communities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MBWS

How It Works

SOCS provides standardized toolkits to make hosting outreach events simple and impactful.

Each toolkit includes:

Ready-to-use presentation materials
Educational handouts
Sample access and demonstration materials (as applicable)
Referral guidance and resource lists

These structured resources allow members to confidently lead high-quality events that align with SOCS’ mission and strategic goals.

Get Involved

SOCS Serves empowers you to:

Lead outreach in your local community
Mentor and inspire the next generation
Improve dermatologic health literacy
Advance health equity in skin of color

Lead. Educate. Serve. Shape the future of dermatology.