Blade and Light is collaborating with the Department of Dermatology, Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, Durban South Africa. The goals of this long term cooperation is to improve the dermatologic surgery skills of the residents in the Department; establish a Mohs Surgery & Reconstruction Unit; create coordinated surgical care in association with the national albinism society for devastating skin cancers in the albino population. The Blade and Light Team leader: Chryslalyne Schmults, MD, MSCE Team Co-leader: Vishal Patel, MD. South African Team Leader: Ncoza Dlova, MD, Chair, Department of Dermatology, Nelson Mandela SOM. Blade and Light Teams will spend 2 week blocks several times per year in the Department of Dermatology, Nelson Mandela School of Medicine. The first session will be in September 2014.

Talcahuano in southern Chile was devastated by an 8.8 earthquake and subsequent Tsunami in 2010. Most of the city’s infrastructure was destroyed. The city is still recovering, and the government estimates that it could require a decade to recover. Skin cancer is a significant public health issue in Chile. Because of the damage to the healthcare infrastructure, there is a lack of skin cancer treatments for patients. Blade and Light will collaborate with the Universidad of Chile to perform volunteer mohs surgery and other dermatologic surgery procedures for the population. The Blade and Light Team Leader: Natalie Curcio, MD, MPH. Chile Team Leader: Rodrigo Schwartz, MD. The first trip is slated for October 2014.

The City of Curitiba is Brasil’s 8th largest city and is at 3000 feet altitude. Skin cancer is a significant public health issue. It has a strong dermatology presence but not mohs surgery. Blade and Light is planning to coordinate with the national skin cancer screening program to teach and perform mohs surgery in Curtiba in late 2014/early 2015. The Brasil Team leader is Mauricio Sato, MD
Other future trips include Vietnam, Romania and Mozambique.

The Blade and Light International Symposium brings together thought leaders from the intersection of dermatologic surgery and other medical specialties, the arts, the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences and technology. The goal is to create thought provoking discussions, synergy and action plans in order to improve health care and global well being. The first annual Blade and Light International Symposium will take place on the Monterey Peninsula in late spring/summer 2015.