A dermatology and wound care clinic founded by a Carle Illinois College of Medicine student is expanding its free services to include telehealth care and screenings for patients across Central Illinois. A $20,000 grant from the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics and CeraVe Foundation will equip the Dermatology and Wound Care Community Clinic to meet the increasing need for free, culturally competent dermatologic care.
CI MED student Christian Guerrero-Juarez founded the clinic in 2023, through a student-led effort with Avicenna Community Health Center, dermatologist Dr. Caitlyn Foote, and burn expert Dr. Neil Mashruwala. The goal was to address care gaps, particularly among those who can’t afford dermatologic and wound care.
“Dermatologic conditions and chronic wounds are not merely cosmetic concerns; they can be life-altering and, in some cases, life-threatening,” Guerrero-Juarez said. “Barriers to care frequently delay diagnosis and treatment, particularly in cases of skin cancer and chronic non-healing wounds. By addressing financial and structural obstacles, the clinic is helping to close a critical gap in care and improve long-term health outcomes within our community,” he said.
Guerrero-Juarez says the demand for free dermatologic services has been significant, and the new funding will allow the clinic to meet community needs. “Specifically, it will enable the implementation of telehealth services, enhanced access to comprehensive total body skin examinations, expanded skin cancer screening efforts, and strengthened patient education initiatives. The grant will also allow for the acquisition of dedicated clinical tools, equipment, and electronic resources necessary to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care,” he said.
The clinic’s research and grants team, headed by Dr. Yingzi Liu at University of California-Irvine, CI MED student Jose Beltran, and Xavier Puma also secured $15,000 in supplementary funding from The Christie Foundation, Copper Creek Church, McKinley Memorial Presbyterian Church, American Academy of Dermatology, and private donors to ensure that the clinic continues to thrive after Guerrero-Juarez graduates from CI MED in May. He will begin his residency training in dermatology at the University of Michigan this summer.
“On a personal level, establishing and developing the Dermatology and Wound Care Community Clinic has been among the most meaningful experiences of my medical training,” he said. “It reflects my sustained commitment to health equity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community empowerment. Knowing that the clinic will continue to benefit patients long after my graduation is both humbling and profoundly fulfilling. In the future, I hope to continue to contribute to the clinic’s mission.”
To learn more, you may contact the Dermatology and Wound Care Community Clinic at dermclinic@avicennahealth.org.
Carle Illinois College of Medicine encourages its students to engage in their communities independent of their academic programs. The college occasionally shares information about these efforts but does not sponsor or endorse them.