DermAware: Engineering Social Innovation for Public Health
DermAware: Engineering Social Innovation for Public Health
Context
Peru faces a silent dermatological crisis, with the world's highest UV radiation levels (UVI 14+). There is a critical shortage of specialists: only 836 dermatologists for 34 million citizens. This disparity transforms skin cancer prevention into an elite cosmetic luxury, leaving the majority of the population without access to basic photoprotection tools.
Strategic Value
DermAware bridges the gap between medical scarcity and public health necessity. By evolving from a grassroots initiative into a Social Innovation & Research Organization, we create a sustainable ecosystem where corporate wellness funds community safety. This model strengthens our partners' brand reputation while saving lives through systemic design.
Objectives
The team’s goal was to dismantle the dermatological care gap by transforming primary and secondary prevention into a scalable, gamified habit. We aimed to inform and educate children and high-exposure adults (teachers, firefighters, workers) while gathering robust field data for international scientific validation.
Role
CEO & Executive Director. I owned the problem of scaling impact and formalizing a grassroots initiative into a structured research entity.
My team
Led a 20-person cross-functional organization, including graduated physicians (MDs) who provide the clinical oversight necessary for non-specialist volunteers to operate safely.
Timeline
3-6 month validation and formalization phases.
Results
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Secured Strategic Alliances with global leaders such as L’Oréal and ISDIN.
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Scaled Organizational Structure to over 20 members, including graduated physicians (MDs).
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Operational Efficiency achieved through the implementation of the "40/20 Protocol" in the field.
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Designed a Hybrid Model (B2B2C) to subsidize infrastructure in vulnerable sectors.
"Access to a dermatologist is a statistical privilege in Peru; we designed a solution to make prevention a universal right."
Universal Awareness
Gamified "edutainment" modules designed for children, but adapted for firefighters and workers to ensure engagement across all literacy and age levels.
Strategic Co-Marketing
Partnering with global brands like L’Oréal to secure product donations, turning their social responsibility into a high-impact marketing channel that reaches the "unreachable" 70%.
Infrastructure as Service:
Deploying free community dispensers and Raschel Mesh (solar shading) in schools and fire stations, providing immediate physical relief where medical consults are unavailable.
MESURABLE IMPACT & LEADERSHIP
"Access to a dermatologist is a statistical privilage in Perú ; we engineered a solution to make prevention a universal right."
-DermAware
20+
Team Members (Including MDs & Researchers)
100%
Clinical Accuracy Validated by medial board
International Study by ISDIN
METRIC
Pilot Validated
CUSTOMERS FIRST , COMMUNITY GOALS
Maria Pontelo
"I have to choose between buying a sunscreen or feeding my baby for two days"
Marco Hurtado
“I spend 8 hours under the sun at the fire station, and I never realized my skin was at risk because I had never learned how to take care of it, and it wasn’t my priority.”
Carla Gonsalez
"I want my students to be safe during recess, but our school has no shade and no budget for it."
