Conversations 
  in Science
  for 
  K-12 Educators
A program conceived and organized by the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with the collaboration of the Madison Metropolitan School District and the Edgewood Sonderegger Science Center.
Current Thinking about Skin Cancer and Sun Screens
George T. Reizner, M.D. 
Department of Dermatology, UW-Madison 
About the conversation:
  
We’ve heard there 
is a skin cancer epidemic.  Is it true?  What are the facts?  What can we do 
about it?  How can we protect ourselves?  These and other questions about our 
skin health and the risks to our families and us will be the starting point for 
this evening’s talk.  Important topics include how to recognize the early stages 
of skin cancer and some of the controversies surrounding sunscreen.  It’s far 
from doom and gloom, but there are things you should know 
  About the speaker:
  
George T. Reizner, 
M.D. is a Professor of Dermatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is 
Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Dermatology.  He is the program 
director for the Dermatology Residency and co-Director of the Multidisciplinary 
Melanoma Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.  His 
publications include articles on the incidence of skin cancer in non-Caucasians 
in comparison to Caucasians.  He is currently the Associate Editor of the 
International Journal of Dermatology and has had the good fortune to be invited 
to lecture in many corners of the world.  One recurrent theme is this year’s 20th 
annual Hot Spots in Dermatology meeting on Kauai where Dr. Reizner moderates and 
helps organize this internationally attended event.  In addition, he has 
authored chapters in key dermatology texts and is actively involved in the 
department’s dermatopathology lab which studies clinical skin diseases, 
including skin cancers, microscopically. 
 
References and Suggested Readings:
1) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nscpep/about2004.htm
2) http://www.skincancerprevention.org/
3) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nscpep/awareness.htm
4) http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html
5) http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/skin-cancer/skcancer.htm