Donors, children, dermatologists: Camp Discovery benefits all

By Dean Monti, Managing Editor, Special Publications, November 1, 2022

In this new column, DermWorld highlights individual members who have gone above and beyond with their Academy contributions.

Giving takes many forms and so do our donors. It takes a healthy measure of financial and direct volunteer support to make programs like Camp Discovery a success. In this Donor Spotlight feature, we highlight two AAD members who have made a big impact on Camp Discovery in their own individual ways.

Bruce Thiers, MD, FAAD

“One of the lessons I learned from my previous service on the AAD Board of Directors, then as AAD vice president and eventually president, is the thoughtfulness and generosity of so many of our members,” Dr. Thiers said. “We are extremely busy in our practices yet can help those less fortunate than us with the spirit of volunteerism that imbues our specialty. We are very lucky to be doing what we enjoy doing on a daily basis, and the opportunity to help others better their lives is an honor and a privilege.”

Helping with the burden

Dr. Thiers’ own journey of “discovery” has shaped his outlook on children with skin conditions and helped inform him how to help meet their needs, physically and emotionally.

“Chronic illness is emotionally and financially devastating. Many of the children attending Camp Discovery have skin diseases that they will have to deal with on a continuing basis for the rest of their lives,” Dr. Thiers said. “A visit to Camp Discovery helps soften the loneliness and isolation they feel because of a skin condition that is readily visible to all those around them. Camp Discovery gives these children an opportunity to bond with other children who face similar challenges. It gives children a chance to be in an environment without bullying or disparagement.”

Dr. Thiers recognized that transportation expenses can often be an insurmountable financial burden to the family of a child dealing with a chronic illness.  “I’m hoping my gift, which will underwrite travel costs for campers attending Camp Discovery, will help lessen their burden,” he said. His recent planned gift to the AAD will help achieve that goal.

Demonstrating care

Dr. Thiers said that dermatologists — experts in diseases of the skin, hair, and nails — can support Camp Discovery to demonstrate that they are looking out for their patients’ emotional health as well as their physical health. He added that other AAD programs (e.g., the AAD Shade Structure program, AAD’s Skin Cancer, Take a Hike!™, and community skin cancer screenings) all convey to the public that skin disease prevention is as important as skin disease treatment. “Camp Discovery is one of the many ways we dermatologists can show that we not only care for our patients but also care about our patients.”

Breaking the fourth wall

Through his experience, Dr. Thiers has developed a keen understanding that the challenges facing individuals with chronic skin disease extend beyond the professional setting. “We cannot cocoon ourselves in our offices,” Dr. Thiers said. “Dermatology is more than just seeing patients within the four walls of our exam rooms. My guess is that most of our patients have only seen us with those four walls and are unaware of all we can contribute to our communities. We need to get out and show the public who we are and what we do.”

Dr. Thiers has seen such efforts make a difference for physicians as well as patients and he encouraged more active participation in volunteer activities. “A visit to Camp Discovery will make you proud to be a dermatologist,” he said. “Knowing that you are supporting these kids in their struggle with chronic skin disease will put a smile on your face.”

Bruce Glassman, MD, FAAD

“Also, it was going to be something different and allow me to use medical skills that I knew I had to help others,” he said. “Face-to-face volunteering is powerful.”

Indeed, he describes his time as a volunteer dermatologist at Camp Discovery in Minnesota as “life-altering,” exposing him to children with disorders he had rarely seen during his training.

The 24-hour experience

When Dr. Glassman first became aware of AAD’s Camp Discovery, he was immediately impressed with its goals and values, and its immediacy to both campers and dermatologists. It’s something he would soon experience firsthand.

“Camp Discovery allows children a chance to finally be themselves among others who have similar diseases,” Dr. Glassman said. “It’s a chance for the kids to go to camp with the medical care they require, all expenses paid, when they would never have had that chance, ever, in their lifetimes. It also gives dermatologists an opportunity to offer something very unique to their patients, in contrast to pills, shots, and creams.” Dr. Glassman said the 24-hour experience of seeing the trials and tribulations of children living with those disorders was powerful and inspiring.

“I saw both my patients and others in my community differently after my first exposure to the camp. This service not only made me an even more compassionate physician, but also allowed me to spread the positive energy I gained from the experience to others.”

Giving back is essential

“It goes without saying that we are privileged to be dermatologists and it is important to give back,” Dr. Glassman said. “Without support from the membership and the affiliated communities within dermatology, programs like Camp Discovery and others would be in jeopardy. There are a lot of ways to give back, but supporting Camp Discovery is a special way to give and know that your time and dollars are going toward a meaningful cause.”

Dr. Glassman feels philanthropy should be instilled in one’s nature. “Take a look inside yourself and see how flexible you are,” Dr. Glassman challenges. “There is always room for a bit more. If you have the chance to show up, and the door opens just a bit, show up! It is 80% of the battle and you never know what will come from it. More often than not, I’ve found it will be something good, something positive.”

The positives remain with Dr. Glassman. He reflected on some of the stories that are indelibly traced in his memory.

“As I think back more than 10 years ago, I can still remember experiences that had a lasting impression on me to this day. I recall one young man and I played the basketball game of HORSE for a good part of the day — he had severe deformities of his hands but still managed to crush me! One counselor scratched so intensely at night because of his ichthyosis that it would wake me like an alarm clock. One young man had a challenging blistering disease and spent the entire day getting dressing changes and another had a less morbid blistering disease and was a fabulous musician. The stories are endless, including the final night when the kids perform their own songs in front of the entire camp. Not a dry eye in the room. All these experiences have stayed with me and gave me a new perspective on the big picture.”


Now it’s up to you

These and other memorable moments have prompted Dr. Glassman to donate to Camp Discovery and encourage others to do likewise and get involved. “Dermatologists should strongly consider donating, and if you have a week to spare in the summer, offer your services to the camp. You will not regret it,” Dr. Glassman said. “It is an incredibly worthwhile philanthropic cause that my family and I have decided to donate to,” he said. “I have seen up close how impactful this camp experience is for both the children who attend and the volunteers who get the opportunity to spend time with the campers.” Dermatologists can also support Camp Discovery by referring a child. Learn more.

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