The mission of The Sun Bus is to reduce the burden of skin diseases, including cancer, through effective screening, education, and research programs.
The Sun Bus
The Colorado Melanoma Foundation raised seed funds to acquire The Sun Bus. May 2019 marked the official launch of The Sun Bus, dedicated to delivering free skin checks and promoting sun safety and skin cancer awareness.
In addition to our educational endeavors, our public health research aims to improve screening strategies and promises to significantly combat skin cancer.
VISION
The vision of The Sun Bus is to create a future where skin cancer is not only preventable but also readily detectable and treatable for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographical location. Through its mobile services and educational outreach, The Sun Bus aims to empower communities with knowledge about sun safety, facilitate early detection of skin cancers, and ultimately reduce the burden of skin cancer-related morbidity and mortality.
The Sun Bus Staff
Tamara Terzian, PhD, MS
Executive Director, The Sun Bus
Visiting Scientist, Lubbock Christian University
admin@thesunbus.org
Jill Penafiel, BA
Community Engagement & Education Manager
Jill.Penafiel@thesunbus.org
The Sun Bus Newsletter Team
Dr. Aliya Rogers
Editor, Skin Savvy Monthly, The Sun Bus Newsletter
Resident Physician, Ascension, Chicago, Illinois
Originally from Chicago, Dr. Rogers attended Rush Medical College for medical school and will be starting dermatology residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2026. She has interests in dermatology education, mentorship, and skin of color dermatology.
Tamara Terzian, PhD, MS
Editor in Chief, Skin Savvy Monthly, The Sun Bus Newsletter
Executive Director, The Sun Bus
Visiting Scientist, Lubbock Christian University
Brittani Remé, DO, MS
Editor in Chief, Skin Savvy Monthly, The Sun Bus Newsletter
Dr. Remé graduated from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2024 and I am currently a research fellow
Damilola Oladinni - Writer
Transitional year resident
AdventHealth Redmon
Edwine Coulanges, MD, MS - Designer/Writer
PGY-1 Internal Medicine Resident
University of Georgia School of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program
Aaron Szymonik - Designer/Writer
Medical School year 2
American University of the Caribbean
Dawnica Nadora, MD - Writer
Internal Medicine PGY-1
Rasa Baceviciene, MD - Writer
Department of Emergency Medicine at
Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU)
Lecturer
Stephanie Ezeoke - Writer
Medical School year 3
Upstate Medical University
Vanessa Villacarte - Writer
Osteopathic Medical School year 4
Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Julius Adedoyin - Writer
Medical School year 2
SUNY Upstate Medical University, Norton College of Medicine
Rachna Vipparla - Writer
Medical School year 1
A.T. Still University's Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Grace Zhou Armstrong - Designer/Writer
Medical School year 4
Indiana University School of Medicine
Nicole Chin - Writer
Medical School year 4
Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Jonique Depina - Writer
Medical School year 4
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nadine Belony - Writer
Osteopathic Medical School year 2
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia
Benazir Merchant - Writer
Medical School year 3
Medical College of Georgia
Vanessa Villacate - Writer
Osteopathic Medical School year 3
Midwestern University
Lydia Maxon - Writer
Osteopathic Medical School year 1
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bianca Patel - Writer
Medical School year 4
Morehouse School of Medicine
Sydney Ambrose - Writer
Medical School year 4
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
The Sun Bus Research Team
Logan Ellwood, MS
Mobile Dermatology
Operation Manager,
The Sun Bus
Rafael Homer, MSIII
Candidate class of 2027
University of Washington School of Medicine
Laramie, Wyoming
Surabhi Jain, OMS-III
Rock Vista University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Parker, CO
Skin Health Task Force Team
| Name | Level | School |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Govea | MS2 | Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Melbourne, FL |
| Grace Armstrong | MS3 | Indiana University School of Medicine |
| Rachna Vipparla | Incoming MS1 | AT Still University School of Medicine |
| Michelle Kaminski | MS3 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Diana Ayala | MS2 | St. George's University |
| Omoefe Eke | MS3 | SUNY Upstate |
| Wren Montijo | MS2 | Touro University California |
| Nadine Belony | MS1 | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia |
| Sydney Williams | OMS-II | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia |
| Laura Clarke | MS2 | Indiana University School of Medicine |
| Alexa Ware | MS2 | Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Melbourne, FL |
| Mercedes Hennessey | OMS-II | Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO |
| Natalie Piserchio | OMS-III | Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO |
| Mia Panlilio | OMS-IV | Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO |
| Tiffany Shaljian | MS1 | California University of Science and Medicine |
| Kayla Torres | OMS-III | Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO |
| Madelyn Scarmack | MS2 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Akua Sakwa | 4th-year Undergrad | University of Colorado-Boulder |
| Smit Madurai Koothapiran | 4th-year Undergrad | CU Boulder |
| Gilbert Neuner | PhD biostat | UCLA |
| Louis Falk | OMS-III | Midwestern University |
| Kelsey Chandran | MPH, OMS2 | Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Melbourne, FL |
| Rhea Kodkani | MS2 | Drexel University College of Medicine |
| Meriah Frauwirth | OMS-III | Lincoln Memorial University College of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Wendy Hartsock | University of Kansas (PhD) | |
| Isabelle DiGiulio | OMS-II | Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine |
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