From Medical Assistant to Advocate: Adina Greene’s Journey in Melanoma Research and Fundraising

Guest Blog Post by Adina Greene, Fourth-Year Medical Student and MRF Advocate and Volunteer:

Adina Greene (left) and Jackie Kunesh (right)

Fourth-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix (UACOMP), Adina Greene, first heard about the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) while serving as head medical assistant in a dermatology office in California in 2020. “I was first introduced to dermatology and the complexities of melanoma when I became a medical assistant. With this job, I participated first-hand in the care for patients with melanoma. I saw many different presentations of melanoma, from in-situ (stage 0) to metastatic (stage IV). Each patient had their own unique story, and I was inspired by their courage to face melanoma head-on. I remember a patient showing me the Melanoma Research Foundation resources that they had use to explain to their family and friends about melanoma.”

When Adina became a medical student in 2021, she decided she wanted to pursue dermatology as a career focusing on melanoma prevention, patient education and treatment. Although Adina had first heard about the MRF during her medical assisting job, she became inspired to volunteer with the MRF after starting melanoma research at Mayo Clinic, Arizona. “I am very grateful that I have been able to contribute personally to research on melanoma prevention and screening through multiple research projects at Mayo Clinic and UACOMP. Seeing firsthand how melanoma impacts patients, I felt truly inspired to make sustainable changes, which starts with education and research.” Adina felt connected to the MRF’s mission to support medical research to find a cure for melanoma. As a result, she started volunteering with the MRF in 2022 to virtually assist in soliciting and securing donations for the Denver Gala silent auction, an event that is held by the MRF annually.  After seeing the huge success the gala had, the items secured by Adina raised over $3,000 in the silent auction, Adina wanted to expand the initiative. As a result, she was able to increase the outreach committee to ten volunteers, all medical students with a passion for melanoma, for this year’s 2023-2024 Denver gala for which they have already surpassed the amount of donations from last year!

Each one of us can make a difference to a help support research, education and advocacy for melanoma!