Teledermatology Grant Program
Pfizer Global Medical Grants and The George Washington University (GWU) are proud to announce the renewal of their successful collaborative grant opportunity focused on broad implementation of the Teledermatology Help Desk Clinic model in underserved areas across the United States (US) as a means to expand access to quality-based care for Inflammatory Dermatoses including Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and other inflammatory dermatologic conditions.
Specific Areas of Interest for this RFP: The intent of this RFP is to encourage organizations to submit a quality improvement project that aims to achieve quality improvement for Healthcare Practitioners (HCPs) that treat medical dermatology conditions. Programs to help HCPs meet the needs of patients with medical dermatologic conditions through telemedicine best practices and long-term management strategy of their disease in tandem with quality dermatologic care will be considered. Programs would focus on:
1) The education of HCPs regarding effective implementation of telehealth in their practice in combination with the development, implementation, and/or optimization of innovative or existing tools designed to facilitate diagnosis, treatment and shared decision making in a remote interaction between underserved patients and HCPs will be considered.
2) This program will improve dermatologists’ ability to:
a) Partner and collaborate with community stakeholders
b) Train students, dermatology residents, and faculty on telemedicine best practices and clinical diagnosis during synchronous virtual visits
c) Recruit, engender trust and educate those with the greatest need to access dermatologic care
d) Identify strategies to sustain community-based care interventions to provide ongoing free care.
Funding Range and Project Length: Individual projects requesting up to a maximum of $250,000 will be considered. One grant application will be selected for the award. Anticipated Approximate Project Start and End Dates: March 2026 – September 2027 (maximum project length is 18 months)
https://cdn.pfizer.com/pfizercom/2025-10/2026%20I%26I%20US%20QI%20GWU%20Teledermatology.pdf
PIRA™ proposals are AI generated and are not reviewed or endorsed by the sponsoring company.
Bridging Dermatologic Care Gaps in Underserved Chicago Communities:
To implement and evaluate a sustainable Teledermatology Help Desk/Free Clinic model in underserved Chicago communities to improve access to high-quality, equitable dermatologic care for inflammatory dermatoses — primarily Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and Alopecia Areata — among populations historically marginalized in healthcare access.
Proposal for Teledermatology Quality Improvement Project
Bridging Dermatologic Care Gaps in Underserved Chicago Communities
Applicant Institution: Northwestern Medicine Department of Dermatology
Principal Investigator: [Insert PI Name, MD, MPH]
Collaborators: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago Department of Public Health, Community Health Clinics of Chicago (CHC), and local community centers
Project Period: March 2026 – September 2027
Requested Funding: $248,500
1. Goals and Objectives
Overall Goal:
To implement and evaluate a sustainable Teledermatology Help Desk/Free Clinic model in underserved Chicago communities to improve access to high-quality, equitable dermatologic care for inflammatory dermatoses — primarily Atopic Dermatitis (AD) and Alopecia Areata — among populations historically marginalized in healthcare access.
Specific Objectives:
1. Expand Access: Establish three community-based Teledermatology Help Desk sites in South and West Chicago neighborhoods within 18 months.
2. Educate & Empower: Train 50+ healthcare practitioners, residents, and community volunteers in culturally competent teledermatology practices.
3. Improve Outcomes: Achieve a 25% reduction in time-to-diagnosis and a 20% increase in treatment adherence among patients with AD.
4. Measure Quality: Implement data-driven metrics for patient satisfaction, dermatologic outcomes, and telemedicine literacy.
5. Sustainability: Develop a replicable framework integrated into Northwestern Medicine’s digital health ecosystem and partner FQHC networks.
2. Assessment of Need
Chicago’s South and West Sides represent dermatologic care deserts — areas where dermatologists are scarce and travel, insurance, and cost barriers are significant. Only 1 dermatologist per 80,000 residents serves these zip codes (CDPH, 2024). 32% of patients report delays exceeding six months for dermatologic evaluation (Northwestern Medicine Equity Report, 2023). African American and Latino patients have twice the rate of emergency visits for AD-related complications compared to North Side patients.
Baseline data from the Northwestern Medicine Community Health Needs Assessment (2023) confirm that limited digital literacy and mistrust further impede access to virtual care.
3. Target Audience
Primary: Adult and pediatric patients from underserved Chicago communities with AD, Alopecia Areata, or similar conditions.
Secondary: Dermatology residents, medical students, primary care providers, and community health workers (CHWs) participating in telehealth facilitation training.
Reach: Approximately 600 patient encounters and 1000 teledermatology consultations projected within 18 months.
4. Project Design and Methods
Implementation Model:
The program adapts the GWU Teledermatology Help Desk structure. Community sites will be hosted in Englewood, Lawndale, and Humboldt Park. Telehealth support teams—trained Northwestern medical students and CHWs—will facilitate device setup, patient intake, and secure photo uploads. Dermatology residents and attending physicians will conduct synchronous teledermatology visits. Participants will receive multilingual materials on disease management and telehealth usage.
Educational Components:
CME-accredited workshops will be held for healthcare providers focusing on teledermatology diagnostic approaches across diverse skin tones. Simulation modules will be implemented through Northwestern’s Clinical Skills Center and “Telehealth Literacy 101” sessions for community members.
5. Innovation
This project integrates community-based telemedicine with Northwestern’s AI-enabled diagnostic triage tool (DermAssist) and leverages Epic MyChart integration for real-time visit scheduling. It builds upon existing Northwestern Mobile Health initiatives but uniquely targets dermatologic equity through culturally responsive engagement and localized volunteer facilitation.
6. Evaluation and Outcomes
Metrics and Evaluation:
Time from symptom onset to consult reduced from 8 to 6 months; teledermatology literacy scores improved from 40% to 75%; resident confidence in diagnosing skin of color from 60% to 85%; patient satisfaction increased from 78% to 90%. Data will be collected via REDCap, analyzed using regression models, and monitored by Northwestern Medicine’s Institutional QI Committee.
Dissemination:
Findings will be shared via GWU Teledermatology Advisory Committee, AAD conferences, and JAMA Dermatology QI sections.
7. Anticipated Project Timeline
Planning: Mar–Jun 2026 – community partner MOUs, IRB review.
Implementation: Jul–Dec 2026 – launch 3 Help Desk sites.
Evaluation: Jan–Jun 2027 – interim analysis, training refinement.
Dissemination: Jul–Sep 2027 – final report, toolkit publication.
8. Organizational Detail
Lead Institution: Northwestern Medicine Department of Dermatology.
Collaborators: Chicago Department of Public Health, Community Health Clinics of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, and local faith-based organizations.
Roles: PI oversees QI framework, Data Coordinator manages REDCap metrics, and Community Liaison coordinates outreach and translation.
9. Budget Summary
Total Requested: $248,500
Personnel – $110,000 (PI, manager, analyst)
Community Engagement – $30,000 (stipends, outreach)
Training & Education – $25,000
Technology & Software – $40,000
Participant Support – $15,000
Evaluation – $20,000
Overhead (8%) – $8,500
10. Additional Information
This project aligns directly with the Pfizer–GWU grant’s objectives to expand telemedicine equity and enhance quality dermatologic care for underserved patients, using a sustainable, replicable model within Northwestern’s telehealth ecosystem.
References
- Silverberg JI, Simpson EL. Association between severe eczema and comorbid conditions. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2013;24(5):476-86.
- Jallow M et al. Disparities in access to teledermatology before and after COVID-19. Clin Dermatol. 2022.
- Maddukuri S, Patel J, Lipoff JB. Teledermatology addressing disparities in health care access. Curr Dermatol Rep. 2021;10:40-7.
- Pfizer Global Medical Grants & GWU Department of Dermatology. 2026 I&I US QI GWU Teledermatology RFP.
Appendices
Appendix A: Community Partner Letters of Support (to be attached)
Appendix B: Teledermatology Workflow Diagram
Appendix C: Sample Patient Education Materials