Dr. Susan Boiko’s innovative spirit shines brightest in her groundbreaking work with the American Academy of Dermatology’s Camp Discovery program, where she’s created transformative experiences for children with chronic skin conditions. As director and co-director of a few branches of Camp Discovery, she’s been instrumental in creating a space where kids get to be kids, even with visible skin differences.
“My favorite moment of camp is when kids are throwing off their wigs and hoodies, because no one is going to say you’re gross, what’s wrong with you,” Dr.Boiko explains. This environment represents a radical innovation in pediatric dermatology care—creating a community where children find acceptance rather than stigma.
Her camp leadership role recently expanded to co-directing a new Camp Discovery in
Arizona, extending this innovative model to reach more children in underserved regions. “The children are so innocent and guileless. They are thrilled to be accepted as they are,” she reflects. “At camp, you have this wonderful, all-the-time-in-the-world philosophy to give that child extra attention and learn so much from them.”
Dr. Boiko brings this same innovative, holistic approach to her work with MAVEN
Project, which she joined in 2022. As a former Clinical Associate Professor at the
University of California, San Diego with four decades of experience, she addresses the severe shortage of pediatric dermatologists—only about 500 board-certified specialists nationwide—by providing rapid dermatology consults to primary care providers in safety net clinics.
As a volunteer, she created a comprehensive digital resource library containing 295 carefully curated items, empowering primary care providers to deliver dermatological care, particularly crucial in areas with “one dermatologist per million people,” as she describes. By developing parent education materials and practical guidance, she helps clinicians bridge significant access gaps for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Boiko’s dual innovations—creating psychosocial healing spaces through Camp Discovery while simultaneously expanding specialty access through MAVEN Project—represent a comprehensive approach to transforming pediatric dermatology care. Her work doesn’t just treat skin conditions; it reimagines the entire experience of care for children and families navigating the challenges of chronic skin diseases in underserved communities.
