Three University of Washington School of Medicine students—Catherine Chia, Alice Sohn and Briana Martin-Villa—rolled up their sleeves to volunteer at Protect Those Who Protect Us: Wildfire Firefighter Skin Cancer Screening Pilot Project, held on June 20, 2026.
The event was organized by Dr. Zed Zha, a family medicine physician who also completed a dermatology fellowship, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Dr. Zha primarily cares for farm and migrant workers through Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic sites in Eastern Washington.
Pilot Findings
The screening reached 41 wildfire firefighter trainees and instructors, turning up findings worth paying attention to:
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22.0% (9 of 41) reported a first-degree relative with skin cancer
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At least one-third of those family histories involved melanoma
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One participant (2.4%) reported a personal history of melanoma at age 34
Dr. Zha noted that although the sample size was small, these findings appear to be elevated relative to available population estimates, highlighting the disproportionate burden of skin cancer among specialized firefighters. You can read more in the following: Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Result Report; Findings From a Pilot Skin Cancer Screening Program for Washington Wildfire Firefighters.
Student Involvement
Chia, Sohn and Martin-Villa dove into every part of the event assisting with logistics, interacting with firefighters and helping keep the screening flow moving. Dr. Zha described them as professional, curious and service-oriented throughout the day, praising their open-mindedness, eagerness to learn and thoughtful engagement with both clinicians and participants.
Catherine Chia summed up the experience: “I had a fantastic time volunteering on Saturday and found the experience of working with firefighters and clinicians incredibly valuable.”
Briana Martin-Villa echoed that enthusiasm: “It was an absolute joy volunteering with you all this past Saturday! Thank you, Dr. Zha, for starting this meaningful initiative and for sharing your expertise with us.”
Alice Sohn reflected on what she learned: “I also really enjoyed volunteering with you all on Saturday! It was insightful to learn about the increased risk of skin cancer among firefighters, in addition to learning more about how firefighters train and work together.”
Next Steps
The momentum doesn’t stop here. Dr. Zha is planning to expand the program next year, potentially covering both the May and June wildfire training camps at a larger scale. She’s inviting students interested in helping organize and build the program to get involved, with an eye toward a longitudinal service-learning opportunity combining public health, occupational medicine, skin cancer prevention and community partnership.