Student Doctor Nahleh Koochak, a fourth-year student at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, is sharing her passion for dermatology and promoting the importance of sun safety in her first children’s book, “The Sunbeam Explorers.”
Inspired by her clinical rotation in pediatrics, Student Doctor Koochak says the book explores the introductory journeys of seven different characters from around the world, each with their own cultural twist on different ways to protect their skin against the sun. The characters in “The Sunbeam Explorers” practice sun safety through different measures, including sunscreen application, wearing protective clothing and hats, and playing in the shade.
“The book gives kids the idea that sun protection doesn’t have to take any of their fun away, and the story creates a new avenue for parents to approach the subject with their kids when it comes time to play outside,” Student Doctor Koochak says.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even one blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma — a type of skin cancer, later in life.
“For kids, skin cancer is a sensitive and possibly early topic to introduce. Hopefully ‘The Sunbeam Explorers’ encourages parents and guardians to take their own approach to making sun protection a common practice in their households, ” said Student Doctor Koochak. “That’s really all it takes to make a cumulative difference for the future.”
From conceptualization to publication, “The Sunbeam Explorers” was a seven-months-long journey for Student Doctor Koochak. This labor of love blended her love of writing with her passion for dermatology — the latter of which she credits to her personal dermatologist. The care and attention she received as a patient, she says, inspired her to pursue medicine and serves as a guiding light toward delivering that same level of care for her future patients.
“At the age of 16, my dermatologist actually listened to me and worked closely with my specific skin issues every month for about a year, and left me feeling like a new human being with a newfound confidence,” Student Doctor Koochak said. “At that age, I can’t really describe the feeling — and I’ll never forget it, either. The impact was stronger than my doctor even knew, and once I decided on medicine as a career, the specialty choice was clear from the start.”
As Student Doctor Koochak begins her fourth and final year at ICOM, expanding “The Sunbeam Explorers” isn’t out of the question. In fact, the “little readers” in her life, as she describes them, have requested it.
“The Sunbeam Explorers” is now available to purchase on Amazon.