In the **Occitanie** region of France, a new pilot program is training physiotherapists to help identify melanomas, a type of skin cancer, in an effort to address a shortage of dermatologists. The initiative aims to train 100 physiotherapists by the end of the year. They are learning how to use a **dermatoscope**, a device that attaches to a smartphone camera to magnify skin images up to 20 times. The training includes in-person sessions, online courses, and mentorship with dermatologists over several months. Caroline Laffont-Perrette, a physiotherapist in Aigues-Mortes, said she felt "lucky" to be chosen from hundreds of volunteers. She noted that physiotherapists often notice changes in patients' skin during long, recurring appointments, offering a chance to spot suspicious skin lesions. Dr. Georges Bes, a dermatologist in Montpellier, came up with the idea after seeing how his son, a physiotherapist, built close relationships with patients. He emphasized that the goal is not to turn physiotherapists into dermatologists but to allow for opportunistic detection—when patients aren’t specifically seeking skin cancer checks and have given their consent. According to the French Society of Dermatology (SFD), it can take three to six months to get a dermatology appointment, with even longer wait times in some areas. The number of dermatologists has been declining sharply for 15 years, with barely more than three per 100,000 people. At the same time, the prevalence of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, is rising globally. The program also includes training on how to communicate suspected melanomas to patients. Hélène Buche, a psychologist at the University of Paul Valéry in Montpellier, provided strategies to help physiotherapists share their observations without causing unnecessary alarm. If a suspicious lesion is found, a photo is sent to a tele-expertise platform for evaluation by a network of dermatologists. These experts promise to respond within 48 hours and arrange an urgent appointment if needed. Patrick Saut, president of the URPS physiotherapists in Occitanie, reported that 13 physiotherapists were initially trained—one per department—and that six melanomas and carcinomas were detected. This success has gained support from the Regional Health Agency. Saut described physiotherapists as "whistleblowers," saying the initiative could save time in cancer detection. Given the long wait times for dermatology appointments, this approach may help save lives.