Derm Dispatch at SDPA Fall 2025: How to Give Back to the PA Community as a Mentor

In a special edition of Derm Dispatch at the SDPA Fall 2025 meeting in San Antonio, Texas, former SDPA President, Renata Block, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, sat down with the current SDPA President, Sarah Vicari, MMS, PA-C, to discuss leadership, volunteerism, and mentorship within the dermatology PA community. The conversation highlighted the importance of giving back to the profession and fostering growth among emerging PAs.

Vicari, who balances a demanding professional and personal life—managing a full-time career, family responsibilities, and 3 children—shared her motivation for serving in leadership. She emphasized that volunteering and mentoring are vital to the sustainability of the profession, noting that every clinician begins as a new graduate in need of support. For her, contributing time and experience is both a responsibility and a source of personal fulfillment. “Just to give back...we all started as new grads and needed to have the help,” Vicari reflected. “And so, you have to just help the people below you keep rising.”

A major focus of Vicari’s presidency has been the launch of “Rise Derm PA,” a structured mentorship initiative designed to connect early-career PAs with experienced mentors. Using a digital matching platform, which Vicari likened to a “Match.com” for mentorship, the program pairs participants based on interests, experience needs, and preferred communication styles. It aims to create accessible, individualized guidance for those working in diverse clinical settings, particularly those without other PAs on staff. Vicari envisions Rise Derm PA evolving to include regional meetups and collaborative networking opportunities.

Both leaders underscored the emotional reward of volunteerism, describing it as an essential part of professional growth and community building. Block commended Vicari’s achievements in just 4 months as president, predicting that this new mentorship program will become her lasting legacy within the SDPA.

In closing, Vicari offered encouragement to future leaders: if you feel even a small calling to get involved—whether organizing conferences, shaping educational content, or mentoring others—take the initiative. Both agreed that it just takes a “little nudge” to transform curiosity into leadership. Vicari’s journey exemplifies how passion, service, and perseverance can advance both individual careers and the broader PA profession.