In celebration of National APP Week 2026, Lauren Miller, PA-C, reflected on nearly 20 years of practicing dermatology in Alabama and the opportunities the physician assistant (PA) profession has given her to build a career extending beyond clinical care.
A Career Without a Single Box
For Miller, one of the most meaningful aspects of being a PA is the flexibility to take on different roles throughout her career.
“What I love most and am most grateful for is the fact that being a PA has never meant just being one thing,” Miller said. “It’s never kept me inside of a box.”
Throughout her career, Miller has served as an author, mentor, clinician, and educator. Rather than following a single professional path, she said being a PA has allowed her to develop a multifaceted career that has ultimately been more fulfilling than she initially imagined.
Her experience also highlights the range of opportunities available to PAs in dermatology, including direct patient care, education, mentorship, and professional leadership.
Get Involved With Dermatology Times
For APPs across all stages of their dermatology careers, opportunities to connect, learn, and share experiences can be an important part of professional growth. Dermatology Times invites nurse practitioners and physician assistants to share their perspectives through NP/PA Connect. APPs can contribute clinical insights, career experiences, advocacy efforts, lessons learned, and perspectives on emerging treatments while connecting with colleagues across the dermatology community.
Interested in getting involved? Contact editor Shannon Heaning at [email protected] to contribute.
Growing the PA Profession Together
As she reflected on her own career during APP Week, Miller also shared a message for the next generation of PAs: Continue advancing the profession while supporting the colleagues coming up alongside you.
“I hope that you will keep pushing this profession forward and each other,” Miller said. “And when you are on the path to achieving and conquering your goals, don’t forget to take somebody with you.”
Mentorship as Part of the Journey
For Miller, professional growth is not solely about individual achievement. Her message emphasized the importance of bringing others along as PAs continue expanding their roles within dermatology and across health care.
Her reflections during APP Week underscore both the versatility of the PA profession and the value of mentorship in its continued growth. After nearly 2 decades in dermatology, Miller’s career demonstrates how the profession can create opportunities to evolve across clinical care, education, writing, and mentorship while helping the next generation do the same.
