In recognition of National APP Week 2026, Dermatology Times and NPPA Connect spoke with Jamie Nichole Restivo, MPAS, PA-C, president of the Pennsylvania Dermatology Physician Assistants (PDPA) and host of The Spot Check Podcast, about her path to becoming a dermatology physician assistant (PA), the growing influence of advanced practice providers (APPs), and what she hopes to celebrate about the APP community.
For Restivo, becoming a PA was not always part of the plan. Her introduction to the profession came through her own experience as a dermatology patient, ultimately prompting her to leave her existing career and return to school. Today, she views the varied backgrounds and experiences APPs bring to medicine as one of the profession’s greatest strengths.
Dermatology Times:
What inspired you to pursue a career as an APP, and what led you to dermatology?
Restivo:
My journey began with a dedication to continuous learning, clear communication, and autographing every endeavor with excellence. I had always harbored a strong desire to pursue dermatology, but I was hesitant to relocate far from my family or amass substantial educational debt.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, I developed severe nodulocystic acne. Unable to get a timely appointment with my dermatologist, unbeknownst to me, I was scheduled with a dermatology PA. This was my very first exposure to the profession.
I quickly inquired about her trajectory, training, and schooling, and within several weeks, I resolved to take a tremendous leap: I left my position at the time to go back to school full-time. With the support of my Italian family and now-husband, I trained as an EMT while completing post-baccalaureate prerequisites, worked as a dermatology medical assistant, and never looked back.
As PAs, we are constantly evolving, reinventing ourselves, and transforming clinical curiosity into purposeful patient care. From this experience, I learned to always believe in myself and know that starting over and stepping out of “stuckville” is always possible. Only we set our own limits.
Dermatology Times:
What is one aspect of your role as an APP that you find especially rewarding?
Restivo:
Synthesizing diverse skill sets to advocate for patients is one of our greatest strengths. Cutaneous disease is rarely just skin-deep; it carries tremendous psychological and psychosocial weight.
There is nothing more gratifying than guiding a patient from debilitating skin disease to clear, healthy skin and watching their world open up again. Whether it is giving someone the self-assurance to interview for a promotion, step back into the dating world, jump into a swimming pool, or simply shake someone’s hand without hesitation, helping patients reclaim their confidence and everyday freedom is the ultimate reward.
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.
Dermatology Times:
How do you think APPs are shaping the future of dermatologic care?
Restivo:
APPs are expanding critical access to specialized dermatologic care at a time when patient demand significantly outpaces physician availability, effectively reducing wait times and diagnostic latency for acute and complex complaints. We practice autonomously while functioning seamlessly as part of an integrated health care team in the absolute best interest of our patients.
More and more, PAs and NPs are securing a rightful seat at every table, driving clinical education, leading state and national organizations, and contributing meaningfully to pharmacological discussions. Because APPs are so frequently on the front lines initiating and managing biologics and advanced therapeutics, we play an indispensable role in shaping modern treatment algorithms and patient advocacy.
Dermatology Times:
What is something you wish more patients or health care professionals understood about the role of APPs?
Restivo:
The strength of our diverse academic and professional foundations. Many APPs enter the field through nonlinear paths, bringing distinct degrees that enrich clinical practice.
In my case, holding a Bachelor of Science in Marketing alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Italian directly informs how I care for patients every single day. Medicine is deeply human; having that background allows me to navigate cultural nuances, connect across language barriers, and translate complex clinical evidence into clear, actionable communication.
Far from being a deviation from medicine, these unique backgrounds allow APPs to deliver truly integrative, culturally competent, and patient-centered care.
Dermatology Times:
What advice would you give to someone considering a career as an APP in dermatology?
Restivo:
Lifelong learning is essential; complacency is our enemy. Dermatology possesses a steep learning curve and evolves with rapidity, so it is our duty to stay apprised of medical advancements and implement meaningful changes in clinical practice.
I implore all health care providers to continually read textbooks and peer-reviewed journals, join webinars, attend live conferences, and keep putting in the work for ourselves and our patients. Engage in industry discussions, attend pharmaceutical educational dinners, and ensure PAs and NPs have a seat at every table.
Seek out strong mentors, but also learn to mentor yourself through disciplined study. Never stop honing your communication skills, because treating skin demands as much empathy as it does diagnostic acumen.
Finally, embrace the tremendous versatility of this profession: You can impact patients in the clinic, from the podium, on advisory boards, through legislative advocacy, and beyond. Our voices matter, and we can elevate our patients’ lives by leaning directly into our unique strengths.
Seek out strong mentors, but also learn to mentor yourself through disciplined study. — Jamie Restivo, MPAS, PA-C,
Dermatology Times:
In recognition of National APP Week, what would you most like to celebrate about the APP community?
Restivo:
Our commitment to collaboration over competition. Across state societies, digital platforms, podcasts, and national conferences, dermatology APPs demonstrate an extraordinary willingness to share clinical pearls, applaud peer achievements, and invest in one another’s growth.
We celebrate a community that is deeply passionate, endlessly adaptable, and fiercely united in elevating the standard of patient care.
