SDPA Fall 2025 Conference: Educational Advances and Collaborative Care

The Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) 23rd Annual Fall Dermatology Conference in San Antonio, Texas, served not only as an education-focused meeting but also as a reflection of how leadership, innovation, and interprofessional collaboration continue to shape the dermatology workforce. Through a series of live Derm Dispatch episodes hosted by Renata Block, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, assistant professor at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, the meeting offered insight into initiatives that influence training, clinical integration, and future workforce development.

Mentorship and Workforce Development

Current SDPA President Sarah Vicari, MMS, PA-C, joined Block to discuss how structured mentorship remains central to professional growth and to sustaining a competent dermatology workforce. Vicari highlighted that many PAs, like physicians, rely heavily on early-career guidance to develop sound clinical judgment.

“We all started as new grads and needed to have the help,” she said. “You have to just help the people below you keep rising.”

Under her leadership, the SDPA launched Rise Derm PA, a formal mentorship initiative connecting early-career PAs with experienced mentors through a digital matching platform. Vicari envisions future expansions to include regional meetups and collaborative networking opportunities, providing a clearer structure for onboarding, training, and expectations.

Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence

In another highlight, SDPA president-elect Andrew Baker, MBA, MPAS, PA-C—who will assume leadership in 2026—shared his governance approach, rooted in emotional intelligence, active listening, and inclusivity. For dermatologists who work closely with PAs, his perspective reflects the profession’s increasing focus on standardized leadership training and consistent expectations across clinical settings. Baker and Block emphasized that strengthening engagement across all levels of the PA workforce ultimately supports the broader dermatology community, from practice efficiency to patient experience. to effective governance.

Building Research and Academic Engagement

In another conversation, Block highlighted the Emerging Scholars Program, which aims to cultivate academic and research-oriented PAs.Participants Lauren Agostinacchio, MS, PA-C, of Conrad Petersen Dermatology in Chicago, Illinois, and Izabela Horzempa, PA-C, of Integrated Dermatology in Trumbull, Connecticut, described how the program encourages deeper involvement in clinical research, fosters national networking, and enhances understanding of complex dermatologic disease.

Their projects—including work on systemic associations in psoriasis—demonstrate how PAs are increasingly participating in scholarly activities that complement physician-led research and broaden team-based academic output. research authorship, and future mentorship, embodying the pay-it-forward spirit that defines SDPA.

Education Reimagined Through New Programs

Education also remained a central focus with the unveiling of the revised SDPA Diplomate Fellowship Program 2.0. Program architect Kristen Grippe, PA-C, joined Block to reflect on the program’s evolution from a tradtional distance-learning model into an interactive platform.

The upgraded program features evidence-based video lectures, enhanced assessments, and image-based modules, all designed for flexible, self-paced learningat every career stage. The changes signal a more standardized and rigorous educational framework for PAs entering dermatology or seeking advanced training.

Understanding the Role of the Medical Director

Conference medical director and professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, Heather Goff, MD, MPH, provided crucial physician insight to the conversation, sharing insights on curriculum design and practice collaboration. Goff emphasized the shared goal of delivering the best patient care through teamwork and mutual respect. She emphasized the role of PAs in dermatology practices, supporting access to care when integrated with appropriate oversight and aligned goals.

Her work guiding conference themes, such as this year’s focus on lifestyle and skin health, underscored the growing relevance of preventive and wellness-centered dermatology.

Advancing Dermatologic Care Through Nutrition

Hayden Middleton, DMSc, PA-C, a family medicine PA at Fairview Health Services in St Paul, Minnesota, presented a multidisciplinary initiative aimed at creating the first clinical practice guidelines linking nutrition and dermatologic disease. The project examines how nutritional deficiencies, such as low vitamin B₁₂ or zinc, can manifest as skin conditions and aims to provide practical, evidence-based tools to help clinicians diagnose and manage these presentations efficiently.

Middleton explained that the guidelines will translate complex research into “if-this, then-that” statements, helping providers determine when to order specific laboratory tests or consider dietary factors in dermatologic care. Balanced, evidence-based nutrition remains central to Middleton’s vision for improving skin health and overall wellness through this emerging framework.

Navigating the Social Media Skin Care Crisis

Finally, Derm Dispatch tackled one of the most pressing issues in dermatology today: misinformation on social media. Shannon Trotter, DO, FAOCD, FAAD, of DOCS Dermatology in Ohio, explored how platforms like TikTok have become major sources of health advice for younger generations—sometimes more trusted than clinicians themselves.

Trotter highlighted the need for providers to proactively engage online by counteracting inaccurate content and restoring trust. The solution, she and Block agreed, is not to ignore social media but to install “guardrails” that keep the conversation evidence based and patient centered.

A Unified Vision for the Future of Dermatology

From leadership deveopment and educational reform, to research participation and clincial education, the 2025 SDPA Fall Conference underscored a shared vision: elevating practice standards while fostering strong PA–physician collaboration. SDPA continues to lead with purpose, ensuring that every providerat every career stage has the tools and community needed to thrive and shape the future of high-quality patient care.