The Practice Brief: Contracts, Mentorship, and Communication Take Center Stage

Help your practice thrive—one week at a time.

Welcome to The Practice Brief, your weekly roundup of the news, trends, and ideas shaping the future of dermatology. Each edition highlights the biggest developments in practice management, reimbursement, policy, AI, business, and professional growth, while connecting them to existing Dermatology Times and NP/PA Connect coverage. The goal isn't just to keep you informed—it's to help you discover what's next, identify opportunities, and keep your practice performing at its best.

Contracts Deserve the Same Attention as Clinical Training

Joseph Gatti, DMSc, MPAS, MBA, PA-C, argues that clinicians spend years mastering medicine but often enter the workforce with little understanding of the business side of practice. In the inaugural installment of his new recurring Dermatology Times column, Gatti writes that employment contracts, compensation models, and productivity expectations ultimately shape a clinician's autonomy, earnings, and career trajectory just as much as clinical skill.¹

Rather than accepting a compensation structure at face value, Gatti encourages clinicians to understand exactly how their productivity is measured, whether through collections, RVUs, or another model, and to regularly review production reports instead of waiting until annual evaluations. He argues that financial literacy should be viewed as another clinical competency rather than an administrative afterthought.¹

▶ Why it matters: Your employment contract is one of the most important career decisions you'll make. Understanding how you're paid—and verifying the numbers behind that compensation—can prevent costly surprises long after you've accepted an offer.

Building a "Phone-a-Friend" Network Can Strengthen Clinical Practice

During the Esterly Lecture at the Society for Pediatric Dermatology's Pre-AAD Meeting, Moise L. Levy, MD, reflected on the legacy of Nancy Esterly and the culture of mentorship that has long defined pediatric dermatology. Levy encouraged clinicians to "phone a friend" when faced with challenging cases, emphasizing that seeking another opinion is a sign of professional strength rather than uncertainty.²

Levy also highlighted that mentorship is rarely one-directional. While experienced clinicians guide those earlier in their careers, younger colleagues frequently introduce fresh perspectives, new evidence, and evolving approaches that ultimately benefit mentors as well.²

▶ Why it matters: Every clinician benefits from having trusted colleagues to consult. Building a reliable professional network can improve patient care, expand clinical confidence, and create opportunities for continuous learning throughout your career.

Clinical Curiosity Still Matters in the Era of Biologics

Speaking at Elevate-Derm Summer, Justin Love, PA-C, encouraged clinicians not to let busy schedules or treatment algorithms replace thoughtful conversations with patients. While advances such as biologics have transformed dermatology, Love emphasized that understanding a patient's concerns, expectations, and lived experience remains equally important to delivering high-quality care.³

He challenged clinicians to remain curious, particularly during diagnostically or emotionally complex encounters, arguing that communication and empathy are clinical skills that deserve the same attention as mastering new therapies.³

▶ Why it matters: Medical knowledge may guide treatment decisions, but communication builds trust. Taking a few extra moments to understand a patient's perspective can improve adherence, strengthen relationships, and ultimately lead to better outcomes.

The Emotional Side of Expanding Access to Dermatology Care

In a recent Dermatology Times video, Kimberly Madison, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, reflected on the challenges dermatology nurses face as patient demand continues to outpace access to care. Discussing research on workforce shortages and innovative care models, Madison described seeing the evidence as both validating and motivating, reinforcing what many nurses experience every day in clinical practice.⁴

Her perspective highlights an important dimension of the access conversation: beyond statistics on wait times and workforce shortages are clinicians navigating the emotional weight of trying to meet growing patient needs with limited resources.⁴

▶ Why it matters: Workforce challenges affect more than scheduling—they influence clinician well-being, patient access, and the quality of care practices can provide. Recognizing those pressures is an important step toward developing sustainable solutions for dermatology teams.

References:

1. Gatti J. Contracts: The most important document most clinicians treat like an afterthought. Dermatology Times. Published July 31, 2026. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/contracts-the-most-important-document-most-clinicians-treat-like-an-afterthought
2. Duerr HA. "Phone a Friend," advised Moise L. Levy, MD, in SPD's Esterly Lecture. Dermatology Times. Published March 26, 2026. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/-phone-a-friend-advised-moise-l-levy-md-in-spd-s-esterly-lecture
3. Heaning S. Beyond the diagnosis: Justin Love, PA-C, communication and clinical curiosity remain essential in modern dermatology. Dermatology Times. Published July 30, 2026. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/beyond-the-diagnosis-justin-love-communication-and-clinical-curiosity-remain-essential-in-modern-dermatology
4. Heaning S. The hidden struggle every derm nurse feels. Dermatology Times. Published July 2026. Video. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/shorts/the-hidden-stuggle-every-derm-nurse-feels