President's Column

April has officially slipped away, and what a month it was. Our long‑awaited ITCH Conference in Puerto Rico was everything we hoped for and more. After nearly a decade of waiting to return, it felt meaningful to finally gather on the island. The lectures were eye‑opening—deep dives into a symptom we manage every single day, yet continue to learn more about as research evolves. The conversations in the hallways, the shared clinical pearls, the sense of community… it all reminded me why this work matters and why our members are such an incredible force in dermatology.

March always feels like that in‑between month—still winter on the calendar, but you can almost feel everything starting to wake up again. Here in Wisconsin, we’re still dealing with the dry air, the cold wind, and that classic “winter itch” that every DermPA knows all too well. But even with the snow hanging on, there’s a gentle shift in the air. The mornings feel a little brighter, the days stretch just a bit longer, and there’s a quiet sense of renewal that’s hard to ignore.

January is a time of fresh starts—but for many of us in dermatology, it can also feel like a whirlwind. Formularies shift, deductibles reset, and new coding changes loom on the horizon. It’s a lot. And if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

That’s why SDPA is here.

September is National Preparedness Month—a time when we’re reminded of the importance of readiness in the face of uncertainty. As we watch wildfires rage, flash floods devastate communities, and storms intensify across the country, the message is clear: we need to be more prepared than ever before. But preparedness isn’t just about natural disasters—it’s about being equipped to face any challenge that threatens our ability to care, advocate, and lead. For us as Dermatology PAs, that means protecting our profession, our patients, and our communities from the unexpected.