News

SDPA Announces 2026–27 Leadership Election Results

The Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) is pleased to announce the results of the 2026–27 Leadership Elections. We extend our sincere congratulations to the newly elected leaders who will help guide the organization over the coming term, beginning July 1, 2026 and continuing to June 30, 2027.
These individuals were selected by their peers to represent the diverse voices and interests of SDPA members, and each brings a strong commitment to service, collaboration, and advancing the profession.

President's Column | April 2026

Somehow it’s already April, and spring is popping up in those little surprise moments that always make me smile — tulip bulbs pushing up through the dirt, longer days finally settling in, and baseball season just about to start. It’s the little signs that spring is coming to the Midwest and winter is finally going away that make me feel like it’s my own re‑emergence from hibernation.

Do you find quirky holidays fun? My boys sure do in our house. Here are a few for April that caught my eye and feel especially fitting for our SDPA community.

SDPA Statement on FDA Withdrawing Proposed Ban of Minors Using Sunlamps

The Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) expresses its disappointment in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to withdraw its proposal to ban minors from using sunlamps.  

Member Spotlight: Tiffany Walker, PA C—Advancing Dermatology Through Education, Dermoscopy, and Primary Care Innovation

This month, SDPA is proud to highlight Tiffany Walker, PA‑C, a Canadian Physician Assistant whose work bridges primary care dermatology, dermoscopy, medical aesthetics, and clinician education. Practicing in Manitoba, Tiffany has become a significant contributor to dermatologic care in a region with very few DermPAs™—and an advocate for raising dermatology literacy across the primary care system.

SDPA Supports Bill Covering Traction Alopecia Treatment for Service Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Jenna Goins jgoins@dermpa.org

March 19, 2026

Society of Dermatology Physician Associates Supports Bill Covering Traction Alopecia Treatment for Service Women

President's Column | March 2026

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.

President's Column | February 2026

I’m writing this month’s newsletter as we sit under a -20° windchill here in the Midwest, while much of the rest of the country is buried under feet of snow. At this point, it’s officially “too cold to snow” in Wisconsin—something I’m still not sure is good news or bad news. And as we brace for yet another round of winter weather, I can’t help but think of Groundhog Day… because let’s be honest, some of our clinic days can feel a little like that too.

SDPA Announces Publication of First Clinical Practice Guidelines Addressing the Use of Laboratory Testing in Diagnosing Alopecia

Washington, D.C. (January 20, 2026)—The Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) announced the publication of its first Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) addressing the use of laboratory testing in diagnosing alopecia, marking a major milestone for the organization, the dermatology PA profession, and clinicians caring for patients with the chief complaint of hair loss. 

President's Column | January 2026

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.

President's Column | December 2025

As we come off the gratitude and gravy of Thanksgiving—full bellies, full hearts—I’ve been reflecting on how traditions evolve. This year, my boys have officially stopped believing in Santa. It’s a shift, for sure. But I’m learning that magic doesn’t disappear—it just changes shape.

Advocacy Blog: The High Cost of Delays

Every DermPATM has a story about barriers to effective treatment.