President's Message | March 2021

Mar 31, 2021

Dear Colleagues - 

It’s hard to believe that it has been one full year since the pandemic began. Thankfully, we are beginning to see a light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel with the release of several vaccines, and the speed at which they are being administered.  After a slow start in many areas of the country, I'm encouraged by a process that shows improvement every day. We may just see a return to a sense of normalcy sooner than originally projected.

Traditionally in March, a delegation of SDPA leaders represent the DermPA profession at AAPA’s annual Leadership and Advocacy Summit. This year, that Summit was held virtually. We learned how numerous states were impacted legislatively, on both the federal and state levels, to improve access to patient care during the pandemic.

We know that even post pandemic, it is critical for patients to have timely access to care. We also know that PAs continue to provide high quality, timely healthcare. It is important for legislators to be reminded of PAs and our integral role in the healthcare system. Many of us do not have time outside of clinic to contribute to legislative efforts although it’s critical to our ability to practice. One simple way to support legislative efforts is to become a member of AAPA and your AAPA state chapter. 

As we near the end of March, I want to remind you to vote! SDPA leadership is comprised of individuals like you and me - DermPAs working day in and out to serve our patients and communities while having a desire to contribute to the growth of our profession. Take a look at our ballot of talented candidates and cast your vote, elections close March 31st. While you are casting your vote, take a look at our committees and reach out to us to learn more about how you can get involved in SDPA leadership. If you are interested in more information, please contact membership@dermpa.org. I would love to see you on a future SDPA elections ballot! 

And lastly, I'd like to encourage SDPA members to support DPAF through participation in their most recent project, DINE WITH DPAF, taking place on April 29th.  It's a cooking class for you and your patients to learn to prepare an anti-inflammatory and tasty meal. Bon Appétit!

With warm regards, 

Archana Sangha, MMS, PA-C
SDPA President