The Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Cynthia Faires Griffith, MPAS, PA-C, of UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, to Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Dermatology for Physician Assistants (JDPA), SDPA’s official peer-reviewed journal. Ms. Griffith, who has been contributing to JDPA since 2013 as an author, peer reviewer, and department editor, will assume full responsibilities of the three-year term beginning January 2022.

“I’m honored to build on the work of JDPA’s distinguished past Editors-in-Chief, Travis Hayden, MPAS, PA-C, and Mark Hyde, PhD, PA-C. I’m also excited to foster collaboration and encourage other PAs to get involved in the publishing process,” she said. “Publication increases the visibility of PAs, which can help better the profession,” she said.

Ms. Griffith earned her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at UT Southwestern where she also co-founded the High-Risk Skin Cancer Transplant Clinic, a clinical initiative to serve patients who are immunosuppressed after solid organ or bone marrow transplant. For the past decade, she has practiced adult medical dermatology. She is a guest lecturer in the UT Southwestern PA program and a lecturer at local, regional, and national conferences.

In addition to her familiarity with the publishing process, Ms. Griffith brings relevant experience in continuing medical education (CME), namely as co-chair of SDPA’s CME Committee (2020-2021) and CME reviewer for American Academy of PAs (AAPA) and Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA). Notably, she was awarded UT Southwestern’s PA of the Year in 2017. When not practicing, Ms. Griffith is a national champion dinghy sailor and marathoner.