President's Column | May 2026

May 15, 2026

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.

Back home, we are in full “spring” sports mode here in Wisconsin. And I say “spring” with full air quotes, because anyone who has sat through a 50‑degree soccer or baseball game knows it takes a special kind of cold‑weather blood to cheer enthusiastically while clutching a hand warmer for warmth. But even with the chill, the tulips are finally blooming, the grass is waking up, and you can feel everyone looking forward to the summer that’s just around the corner.

As we step into May, we also step into Skin Cancer Awareness Month, with Melanoma Monday and Melanoma May reminding us just how central prevention and early detection are to our every day. This is a month when our voices carry even further—whether we’re counseling patients on sunscreen, catching that subtle lesion during a routine visit, or educating our communities about UV safety. It’s a powerful moment to highlight the impact DermPAs make every single day.

That same sense of momentum is carrying into our work at the SDPA, especially around something I’m deeply excited about: state chapters or affiliates.

In early April, I had the privilege of participating in the inaugural National Dermatology Leadership Summit, where PA and NP leaders from across the country gathered to talk about building and strengthening Dermatology PA and NP state chapters or affiliates. It was inspiring—and it affirmed exactly what we’ve been envisioning within the SDPA. The truth is simple: every state is unique, and the challenges we face as DermPAs are shaped locally. What’s happening in California is not what’s happening in Wisconsin. Insurance coverage issues, licensure differences, scope‑of‑practice questions, reimbursement hurdles—these are all decided at the state level, and they directly affect our patients, our practices, and our profession.

That’s why developing state chapters or affiliates is one of the most important steps we can take right now. It’s how we stay informed, stay connected, and stay ready. It’s how we build a stronger voice where it impacts us the most.

And in June, we’re taking a big step forward together.

On Saturday night in Denver, we’ll be hosting our first‑ever Convention of States at the Summer Conference. This will be a chance to gather with others from your state or region, talk through what a chapter or affiliate could look like, and explore the many ways you can engage your local DermPA community. And you don’t need to start big. You don’t need your own CME meeting. You don’t need to organize a full advocacy day at your state capitol. You can start with a simple meet‑up. You can start with a mailing list. You can start by sharing alerts when legislation pops up that affects PAs or our patients. That’s where the power is—in communication, in connection, and in numbers.

So come join us on Saturday night. Have dinner, meet your people, and help shape something that will strengthen our profession for years to come. I’m looking forward to seeing you there and taking this next step together.

Warmly,

Sarah Vicari
SDPA President