For more than two decades, TJ Chao, PA-C, has been at the forefront of some of the most significant advances in dermatology. A Dermatology Physician Assistant for 26 years and a member of the Atlanta North Dermatology team for the last 15, Chao has built a career centered on helping patients with some of the specialty’s most challenging inflammatory conditions while simultaneously dedicating himself to educating the next generation of clinicians.

Today, his practice focuses heavily on advanced medical dermatology, including biologic therapies, small molecules, peptide-based treatments, and the management of complex inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis. He also cares for patients with alopecia areata, vitiligo, and chronic urticaria and continues to provide comprehensive dermatologic care, from skin cancer screenings to minor surgical procedures.

What is perhaps most remarkable about Chao’s journey is that dermatology was never part of the original plan.

While attending PA school, he envisioned a future in cardiovascular surgery. But during his clinical rotations, he discovered he was seeking something different—something that offered greater variety, more patient interaction, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on people’s lives. After graduation, a conversation with a friend and fellow University of Florida PA graduate, Brian Bonomo, changed the course of his career.

Dermatology, Chao quickly learned, was a specialty where no two days looked the same.

“From one patient room to the next, every case presented a different challenge, diagnosis, or opportunity to improve a patient’s quality of life,” he says.

That decision proved transformative.

“Choosing Dermatology was the most meaningful and impactful career decision of my professional life.”

Over the course of his career, Chao has witnessed dermatology evolve in extraordinary ways. When he began practicing in 2000, treatment options for conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis were limited, and many patients suffered for years with few effective solutions. Today, advances in biologics, small molecules, and targeted therapies have fundamentally changed what is possible for patients.

Watching that transformation unfold has been one of the greatest privileges of his career. But it has also reinforced something he believes passionately: innovation is only valuable if providers understand how to use it.

That realization sparked a second calling—education.

For the past 17 years, Chao has devoted a significant portion of his professional life to mentoring clinicians, lecturing at conferences, developing educational content, and serving on advisory boards. Whether speaking to seasoned providers or newly graduated PAs, his goal is always the same: helping clinicians feel more confident in delivering exceptional patient care.

He often describes his approach as “passing the baton,” ensuring that the next generation of dermatology providers is equipped to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving specialty.

That commitment to education and advocacy eventually opened doors he never imagined possible.

One of the defining achievements of Chao’s career has been his appointment to the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation, where he serves alongside some of the nation’s leading experts in psoriasis and psoriatic disease.

The role carries special meaning, not only because of his passion for psoriasis care but because he is one of only two Dermatology Physician Assistants currently serving on the board.

“It is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” he says. “I take tremendous pride in representing the PA profession while helping contribute to discussions surrounding patient care, education, advocacy, and the future of psoriasis treatment.”

His passion for psoriasis can be traced back to a single patient early in his career.

The patient had lived with severe psoriasis for decades. He had exhausted nearly every treatment available at the time and arrived at Chao’s office physically and emotionally worn down. More than 60% of his body was affected by the disease, and years of failed therapies had left him discouraged.

Chao started him on one of the earliest biologic therapies available.

Six weeks later, the patient returned.

Completely clear.

“It felt miraculous at the time,” Chao recalls.

But what stayed with him wasn’t just the physical transformation. It was watching the emotional burden lift. Seeing firsthand how dramatically effective treatment could restore a person’s confidence, well-being, and quality of life changed the trajectory of his career and solidified his commitment to inflammatory disease management.

Throughout those years, Chao has also seen the Dermatology PA profession mature and gain recognition.

He laughs when recalling how often patients used to ask, “So when are you going to medical school?” Early in his career, conversations explaining the PA profession were commonplace. Today, he believes the profession has earned a level of respect and acceptance that simply did not exist 25 years ago.

“Looking back, it is remarkable to see how far Physician Assistants—particularly in Dermatology—have come in such a relatively short period of time,” he says.

His own professional growth has been closely tied to the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. Chao attended the very first SDPA meeting in New Orleans in 2001, where only about 60 dermatology PAs gathered. He remembers meeting fellow attendee Kristine Kucera—who would later become SDPA President and remains a close friend—and witnessing firsthand the early momentum of a profession finding its voice.

What began as a small gathering has evolved into a nationally recognized organization that has helped shape the identity of Dermatology PAs through education, mentorship, advocacy, and community.

“I am proud to be part of a profession represented by such a strong and well-organized organization,” he says. “The SDPA had a direct impact on me being on the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.”

For newer DermPAs entering the field today, Chao understands the challenges they face. The volume of knowledge can feel overwhelming, from diverse disease states and patient presentations to the growing number of biologics and targeted therapies available.

His advice is simple: stay curious, embrace quality educational resources, and never stop learning.

“Dermatology is a lifelong learning process,” he says. “No one masters it overnight.”

When he’s not seeing patients, teaching, or speaking at conferences, Chao’s life revolves around family. For the past 16 years, much of his free time has been spent supporting his three children through travel sports and academic pursuits. He has also served as President of the Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants and continues to contribute to educational initiatives nationwide.

And if there is one thing colleagues quickly learn about him outside of dermatology, it is his passion for college football.

“I will always bleed orange and blue,” he says of his beloved Florida Gators.

Beneath the professional accomplishments, however, is a personal story rooted in grit and perseverance. His grandparents fled dictatorship in Spain in the 1930s, and years later his family escaped communist Cuba in search of freedom and opportunity in the United States. Arriving with little more than faith and determination, they built a new life through hard work and sacrifice.

Those experiences shaped the values Chao carries with him today—both in medicine and in life.

Resilience. Persistence. Gratitude.

They are values he hopes to pass along to his own children and to the clinicians he mentors.

Asked to name his favorite skincare ingredient, Chao chooses multi-weight hyaluronic acid, a versatile ingredient he believes remains underappreciated despite its ability to support hydration and skin barrier health.

But when asked for a single word that defines his approach to patient care, he doesn’t hesitate.

Relentless.

After 26 years of treating patients, advancing education, advocating for the PA profession, and helping move dermatology forward, it is a word that seems to fit perfectly.