President's Column | September 2026

Sep 2, 2026

From Vision to Action

As we move into fall, I have been thinking about the difference between having a vision and building the systems, relationships, and opportunities necessary to make that vision real.

When I began my term as President, I shared a straightforward goal: SDPA should be the professional home for DermPAs™ 365 days a year—not simply an organization known for two outstanding conferences.

Over the past several weeks, I have been encouraged to see that vision beginning to take shape in very tangible ways.

Finding—and Using—Our Collective Voice

One of the clearest examples is advocacy.

The proposed CY2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule has the potential to significantly affect dermatology practices, clinicians, and patient access. SDPA has responded by engaging national dermatology and PA leaders, mobilizing our members, working with our State Affiliates, and creating opportunities for DermPAs to communicate directly with CMS and members of Congress.

What has been especially meaningful is seeing relationships develop beyond SDPA. We are increasingly finding opportunities to engage organizations and leaders across dermatology and the broader PA profession around issues where our interests align.

That is how I believe SDPA's voice becomes stronger—not by trying to speak louder than everyone else, but by being informed, credible, engaged, and willing to collaborate.

And advocacy cannot belong only to a committee, our staff, or the Board. Our collective voice depends on individual members choosing to use theirs.

Creating More Ways to Belong

We are applying that same philosophy internally.

One of the priorities that emerged from our Leadership Summit this summer was making it easier for members to find meaningful ways to participate in SDPA. At DermScape this November, we will introduce Find Your Fit, giving attendees an opportunity to meet committee leaders, learn what our committees are accomplishing, and explore where their interests and talents might contribute.

We're also continuing to expand professional development across career stages—from opportunities for early-career DermPAs to new programming specifically designed for clinicians further into their careers.

That matters because there should not be one moment in someone's career when SDPA is valuable.

Whether you are a student exploring dermatology, a clinician building confidence in your first few years, an experienced DermPA looking for your next professional challenge, or a seasoned leader ready to mentor others, there should be a place for you here.

Building Toward November—and Beyond

All of this will be visible when we come together in South Florida for DermScape: Charting the Future of Dermatology Together.

Of course, there will be exceptional CME. But I hope members also notice everything being built around the education: leadership development, career resources, volunteer connections, networking, advocacy, mentorship, and new opportunities to engage with one another.

Those experiences are intentional.

Our goal is not simply to create a great four-day conference. It is to use those four days to create relationships and opportunities that continue throughout the other 361.

That is what becoming a professional home looks like.

There is much more ahead. We are continuing to listen to members about what they need from their professional society, strengthen our State Affiliate relationships, examine how SDPA itself should be structured for the future, and ask bigger questions about where dermatology practice is heading.

Some of that work will be immediately visible. Some of the most consequential work may not be.

But all of it should ultimately answer the same question:

Does this make SDPA more valuable to our members and better positioned to advance our profession and the patients we serve?

If the answer is yes, it deserves our attention.

As always, I encourage you to engage with us—not just by attending a meeting, but by sharing an idea, responding to an advocacy alert, connecting with a committee, mentoring a colleague, or simply reaching out.

SDPA becomes stronger when more of our members see themselves as part of building it.

Andrew Baker, MPA, MBA, PA-C
President, Society of Dermatology Physician Associates

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A message from President-Elect, Elizabeth Otter:

 

September has always felt like a season of new beginnings. Even long after we’ve left our own classrooms, there’s something about back-to-school season that encourages us to pause, reflect, and look ahead.

This year, that feeling is especially meaningful in our home. My oldest son is beginning his senior year of high school—a milestone that arrived much faster than I ever imagined. Between the last first day of school, college visits, and thinking about what comes next, I find myself feeling a mix of excitement, pride, nostalgia, and maybe a little uncertainty. It’s a reminder of how quickly time passes and how important it is to appreciate the journey along the way.

As I begin my year as your SDPA President-Elect, I find myself reflecting on my own journey with this organization.

I’ve been a practicing PA for 21 years and an SDPA member since 2008. What began as an opportunity to learn and connect with others who shared my passion for dermatology has grown into something much more meaningful. I’ve had the privilege of serving as a committee member, committee chair, Board member for the past four years, and now as your President-Elect. Along the way, I’ve gained incredible mentors, lifelong friendships, and experiences that have challenged me to grow as both a clinician and a leader. SDPA has truly become a professional home for me.

And as quickly as this year will pass, I know that next September will be here before we know it. I’ll have the honor of serving as your SDPA President while simultaneously sending my oldest son off to college. Two very different milestones, but both representing exciting new chapters and opportunities for growth.

For those I haven’t yet had the chance to meet, I’m a Midwest girl, mom to two teenage boys, and dog mom to Betty and Lola. Outside of work and SDPA, I love hiking, boating, and traveling with my family.

I’m excited to spend this year listening, learning, and preparing to serve you. I hope to connect with many of you along the way and encourage those who haven’t yet found their place within SDPA to get involved. You never know where that first step might lead. I certainly didn’t when I joined in 2008.

Here’s to a new school year, new beginnings, and an exciting year ahead for all of us.

Warmly,

Elizabeth Otter, MPAS, PA-C
President-Elect, Society of Dermatology Physician Associates