News
President's Column | November 2026
From the President: Building on Our Foundation, Embracing What’s Next
As November arrives and we enter the final stretch of 2026, it is amazing to see how much our profession continues to evolve and how important it is to recognize the foundation that has brought us to where we are today.
When I first entered dermatology, my world largely revolved around skin cancer, Mohs surgery, and the multidisciplinary collaboration necessary to provide exceptional patient care. I could not have anticipated how much our specialty would evolve or how much my own clinical interests would expand alongside it. Over time, my interests grew into complex medical dermatology, biologics, and advanced therapies that have fundamentally changed what we can offer our patients. Like many of you, I’ve experienced firsthand how quickly our specialty is advancing and how much there is still to learn. What I’ve come to appreciate is that growth often requires us to embrace change, challenge what we know, and remain open to new opportunities. And while the therapies, technologies, and clinical approaches continue to evolve, one thing remains constant: the value of learning from one another.
That is what makes SDPA so important to me.
As your president, I want SDPA to be more than an organization we belong to. SDPA should be your professional home where all dermatology PAs feel connected, represented, and supported throughout every stage of their careers. An organization that builds on its strong foundation while creating new opportunities for members to grow, contribute, and help shape the future of our profession.
More Than a Conference
This month, we have an incredible opportunity to bring that vision to life as we gather in Hollywood, Florida, for our 2026 Fall Conference, DermScape.
From biologics and targeted therapies to emerging diagnostic technologies and artificial intelligence, our specialty is advancing at an extraordinary pace. Dermatology PAs are not simply witnessing these changes. We are actively helping translate scientific innovation into meaningful improvements in patient care. Our clinical experiences, perspectives, and cross-specialty relationships position us to make important contributions to the future of dermatology. These advancements also introduce important questions about treatment selection, patient access, clinical workflows, and how we incorporate innovation into everyday practice. I believe these are exactly the conversations our members should be having together.
Our conferences provide outstanding clinical education, but their value extends well beyond the lecture halls. Some of the most meaningful exchanges happen between sessions, over coffee, or while reconnecting with colleagues. We learn how others approach difficult cases, navigate treatment barriers, and integrate new therapies into their practices. Whether your focus is medical dermatology, skin cancer, surgery, aesthetics, or a combination of these areas, sharing our different perspectives and experiences holds tremendous value.
As we prepare for DermScape, I encourage each of you to approach this conference with intention. Introduce yourself to someone new. Share an idea. Ask questions. Consider getting involved in a committee or taking the next step in your professional development. And if you see someone attending alone, take a moment to welcome them. That simple gesture may have a greater impact than you realize.
Building for the Future
While we prepare to come together in Florida, your Board of Directors continues working to strengthen SDPA and position our organization for the years ahead. We recently welcomed Affinity Strategies as our new association management partner, an important step in supporting our operations and long-term growth. Our focus remains on what matters most to our members: delivering high-quality education, expanding professional development opportunities, strengthening engagement, and ensuring dermatology PAs continue to have a meaningful voice in the future of healthcare and practice at the top of their licenses.
As the clinical landscape evolves, SDPA has an important opportunity to help members navigate the intersection of clinical innovation and real-world practice. Our members bring valuable firsthand experience to these conversations, and we should continue creating opportunities for those perspectives to be heard. I believe the success of SDPA should be measured not simply by what we accomplish as an organization, but by the value we create for our members and the opportunities we help make possible.
Board Member Spotlight: Jameka McElroy
This month, I am pleased to recognize Jameka McElroy, MSPAS, PA-C, our SDPA Vice President.
In her column, Playing the Fourth Quarter, Jameka shares a personal reflection on change, growth, and the importance of finishing strong. Drawing on her experience as a former collegiate athlete, she reminds us that the fourth quarter can require different approaches. Sometimes we protect what we’ve built, sometimes we make bold decisions, and sometimes we simply need to slow down and finish with intention.
Jameka also shares how her own SDPA journey began in 2019, when she attended her first conference in Washington, D.C., entirely on her own. As a relatively new dermatology PA, she was looking for education, professional connections, and a community where she belonged. What she found was an organization that welcomed her, encouraged her ideas, and provided opportunities to grow.
That experience eventually led her to serve in the House of Delegates, contribute to conference planning, and join the Board of Directors, where she now serves as Vice President. Her journey is a wonderful example of how simply showing up and becoming involved can lead to meaningful opportunities and lasting professional relationships.
I particularly appreciate Jameka’s perspective on servant leadership and her commitment to being a strong advocate and responsible steward for our members. I am grateful for her dedication to SDPA and the thoughtful leadership she brings to our organization!
Finishing Strong, Together
As we approach the final weeks of 2026, I am excited about where we are headed, both as an organization and as a profession.
One of the things I appreciate most about dermatology is that there is always something new to learn. Even after years in practice, I continue asking questions, exploring new approaches, and learning from colleagues whose experiences differ from my own. I believe that same curiosity and willingness to grow should help guide SDPA forward.
Jameka closes her column with a question worth reflecting on: How will you play your fourth quarter?
Perhaps it means protecting the foundation you’ve worked hard to build. Maybe it’s time to take a chance, share an idea, volunteer for a committee, or introduce yourself to someone attending their first SDPA conference. Or perhaps it’s simply taking a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come and finishing the year with intention.
For me, it means continuing to listen, strengthening the relationships that make our organization special, and working alongside our Board and members to ensure SDPA remains a professional home where every dermatology PA feels welcome and has an opportunity to contribute.
As we gather in Hollywood, I hope we remember that the value of our organization extends beyond the education we receive. It is found in the connections we make, the colleagues we support, and the opportunities we create for the next generation of dermatology PAs.
Our profession is evolving, our opportunities are expanding, and SDPA has an important role to play in shaping that future.
I look forward to seeing many of you in Hollywood, hearing your perspectives, and continuing to build an organization that reflects the strength, expertise, and aspirations of its members.
Thank you for everything you do for your patients, your colleagues, and our profession.
Let’s finish this year with intention, celebrate what we’ve built, and remain ambitious about what we can accomplish together.
Andrew Baker, MPA, MBA, PA-C
President, Society of Dermatology Physician Associates
