President's Column

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.

More Than They Expect

As I reflect on my first month as your SDPA President and on the incredible conversations at our Leadership Summit in Portland, Maine, I find myself returning to an idea that has shaped my leadership: There is remarkable power in giving people more than they expect. That philosophy isn't about doing more for the sake of doing more. 

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.

March always feels like that in‑between month—still winter on the calendar, but you can almost feel everything starting to wake up again. Here in Wisconsin, we’re still dealing with the dry air, the cold wind, and that classic “winter itch” that every DermPA knows all too well. But even with the snow hanging on, there’s a gentle shift in the air. The mornings feel a little brighter, the days stretch just a bit longer, and there’s a quiet sense of renewal that’s hard to ignore.

January is a time of fresh starts—but for many of us in dermatology, it can also feel like a whirlwind. Formularies shift, deductibles reset, and new coding changes loom on the horizon. It’s a lot. And if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

That’s why SDPA is here.