Expanding NP and PA Opportunities in Dermatology Practice

“Include us in ad boards. Include us in publishing. Include us in poster creation. We want to be able to do all the things that our MD counterparts are doing. We’re not trying to be them, but we want to rub shoulders with them. We want to have the same chances to grow professionally that they have,” Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C, said in an interview with Dermatology Times at the Horizons in Advanced Practice meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DiRuggiero, a dermatology physician assistant (PA) at the Skin Cancer & Cosmetic Dermatology Center in Rome, Georgia, with 25 years of experience in medical and surgical dermatology, shared insights from his experience as a cochair of Horizons in Advanced Practice. According to DiRuggiero, the meeting served as a platform for dermatology nurse practitioners (NPs) and PAs to engage in meaningful dialogue as well as highlighted collaboration, professional development, and the evolving field of dermatology.

“It was such an honor to be part of this Horizons event today,” DiRuggiero said. He spoke highly of his copresenters Lakshi Aldredge, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP, FAANP, and Omar Noor, MD, FAAD, describing them as “excellent folks, great facilitators, and educators” dedicated to improving patient care.

Case-Based Learning and Collaboration

DiRuggiero led 2 case discussions—one focused on psoriasis and the other on atopic dermatitis. He emphasized the interactive nature of the sessions, where participants exchanged ideas and developed clinical pearls. “What I liked about this session is that the case reports I was reporting, the other groups were not doing the same,” he noted. This approach ensured diverse discussions and kept participants engaged when reconvening in the larger group.

He highlighted the importance of creating platforms that encourage dermatology NPs and PAs to share their perspectives and contribute to the broader dermatology community. “Continue to allow NPs and PAs to have a seat at the table,” DiRuggiero urged.

The Role of Industry in Empowering Clinicians

Industry support was another key focus of the discussion. DiRuggiero emphasized the value of pharmaceutical companies that engage with clinicians and provide patient educational materials. “The best industry company out there is the one that’s engaged with the people prescribing their medication, empowering them to be able to use the medication to find the right patient,” he said.

Encouraging Professional Growth Through Publishing

As a passionate advocate for publishing, DiRuggiero encouraged his NP and PA colleagues to seize opportunities to share their clinical experiences. He called on NPs and PAs to write case reports, create series, and collaborate with established dermatology journals. “Once you see something in print, there’s a different type of pride that swells up in you,” he explained. “You’ve shared something with a huge medical community that anyone can access, and that expands your power to change people’s lives and expands your professional development and growth at the same time.”

An Explosive Year Ahead

Looking to 2025, DiRuggiero expressed excitement about dermatology’s rapid advancements. He highlighted upcoming FDA approvals for biologics, OX40 inhibitors, thymic stromal lymphopoietin products, and expanding indications for JAK inhibitors. “The area of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, HS, vitiligo—all these disease states have new topicals, injectables, and orals coming,” he shared.

He encouraged clinicians to stay informed through resources such as Dermatology Times to keep pace with these developments. “If you’re not staying tuned, then you’re falling behind,” he advised. With his enthusiasm and insights, DiRuggiero emphasized the importance of collaboration, education, and innovation in driving the dermatology field forward.