National Physician Assistant Week Recap

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National Physician Assistant Week was October 6-12, and Dermatology Times featured recent content by or about leading dermatology physician assistants on social media throughout the week. Read below for a recap of physician assistant spotlights.

Renata Block, MMS, PA-C: Reviewing Summer Rashes: How Providers Can Spot and Treat

Long summer days mean spending more time outdoors, which can also increase the risk of summer rashes, something all providers have experienced at least once, if not more, in the dermatology clinic. From bug bites to poison ivy, the skin can be exposed to a large spectrum of trouble while patients spend extended time outside. The issue is that these reactions can take patients by surprise, as some can be delayed and not noticed immediately. However, some reactions can be life-threatening with symptoms such as lips, tongue, and throat swelling, difficulty breathing, muscle spasms, or irregular heart palpitations, and should be treated immediately in the emergency room.

Sydney Givens, PA-C, Reviews How to Discuss Cosmeceuticals With Patients

"The good news is that on social media, there's a whole community of dermatologyNPs, PAs, and dermatologists that are combating the one-sidedness of skin care marketing, and you could say influencers that are being paid to talk about products. You can easily search and find many on social media, especially Instagram and YouTube. But that is actually how I came to talk about this topic, because I started posting about products that my patients were trying so I could understand," said Givens.

Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, Shares Insights on Newly Approved VP-102 for Molluscum Contagiosum

"Molluscum contagiosum is a very common associated viral condition that affects 6 million Americans, the majority of those being children, teens, and young adults. As of very recently, we have never had an FDA-approved treatment option for this very persistent, very stubborn skin condition. Until now, we finally have our very first FDA-approved product, Ycanth, which was known as VP-102, which is a drug-device combination product that applies a very small, precise amount of cantharidin and a surgical dye and is applied in office to the patient’s lesions. We can very specifically treat the individual raised bumps," said Miranti.

DEF and SDPA Partner to Emphasize Cardiovascular Health for World Heart Day

World Heart Day was September 29th, and the Dermatology Education Foundation (DEF) and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) are partnering together to emphasize the importance of caregivers and health care professionals prioritizing their cardiovascular health. DEF and SDPA are encouraging nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in dermatology to take control of their cardiovascular health, while supporting and encouraging their peers to do the same.

Countdown to SDPA Fall: Reviewing the Top 10 Headlines From SDPA Summer

Are you reminiscing on your summer travels, particularly your time in Boston at this summer's Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) conference? Perhaps you missed the conference but are looking forward to the group's annual fall conference set to take place in Nashville, Tennessee.

With registration for the October meeting underway, Dermatology Times is looking back at 10 of our top headlines from the summer conference, including interviews with leading dermatology experts, session coverage, study results, and more.

Maximizing Care With Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

Honing in on the expertise of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) provides an opportunity to make dermatologic care more accessible. Recently, we have had the pleasure of attending conferences equipping NPs and PAs to serve patients with innovative treatments and solutions in dermatology. Regarding the 2023 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference for PAs and NPs in Orlando, Florida, Neal Bhatia, MD, director of clinical dermatology at Therapeutics Clinical Research in San Diego, California, shared the value of having a PA on his team to collaborate and allow him more time to focus on high-level tasks.

For more content from physician assistants and advanced practice providers, click here.