Arcutis Corner is a column that will appear in every issue of JCAD NP+PA Perspectives in Dermatology in 2025. The column is supported by Arcutis Biotherapeutics.
by Amber Blair MMS, PA-C, and Melodie Young MSN,A/GNP-c, FSDNP
Ms. Blair is the President Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) at Dermatology, Laser, and Vein Specialists of the Carolinas, Charlotte, North Carolina. Ms. Young is the President Society of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (SDNP) at Mindful Dermatology and Modern Research Associates in Dallas, Texas.
In the past two decades the numbers of dermatology nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates (PAs) have grown tremendously to help meet the demand of the specialty and improve access to patient care. Despite these increasing numbers in the dermatology landscape, it is not yet routine for NPs and PAs to participate in independent or collaborative research projects or submit scholarly work to peer reviewed, indexed journals. Research and scholarly writing are skills that are often underfunded and there is an ongoing educational gap in medicine and nursing outside of academic institutions. Improving patient care and subsequent clinical outcomes is best served by including all of the perspectives of the patient care team. By fostering an environment where NPs and PAs are more involved in research, the dermatology field could see enriched scholarly output potentially leading to innovations in patient care strategies and outcomes.
This month, Amber Blair PA-C, President of the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) and Melodie Young MSN,A/GNP-c, FSDNP, President of Society of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (SDNP) share their perspective on how their societies approach creating opportunities and elevating the scholarly work of their members.
Q: In your opinion, what are the opportunities for engaging more PA/NPs in scientific research?
Amber Blair MMS, PA-C: I truly believe that societies can play a vital role in fostering PAs and NPs to engage in scientific research by highlighting its importance and potential impact on the broader scientific community. At the SDPA, this is succinctly aligned with our mission and supported by our four pillars of Knowledge, Advocacy, Leadership and Engagement. One effective approach is to establish mentorship programs that connect experienced clinicians who have necessary resources and track record of success with those who are just beginning their research journey. We demonstrated this in 2024 by by pairing two classes of Emerging Scholar “Mentees”, with seasoned “mentors” to help guide their path. This structured peer support can provide extremely useful information to newcomers as they navigate the complexities of research.
Melodie S. Young MSN,A/GNP-c, FSDNP: The Society of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners’ core pillars include specialty certification, clinical research, and scholarly writing. At the national meeting, we offer support and mentoring for submission of case studies via posters and presentations and highlight them at the meeting and on our website. Additionally, we have the George Martin Scholarship fund, which is dedicated to supporting NP scholarly work (research and publications). At our national meeting, we will launch our first ever Emerging Scholars program, that focuses on the development of new to practice NP’s. It is part of our core mission to elevate our profession to have a seat at the academic scientific dermatology table. If you are interested in getting involved with the society or would like to find a mentor please visit: https://sdnp.memberclicks.net.
Q: What have your organizations done to highlight these opportunities and raise participation in scientific research?
Amber Blair MMS, PA-C: The SDPA board’s recent strategic planning process identified increasing PA involvement in research as a top priority with plans now in place for the next several years to focus on increasing participation. We understand that research and medical writing can be very daunting, but we want the collective PA and NP community to feel comfortable, educated and supported in taking that step. We have plans to bring education and highlight opportunities at both our in person and virtual events by providing sessions and workshops focused on research with the goal to rapidly increase participation. Continuing to provide and support opportunities for NPs and PAs to collaborate together in research is another great opportunity. Finally, supporting and contributing research articles to a variety of peer reviewed journals including JCAD NP+PA Perspectives in Dermatology and the Journal of Dermatology for PAs will help elevate awareness of the valuable contributions PAs and NPs make to the scientific body of knowledge. This increased visibility will highlight the contributions but also hopefully encourage increased participation in research and scholarly activities.
Melodie S. Young MSN,A/GNP-c, FSDNP: The SDNP welcomes and encourages student membership in our organization. Creating interest in the profession and encouraging scholarly activities while pursuing their educational goals benefits both the student the profession. The SDNP has a focus group that is dedicated to enhancing the family nurse practitioner (FNP) curriculum across academic institutions. This a passion of mine and will be focus after my year as SDNP President.
Q: What is your message to PAs and NPs interested in making scientific research a priority in their clinical practice activities?
Amber Blair MMS, PA-C: The time is now for our specialty, for our careers, and for our patients. I think we are at a critical point in healthcare, and it is crucial that we have a voice and demonstrate our thirst for education and level of expertise. This will testify to our commitment to dermatology, to our patients, and our ability to be an integral part of research, contributing to the scientific body of knowledge. We have many colleagues that are already trailblazing this path, it’s time for many others to follow their footsteps!
Melodie S. Young MSN,A/GNP-c, FSDNP: Do not let the unknown intimidate you. The SDNP leadership and its’ members house experts that are willing to mentor you on your scholarly interests. Apply for a scholarship, join the society, and come to the national meeting to network with your peers.