Laura Bush, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, Appointed Next President of SDPA

Laura Bush, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

The Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) recently announced the appointment of Laura Bush, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, as the next president of the society. The Georgia-based physician assistant will serve as president and lead the nine-member board of directors for one year.¹

Before dermatology, Bush worked as a physician assistant in emergency medicine and family practice. She has been active in other organizations including the Georgia Dermatology PAs and the Dermatology PA Foundation.

In an interview with Dermatology Times®, Bush shared what she is looking forward to as the new SDPA president, the goals she aims to achieve, how advanced practice providers can support a health care team, and what she’s passionate about in dermatology.

Dermatology Times: What are you looking forward to most during your one-year term as the SDPA president?

Bush: I look forward to working as a team with all the board members, committee chairs, committee members, and staff to provide excellent innovative learning opportunities for our peers and advance our profession through education, policy, and communication support. Our team has vast expertise. Together, we can accomplish so much. It is exciting to grow the organization together.

Dermatology Times: What are some of the goals you are hoping to accomplish in the following year?

Bush: Some of my goals include:

• To invest in people, develop leadership. 
• Expand creative offerings, including new online courses. 
• Update the Diplomate program, including an improved learning platform. 
• Showcase a unique professional development pre-day. 
• Institute a DEI committee and Ethics Committee 
• Expand legislative initiatives.
• Communicate with our state affiliates.
• Continue to support and improve the reach of the JDPA and PA scholars (support regional workshop) 
• Increase our SDPA membership to over 5000 members, as there is power in numbers for our dermPA profession.
• Expand the newly formed communications committee to support increased visibility of SDPA.

Dermatology Times: What is one thing you wish other dermatology professionals knew about physician assistants and advanced practice providers? 

Bush: We want them to know about our education and that we are all part of the healthcare team and committed to providing excellent, up-to-date patient care. 

Dermatology Times: What are you most passionate about in the field of dermatology?

Bush: How interesting dermatology is, as it pulls in so many other areas of medicine. We constantly learn and can build upon that knowledge to help many people. Serving my fellow Derm PAs as president of this wonderful organization is a privilege. It is an excellent opportunity to give back to a profession that has given me so much.

Bush is an experienced and accomplished physician assistant with a remarkable career spanning over 31 years. Laura has been a practicing DermPAat Fayette Area Dermatology in Fayetteville, Georgia, for the past 16 years, where she cares for the dermatologic needs of patients within her community.

Reference

1. Established Georgia dermPA becomes SDPA’s board president. Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants News. July 3, 2023. Accessed July 10, 2023. https://www.dermpa.org/news/645045/Established-Georgia-DermPA-Becomes-SDPAs-Board-President.htm