Looking Back at Highlights From 2024 PA & NP Conferences

The many 2024 dermatology conferences for physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) highlighted the diverse challenges and breakthroughs shaping clinical practice. From pediatric dermatology pearls shared by Karan Lal, DO, at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference, to advanced strategies in treating seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis, these conferences offered invaluable insights.

Sessions at the Maui Derm NP+PA Fall Conference, Elevate-Derm West Conference, and Society of Dermatology Physician Associates Fall Conference emphasized innovation, education, and practical applications for emerging therapies. With experts exploring topics such as immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities, hyperpigmentation treatments, and the evolving role of medical science liaisons, each conference showcased the integral role of PAs and NPs in advancing dermatologic care.

Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference for PAs & NPs

2024 Pediatric Pearls With Karan Lal, DO

In pediatric dermatology, it is crucial to recognize that children are not simply smaller versions of adults; their physiological responses and psychological experiences can differ significantly. Karan Lal, DO, the first and only dual fellowship-trained pediatric and cosmetic dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona, presented his top 5 pediatric dermatology pearls from unique cases he has encountered this year at the 2024 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference for PAs and NPs. He delves into each pearl in an interview with Dermatology Times.

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Unraveling the Advancements in Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment

“Bottom line, if you see seborrheic dermatitis, treat it. Maybe it's not all about the yeast and there's a bit more to this story, and it's time we ask some of the tough questions,” said Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, FAAD, associate professor at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and the founding director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research, and Dermatology Times' 2024 Fall Editor in Chief, as he summarized his take-home pearls in a few words. At the 2024 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference for PAs and NPs, he presented the session "How Seb D Got Its Groove Back," which delved into the often overlooked realm of seborrheic dermatitis, affectionately referred to as 'Seb D' by Chovatiya.

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Maui Derm NP+PA Fall Conference

Picking the Perfect Atopic Dermatitis Therapy with Matthew Zirwas, MD

Matthew Zirwas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based at DOCS Dermatology in Columbus, Ohio, presented on contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and recent literature at the Maui Derm NP+PA Fall meeting in Nashville. Zirwas spoke with Dermatology Times about new and upcoming therapies including JAK inhibitors, the newly FDA-approved lebrikizumab, and OX40s.

To start the discussion, Zirwas talked about the misconception that dupilumab increases the risk of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). He stated that the risk is very low, with 1 in 600 patients diagnosed with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis having CTCL. “I'm 100% comfortable saying the dupilumab does not cause CTCL,” he said. Dupilumab can clear reactive dermatitis, making CTCL diagnosable, but Zirwas underlined that there is no evidence linking dupilumab to CTCL.

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Melodie Young, MSN, ANP-c: Key Psoriasis Treatment Advances for Pediatric Patients

Although it would make treatment a lot easier, children and adolescents are not just “tiny adults,” and instead present unique challenges and considerations for dermatology providers. Children and adolescents with psoriasis, historically, have had few options for treatment and most medications that were in the toolbox were used off-label.

In her talk at Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2024, Melodie Young, MSN, ANP-c, of Mindful Dermatology in Dallas, Texas, shared treatment updates for this group, detailed the difference in disease manifestation between adults and children, and urged her colleagues to avoid topical corticosteroids at all costs.

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Elevate-Derm West Conference

Insights from Jason Hawkes, MD, MS, on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

At the Elevate Derm West Conference, Jason Hawkes, MD, MS, an investigator at the Oregon Medical Research Center, joined James Song, MD, FAAD, to discuss the growing overlap between oncology and dermatology, particularly regarding the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In their session, they explored the mechanisms, challenges, and management of dermatological toxicities associated with these groundbreaking cancer therapies.

Hawkes explained that ICIs work by blocking inhibitory immune pathways, effectively "activating" the immune system to target cancer cells. However, this heightened immune activity often triggers unintended skin-related adverse events, including new or worsened autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and bullous pemphigoid. He said dermatology clinicians must now be prepared to recognize and manage these toxicities, even if they aren't directly prescribing ICIs.

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Latest Laser and Skincare Innovations for Hyperpigmentation with Suneel Chilukuri, MD, FAAD, FACMS

In one of his presentations at the 5th Annual Elevate-Derm West Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, Suneel Chilukuri, MD, FAAD, FACMS, covered the latest updates in hyperpigmentation. During his session, Chilukuri covered effective laser techniques for treating hyperpigmentation, in-office and at home tools for care, and shared pearls on current research into the topic.

"What can we do to really change our patients' lives? There's so much more that we have now. We have better sunscreens. It's not just about using a tinted sunscreen for those patients who have melasma, but what other ingredients are inside there? Can we stop the heat shock protein? We know there are 2 different sunscreens right now that can actually stop the heat shock protein. One is an ingredient called physalis angulata, and the other 1 is actually from a company that just came out last year, and they're using something called pycnogenol that will stop that heat shock protein," said Chilukuri.

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Society of Dermatology Physician Associates Fall Conference

From Clinic to Industry: Insights Into the MSL Role and PA Advocacy

“I cannot stress enough to collaborate with your current MSLs, because it not only helps you understand the role, but it helps you to better serve your patients,” said Sara Wilchowski, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, in an interview with Dermatology Times at the 2024 Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wilchowski, a board-certified physician associate and a medical science liaison in Detroit, Michigan, presented “The Ins and Outs of Being an MSL” and “Strategic Supplement Strategies for the Derm PA” at the 22nd annual conference. In her interview, Wilchowski also discussed the crucial role of SDPA in providing comprehensive education to its members, as well as upcoming dermatology innovations in 2025.

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Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, Shares Expert Acne and Pediatric Dermatology Insights

“We want dermatology PAs to know that sometimes it's not enough to just prescribe one topical generic medication. If we are going to use combination therapy, we really want to try to check each one of those 4 pillars of acne pathogenesis when creating regimens for our patients with acne,” said Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, in an interview with Dermatology Times at the 2024 Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) Fall Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Miranti, a board-certified physician assistant at Riverchase Dermatology in Naples, Florida, and Dermatology Times’ Summer 2024 Editor in Chief, kicked off the conference on the first day in a collaborative session with Hilary Baldwin, MD, medical director of the SDPA conference, to discuss “Acne Insights: Expert Strategies and Solutions From the Pros.” Later in the week, Miranti presented “Pediatric Dermatology: Basics, Tips & Tricks.”

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