Conference Preview: SDPA Fall Dermatology Conference 2025

The Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA) is holding the 23rd Annual Fall Dermatology Conference from November 5–9, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. Over the course of this 5-day conference, dermatology physician associates, nurse practitioners, and leading experts will gather to provide attendees with updates spanning inflammatory skin disease, pediatric dermatology, systemic immunology, and recent therapeutic innovations.

SDPA’s Fall Conference continues to expand its multidisciplinary focus, providing those in attendance with sessions crafted to strengthen clinical proficiency and collaborative patient care. Those at the SDPA meeting can expect a program featuring updates in dermatology research, case-based learning, and evidence-based discussions centered on improving outcomes among patients in the field.

HCPLive will be on-site to deliver exclusive interviews with session presenters, daily highlights of recent data presented at the meeting, and practical coverage throughout the conference.

Sessions to Watch:

IMID and Obesity Bootcamp

Date/Time: Wednesday, November 5 | 3:00–5:00 PM CT
Presenters: Laura Bush, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA; Erin Darzugas, NP; Jennifer Hernandez Parra, APRN; Amanda Mixon, PA-C
Overview: The “IMID and Obesity Bootcamp” will launch the meeting with a dynamic, multidisciplinary workshop designed to equip APPs with specialized knowledge for managing immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and obesity. Those in attendance will be taught about clinical strategies that can help to bridge dermatology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, and metabolic medicine, emphasizing patient-centered, integrated approaches to complex chronic disease management.

Lifestyle in Skin Health and Disease

Date/Time: Thursday, November 6 | 9:15–10:05 AM CT
Presenter: Heather Goff, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Dermatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Overview: In this talk at SDPA, Goff will explore the impact of diet, hormones, sleep, exercise, and lifestyle on skin health and disease. Goff will describe how modifiable behaviors shape inflammation, repair, and immune regulation, thereby providing attendees with practical insights for counseling patients on lifestyle options that support dermatologic and systemic wellness.

The ABC’s of Genetic Disorders of the Skin: Guidelines for Recognition and When to Refer

Date/Time: Thursday, November 6 | 10:20–11:10 AM CT
Presenter: Yasmine Kirkorian, MD, Chief, Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Children’s National Hospital
Overview: In this session, Kirkorian is slated to review common genetic syndromes with cutaneous manifestations, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and tuberous sclerosis. She will highlight diagnostic hallmarks that should prompt the referral of patients to genetics or specialty clinics. The session is designed to help attendees to gain a framework for recognizing dermatologic clues that signal multisystem disorders requiring early multidisciplinary intervention.

Hyperpigmentation

Date/Time: Thursday, November 6 | 11:35 AM–12:00 PM CT
Presenter: Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, FAAD, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Founder, DermFriends
Overview: This talk will examine hyperpigmentation across diverse skin types, reviewing the etiologies, challenges for treatment, and emerging therapies beyond traditional hydroquinone. Woolery-Lloyd is set to highlight novel depigmenting agents and their clinical evidence, explore sample skincare regimens, and stress the foundational role of sun protection in long-term outcomes among patients.

It’s Just a Little Different in Peds: Demystifying Complex Pediatric Dermatology Cases

Date/Time: Thursday, November 6 | 3:55–4:45 PM CT
Presenter: Yasmine Kirkorian, MD
Overview: This session will feature Kirkorian addressing complex pediatric dermatologic presentations including RIME, severe drug eruptions, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, eczema herpeticum, and severe atopic dermatitis. In this talk, Kirkorian will highlight red-flag findings, emergency recognition, and best practices for urgent evaluation and referral in pediatric settings.

Difficult Cases & Red Flags in Dermatology: When to Admit From the Clinic

Date/Time: Friday, November 7 | 9:50–10:40 AM CT
Presenter: Kassandra Holzem, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Overview: In this case-based session, Holzem is slated to explore challenging dermatologic presentations that require escalation of care. She will highlight any “red flag” signs for serious illness and will delve into clinical triage strategies and decision-making frameworks, seeking to aid providers in determining when hospitalization is warranted from the outpatient setting.

Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis

Date/Time: Friday, November 7 | 10:40–11:30 AM CT
Presenters: Kenneth Gordon, MD, Professor of Dermatology, and Shikha Singla, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
Overview: In this collaborative session, presenters will highlight treatment strategies for psoriasis in individuals with comorbid conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The session will help to address optimizing patient safety, addressing life quality by applying multidisciplinary coordination to complex psoriasis management.

Advanced Breakout – When a Rash Is More Than Skin Deep: Systemic Mastocytosis Essentials

Date/Time: Friday, November 7 | 2:00–2:50 PM CT
Presenter: Hussein Abbas, MD, PhD
Overview: Early recognition of systemic mastocytosis can significantly improve patient outcomes. During this presentation, Abbas will help to inform dermatology providers about ways to identify cutaneous clues of systemic disease. He will also outline diagnostic pathways, with the session being designed to enhance collaboration with hematology and oncology teams for comprehensive disease management.

The Itch Within: Immune Pathways Driving Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Date/Time: Saturday, November 8 | 9:00–9:50 AM CT
Presenter: Harrison Nguyen, MD, MBA, MPH, FAAD
Overview: This session will feature Nguyen's exploration of the evolving immunopathology of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), focusing on autoimmunity, mast cell dysregulation, and type IIb inflammation. This talk will help to bridge basic science with clinical application, outlining diagnostic tools and therapeutic advances designed to target immune pathways in CSU.

Skin in the Game: Mastering Skin Cancer for the Dermatology PA

Date/Time: Saturday, November 8 | 1:15–2:05 PM CT
Presenter: Shanthi Narla, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology & Director of Adult Derm Clinical Trials, Medical College of Wisconsin
Overview: During this clinically focused session, presenters will empower dermatology PAs with strategies for early recognition, evidence-based diagnosis, and management of skin cancer. Narla will provide an overview of high-risk lesion identification, treatment modalities, and patient education tactics aimed at improving confidence and precision in skin cancer care.

JAKpot: Therapeutic Advantages of JAK Inhibitors in Dermatology

Date/Time: Sunday, November 9 | 9:15–10:05 AM CT
Presenter: Diego Ruiz Dasilva, MD, FAAD
Overview: This talk will provide a deep dive into the efficacy, safety, and comparative advantages of JAK inhibitors in dermatology. Dasilva will review data supporting JAK inhibitors in atopic dermatitis, look into misconceptions related to boxed warnings, and discuss expanding therapeutic roles in management of alopecia areata and psoriasis.

The HCPLive team will deliver comprehensive updates on-site, along with exclusive interviews and recaps of sessions directly from the SDPA 23rd Annual Fall Dermatology Conference in San Antonio.

Editor's note: This summary was edited with the help of AI tools.