For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Alicia Quella, Director of Communications
email: [email protected]
phone: 470-682-5111

Johns Creek, Ga, March 20, 2023 – researchers from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) helped co-author the study, Characteristics of Physician Associates/Assistants in Dermatology¹ in the Archives of Dermatological Research.

The dermatology workforce includes physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician associates/assistants (PAs). The number of dermatologists is growing slowly while the growth of PAs working in dermatology is rapid and accelerating. NCCPA data was used to develop a study to understand the characteristics of PAs practicing in dermatology.

Griffith et al, reported that as of 2021, 4,580 Board Certified PAs reported practicing in dermatology – a nearly twofold increase since 2013, when 2,323 PAs worked in the specialty. The median age of this cohort was 39 years, and 82% were female. Almost all (91.5%) were office-based and 81% worked more than 31 hours per week. The median salary was $125,000. Dermatology PAs work fewer hours and see more patients than PAs in other specialties. At the same time, dermatology PAs are more satisfied and less burned out compared to all other PAs.

Understanding PA characteristics and employment settings is essential for research on health workforce supply and demand. The increased number of PAs selecting dermatology as their discipline can help lessen the projected physician shortage in this field.

For more information, visit https://www.nccpa.net/resources/nccpa-research/

1. Griffith, C, Young, P, Hooker, R, Puckett, K, Kozikowski, A. Characteristics of physician associates/assistants in dermatology. Arch Dermatol Res(2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02593-7

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