Leadership Awards

To honor its exceptional volunteers and leaders, the SDPA selects three to five individuals annually to recognize and highlight for their excellence and dedication to the Society. The awards change from year to year in number and title based on outstanding leadership in different areas. In general, awards presented are: Outstanding Board Member of the Year, Outstanding Committee Chair of the Year, Outstanding Committee Member of the Year and Board Service Award.

Congratulations to all winners! As a reminder, SDPA is always looking for members who are interested in volunteering for one of its many committees. Volunteering is a great way to network, develop leadership skills and invest in the future of the DermPA™ profession. Consider volunteering today! Please see our winners below.

2023-2024 Award Winners

• Committee Member of the Year: Michael Rubio, MPAS, PA-C
• Committee Chair of the Year: Cynthia Griffith, MPAS, PA-C
• Board Member of the Year: Laura Bush, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA
• Board Service to SDPA: Holly Glover, MSed, MPAS, MBA, PA-C
• Service as SDPA President: Laura Bush, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA
• Service as DPAF Chair: Renata Block, MMS, PA-C
• SDPA Lifetime Member: Esther Cohen, PA-C
• SDPA Lifetime Member: Travis Hayden, MPAS, PA-C
• SDPA Lifetime Member: Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C

2022-2023 Award Winners

• Outstanding Committee Member: Desiree Morrison, PA-C
• Outstanding Committee Chair: Jameka McElroy, MPAS, PA-C
• Outstanding Board Member: Sarah Vicari, MMS, PA-C

2021-2022 Award Winners

• Outstanding Committee Member: Kristen Kuhn, MPAS, PA-C
• Outstanding Committee Chair: Melissa Hutzler, PA-C
• Outstanding Board Member: Kristin Rygg, MPAS, PA-C
• Board Service Award: Keri Squittieri, PA-C
• President 2021-22: Renata Block, MMS, PA-C

2020-2021 Award Winners

• Board Member of the Year: Sarah Wilchowski, MS, PA-C
• Committee Chair of the Year: Francesca Wolfe, MPAS, PA-C
• Committee Member of the Year: Victoria Maloney, MPAS, PA-C

2017-2018 Award Winners

Immediate Past President, Jennifer Conner had the honor of presenting leader awards during the SDPA's Annual Summer Dermatology Conference in Seattle, Washington June 29, 2018. Leaders are nominated and voted as winner for awards anonymously by their SDPA peers. Each of our leaders contributes countless hours of their personal time to ensure the SDPA remains the top advocate furthering the field of dermatology PAs. 

Outstanding Board Member of the Year: Gina Mangin

The winner of this year’s SDPA Board Member of the Year is recognized as working tirelessly for the organization over the last year, volunteering for many projects that required extra time and attention, while also learning new skills. This board member has proven to be a fair, conscientious, and integrity-driven leader who commands the same of those who lead with them. They continue to strive for our organization to grow and become the best it can be. Please congratulate the 2018 Board Member of the Year – Gina Mangin.

Outstanding Committee Chair of the Year: Keri Holyoak

The winner of this year’s SDPA Committee Chair of the Year is in the trenches, working hard every single day to put on the very best conferences for PAs in dermatology. Their passion shows in the success we continue to enjoy with our conferences year after year. This committee chair’s dedication to conference innovations, the organization and success of conference advisory boards, maintaining relationships with faculty and taking care of members speak volumes about their dedication to the committee goals and our membership as a whole. Please congratulate the 2018 Committee Chair of the Year – Keri Holyoak.

2018

• Board Member of the Year: Gina Mangin
• Committee Chair of the Year: Keri Holyoak

2017

• Board Member of the Year: Archana Sangha
• Committee Chair of the Year: Kristen Grippe & Jennifer Winter
• Committee Member of the Year: Susan Hammerling

2016

• Board Member of the Year: Jennifer Conner
• Committee Chair of the Year: Lauren Zajac
• Committee Member of the Year: Gina Deblasio

2015

• Committee Chair of the Year: Gina Bird

2014

• Board Member of the Year: Jacki Kment & Jennifer Conner

• • Committee Chair of the Year: Archana Sangha

SDPA is pleased to honor and recognize affiliate chapters for outstanding leadership and service to the dermatology PA profession. From 2016 to 2018, SDPA awarded winning chapters with a $1,000 grant to support their continued efforts to lead the dermatology field in their local region. Check out some of the previous winners.

2018 State Affiliate of the Year: Florida Society of Dematology Physician Assistants (FSDPA)

Immediate Past President awarded the 2018 State Affiliate of the Year award to the Florida Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (FSDPA) for their hard work and tireless efforts to support members and dermatology PAs in the state of Florida. FSDPA was recognized for their contributions to the fields of public awareness, membership activities and growth, connections to their AAPA state chapter, and legislative outreach. Most of all FSDPA was proud of their recent growth is charitable activities. They held their inaugural Cyclebar Charitable Fundraiser contributing funds towards the National Alopecia and Areata Foundation (NAAF) this past year. Additionally they spiced up their evening activities and events hosting a "Hair Nation" Extravaganza where members sported wigs, crazy hairdo's and 80's outfits to support the NAAF further. Congrats on your achievements Florida!

Previous SDPA State Affiliates of the Year:

• 2017: Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants (GDPA)
• 2016: Pennsylvania Dermatology Physician Assistants (PDPA)
• 2015: Georgia Dermatology Physician Assistants (GDPA)
• 2014: Florida Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (FSDPA)

In 2015 during the SDPA's 20th Anniversary Celebration in Indianapolis, the SDPA award Lifetime Achievement Awards to four unique individual who have contributed significantly throughout their lifetimes to the field of dermatology and that of PAs in dermatology specifically. Each of our honorees have put countless hours and tireless dedication into further goals in alignment with the SDPA's mission and vision and are true assets to the field of dermatology. Lifetime achievement award winners include:

• Abby Jacobson, MPAS, PA-C
• Robert Higham, MPAS, PA-C
• Jim Page, PA-C
• Steven Frank, MD