A strategic plan in action

As we reflect on our journey together, I am reminded of the words of Peter Drucker, the renowned management theorist, who stated, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” This principle resonates deeply with our mission at the Society of Dermatology Physician Associates (SDPA). Effective leadership requires making informed decisions that prioritize the long-term health of our organization, and this has guided my presidency since being elected 2 years ago. In preparing for this role, I immersed myself in books about leadership, non-profit management, and organizational development. These resources were invaluable; however, nothing could truly prepare me for the daily influx of emails! One critical realization emerged: every organization experiences a life cycle. At a pivotal moment in our history, we faced the choice of either adapting to a rapidly changing environment or adhering to traditional methods that could hinder our progress. As we celebrated our 30th anniversary, I recognized the importance of setting a course that would ensure our continued success for the next 30 years. This past year has been one of significant growth and change, and I am incredibly proud of our amazing volunteer leaders and staff for their hard work and commitment. The future shines bright for the SDPA, which is YOUR professional home dedicated to supporting and advocating for all our members and the DermPA community. Planning, Organizing, Staffing Under Drucker’s first 3 principles of business, last year, our leadership team engaged in a strategic reevaluation of our organization in light of the current landscape. We asked ourselves: What does the SDPA truly represent? Who do we serve, and what are their needs? What challenges do we face, and how can we overcome them? Where do we envision ourselves in 10 years, and how do we lay the groundwork to achieve that vision? These were complex questions that required thoughtful, objective answers. We are not the same organization as we were 30 years ago, nor is our practice landscape; the needs of our members have evolved over time. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for fostering effective growth and communication. As a result of this exercise, we redefined our vision, mission, and core values, establishing 4 key pillars—Knowledge, Advocacy, Leadership, and Engagement—under which all SDPA initiatives now fall. Moving forward, we developed a 3-year strategic plan with actionable items aimed at meeting the needs of our DermPA members each year. A critical component of our plan was recognizing the need for a staffing strategy to effectively implement these initiatives. By reinvesting membership dollars, we’ve created positions such as Director of Advocacy and Membership, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing, and Vice President of Education and Meetings, along with additional support staff. This commitment to investing in our members makes the SDPA truly unique; we exist solely to support all DermPAs throughout their professional journey. Leading Leadership is where our vision comes into play. You may have noticed a shift in the SDPA’s culture, as I aspire to create an environment that embodies selfless, visionary leadership. Drucker once remarked, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” and fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency has been paramount. This begins with a group of leaders that embody the principles of duty of loyalty, duty of care, and duty of obedience, the legal obligations that require board members to act in the organization’s best interests. This, coupled with movement into the shared governance model, a model considered to be best practice for non-profit boards, that promotes collaborative decision-making between volunteer board members and professional staff, sets our organization up for success. These modifications position the SDPA to accomplish tangible objectives on the strategic plan and truly get things done for its members! I believe that a strategic plan should be filled with actionable items and not function as a vision board created through pontification. By having servant leaders and embracing a shared governance model, we facilitate collaborative decision-making between our board members and professional staff, ensuring that we meet our strategic objectives effectively. Through these changes, we’re providing many exciting new opportunities for our members. We’ve initiated advisory boards to better understand and cater to your needs. Furthermore, we’ve redesigned our website to enhance user experience and modernize our branding. The inaugural Itch Conference marks our first new in-person educational opportunity since the addition of the second annual conference in 2003–2004, and we have completely updated the Diplomate program to reflect the most current content in an engaging format. Our new leadership academy will train members for leadership roles, while the “Emerging Scholars” program, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, has successfully offered grants and graduated 120 early-career dermatology PAs. Additionally, we now offer new membership categories for our NP colleagues and international PAs. I take immense pride in what we’ve collectively achieved this past year, laying the groundwork for our 3-year plan. Controlling “The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create it.” As we embrace Drucker’s principle of controlling, I can confidently state that, while we cannot control every variable, we have laid a robust foundation for our future. We have created an actionable plan, with outcomes that can be measured. With an incredible team of dedicated volunteer leaders and a diligent professional staff, we’ve set a clear path forward. My goal has always been to advocate for our profession and improve the landscape for DermPAs, ensuring that our members have the resources necessary to deliver exceptional patient care. As I conclude my term, I am proud of the progress we’ve made, yet I recognize that our mission continues. I encourage every member to become actively involved in shaping the future of the DermPA profession. My journey with the SDPA has fostered friendships and connections that feel like family—connections I deeply cherish, connections that are truly priceless. Thank you for allowing me the honor to humbly serve as SDPA President. Be proud to be a DermPA. The future is bright!