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Amid a growing shortage of dermatologists nationwide, local dermatology physician assistants Maham Siddiqui and Zara Meadows are filling the gap in two Northern Virginia medical offices.
Siddiqui and Meadows are helping skin cancer patients by expanding access to care, shortening appointment wait times, and relieving physicians’ workloads and schedules.
In January 2023, the National Institutes of Health reported about 3.4 dermatologists per 100,000 people, lower than the four they said were needed to provide adequate dermatology care in communities. The report noted that a shortage of dedicated dermatology care puts patients at risk of delayed diagnosis and treatment for conditions, including skin cancer. Dermatology physician assistants can “correct for the dermatology provider shortage,” the National Institutes of Health added.
“Physician assistants mostly handle dermatological care,” said Crystal Eugenio-Breeden, an office manager at Integrated Dermatology of Fairfax. “Our physician assistants often have earlier appointment availability than some of our doctors, allowing patients to receive excellent and timely care.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, dermatologists perform complicated procedures, including electrosurgery, laser surgery, and Mohs surgery, to treat skin cancer, hair loss, and nail fungus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, physician assistants perform less complicated tasks, including patient exams, diagnosing skin diseases, and assisting physicians in surgeries.
Indeed, Siddiqui, a physician assistant at Integrated Dermatology of Fairfax, told the Fairfax County Times she has noticed a growing trend of more physician assistants working in dermatology practices in the U.S.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants reported that dermatology physician assistants increased from 4,350 in 2020 to 4,580 in 2021.
Siddiqui said that more people are interested in becoming dermatology physician assistants. She added that physician assistant salaries “generate strong revenue while having lower overhead costs than physicians.” She sees physician assistants becoming more valuable in many practices because of their flexibility, efficiency, and ability to handle high patient volumes.
“As the dermatologist shortage continues, practices rely on well-trained physician assistants to fill the care gap,” Siddiqui said. “Compensation is rising accordingly.”
Choosing dermatology
Siddiqui said she had a passion for healthcare for years before graduating from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s in psychology in 2017. She attended physician assistant school at Tufts School of Medicine in Boston and pursued her master’s in medical science, graduating in 2021.
In March 2021, Siddiqui started working in two clinical rotation programs at Integrated Dermatology of Fairfax. She chose her field because it offers flexibility and work-life balance.
“It’s a quick turnaround with less schooling and training,” than getting a medical degree, Siddiqui said. “You’re able to start working sooner.”
Meadows, a physician assistant at Renewal Dermatology in Reston, is also passionate about dermatology and helping others.
She graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s in health science in 2019 and a master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from USF’s Morsani College of Medicine in 2023.
Growing up in St. Petersburg, Fla., Meadows noticed that many people were diagnosed with skin cancer from sun damage. She wanted to work as a physician assistant to help patients improve their skin conditions and live healthier lifestyles.
Meadows also found dermatology rewarding because she could immediately diagnose skin cancer patients without internal imaging.
“It’s right in front of you,” Meadows said. “When you can help patients fix their skin cancer issues immediately, you get more visible results.”
Faster appointment scheduling
Meadows encourages patients in Northern Virginia to schedule immediate appointments with a dermatology physician assistant, instead of waiting months to see a dermatologist. She said some appointment wait times can be up to six months for dermatologists. Skin cancer issues can become more serious the longer patients wait, she added.
On the job, Meadows conducts routine skin checks and acute dermatologic cases. Her routine checkups free up a dermatologist’s schedule to focus on more complex issues.
“We’re bridging the gap to provide more efficient and timely access to care,” Meadows said.
Siddiqui explained that dermatology physician assistants can diagnose skin diseases like physicians do.
“Physician assistants are licensed medical professionals trained to diagnose and manage many medical conditions, including those in dermatology,” Siddiqui said.
Importance of experience
Meadows and Siddiqui encourage other physician assistants to learn more about entering dermatology to meet the needs of the growing patient population.
She said dermatologists often overlook new graduates interested in the field because dermatology is a competitive specialty that requires experience and on-the-job training. She added that practices hire physician assistants with prior expertise because of the necessary training at the graduate level.
Meadows said dermatology is a very procedure-oriented specialty with a steep learning curve. She added that new physician assistants learn more about dermatology on the job than they learned in school.
Siddiqui also recommends that physician assistants shadow dermatologists to learn about the specialty. She has seen physician assistant students come to her office for their clinical rotations.
“You will better understand dermatology when you’re shadowing a dermatology provider,” Siddiqui said. “Shadowing is a great option for physician assistants.”