What Is a Physician Assistant?

Certified physician assistants — also referred to as PAs — are essential medical practitioners known for patient-centered care. The more than 178,000 PAs working in the U.S. today are helping patients access high-level, personalized medical attention as availability has diminished due to a shortfall of primary care providers. Recent data from the Association of American Medical Colleges reveals the U.S. will face a shortage of physicians as high as 124,000 by 2034. As increasing numbers of PAs enter the field, they’ll continue to help patients receive excellent care without waiting weeks for an appointment.

PA training and expertise

Highly skilled, trained and educated, PAs complete a master’s level degree in medicine and have an average of 3,000 hours of direct patient contact experience before they graduate. Just as doctors do, they must become nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine.

After graduating, emerging PAs can access additional hands-on exposure to all aspects of the dermatology field through Schweiger Dermatology Group’s Advanced Practice Provider Training Program. During this yearlong program, participants deepen their knowledge base and skills by shadowing board-certified dermatologists, experienced PAs and nurse practitioners to gain more exposure to diverse aspects of medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology.

The role of PAs

Once licensed, PAs perform many of the same services as their supervising board-certified dermatologist or allergist, including diagnosing and treating a wide variety of health concerns, ordering and interpreting tests, assisting in surgery, administering medical and cosmetic procedures, and prescribing medications. They’re known for taking the time to treat each patient holistically and focusing on education and preventative care. PAs at Schweiger Dermatology Group work in close partnership with a supervising physician dermatologist to ensure the highest standards of quality.

They get high praise from patients too: According to a 2023 Harris Poll, 90% of Americans say PAs improve access to care and make it easier to get an appointment, 93% note they add value to healthcare teams, and 89% report PAs improve health outcomes.

Hear from our PAs

To celebrate and highlight their invaluable contributions to the well-being of Schweiger Dermatology Group patients, we asked some of our outstanding PAs to share their insights:

Elliot Backer, PA-C, Edina and Plymouth, Minn.

  • What inspired you to pursue a career as a PA?

    Forging meaningful relationships with patients.

  • What advice would you give someone interested in becoming a PA?

    Shadow! There is a wide range of areas and settings to practice in.

Kendra Joseph, PA-C, Flatiron, NY

Kendra-Joseph

  • What do you find most fulfilling about being a PA?

    I love educating my patients on their conditions and seeing their happy faces after I’ve shown them their before-and-after pictures with significant improvement.

  • Important skin care tip?

    Less is often more. Keep things simple and consistent and you will win all the time.

Joannie Pompee, PA-C, Greenwich and Stamford, Conn.

  • What advice would you give someone interested in becoming a PA?

    Have patience with yourself and your journey. It’s hard to do but try not to compare your process to anyone else’s. Your journey is yours for a reason.

  • Important skin care tip?

    A gentle cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer and retinoids are must-have staples for your skincare routine.

Schweiger Dermatology Group providers are here to help

If it’s time for your annual skin exam or you have concerns about other skin issues or allergies, book an appointment with any of our skilled PAs, dermatologists or allergists.

About Schweiger Dermatology Group

Founded by Dr. Eric Schweiger in 2010, Schweiger Dermatology Group began as a single office in Midtown Manhattan with a mission to deliver high-quality dermatologic care without long waits. As demand grew, so did the practice. Today we have over 120 locations across 8 states with more than 400 of the nation's leading providers and were ranked as the number one practice nationally in cosmetic and reconstructive care by Castle Connolly. In 2023, we broadened our expertise by integrating allergy care into our services. We remain committed to offering exceptional medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology as well as comprehensive allergy services, ensuring patients receive expert care in a modern, state-of-the art environment.

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