“Become an Agent of Change:” DNA Annual Convention Preview

Dermatology health care professionals, such as nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical assistants, are invaluable in the dermatology office. They work closely with dermatologists and have extensive job responsibilities. These key staff members must receive on-going continuing education to stay up-to-date and be competent in caring for patients with a variety of dermatologic conditions, ensuring proper diagnosis and treatment.

The Dermatology Nurses’ Association (DNA) is a professional nursing organization comprised of a diverse group of individuals committed to quality care through sharing knowledge and expertise. The core purpose of the DNA is to promote excellence in dermatologic care. Members work with board-certified dermatologists in offices, outpatient facilities, hospitals, and other settings. For more than 40 years, the DNA has hosted an annual convention. The 41st Annual Hybrid Convention takes place in Savannah, GA, February 6 to 9, 2023, with the theme of “Become an Agent of Change.” To allow for flexibility, this meeting will offer in-person educational and networking activities, as well as virtual activities for off -site attendees. The focus of the convention is to provide continuing education to health care professionals and staff who specialize or have an interest in dermatology. Nursing continuing education is invaluable to improve competencies and enhance professional development, which translates into higher quality of care. Employees and health care leaders should support continuing education for all nurses and staff, which will strengthen loyalty and increase job satisfaction, setting up the practice for success.

The DNA is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation. Attendees may earn up to 18 ANCC continuing-education hours for the main convention sessions and up to 12 ANCC continuing-education hours for the Nurse Practitioner Forum sessions, which include pharmacotherapeutics. Presentations will focus on several educational tracks, such as professional development, research, surgical care, cutaneous oncology, medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, and aesthetics.

The meeting will open with preconvention workshops on Monday, February 6, 2023. Dermatology Nursing Essentials will be offered as a full-day workshop and Aesthetics as a half-day workshop. The Nurse Practitioner Forum takes place February 8 to 9, 2023. In addition, the exhibit schedule has been designed to provide sufficient time for attendees to speak with pharmaceutical representatives and learn about new treatments and services in dermatology.

The DNA Program Planning Committee worked diligently to recruit experts for oral presentations to fulfill the educational needs of DNA members and convention attendees. Below is a preview of the convention’s dynamic speakers and their topics:

• Keynote address: “Nurses as Agents of Change,” American Nurses Association President Ernest Grant, PhD, DSc(hon), RN, FAAB

• “Invisible Danger: The Implications of ‘Forever Chemicals’ to Dermatologic Disease,” Dede Sullivan, PhD, NP-C

• “Pearls of Writing for Publication,” Sylvana Brickley, DCNP

• “Skin Conditions in Skin of Color,” Katherine Leigh, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, NP-C, and Barbara Miller, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC

• “Dermatology Cases to Learn From,” David Tashjian, MD

• “Women’s Health in Dermatology: Breast and Vulvar Dermatoses,” Leah Swanson, MD

• “Bringing Public Health Into Clinical Dermatology,” Scott Norton, MD, MPH, MSc

• “Blending Aesthetics and Medical Dermatology,” Amanda Norton, DNP, NP-C, DCNP, AOCNP

• “Procedural Transgender Care in Dermatology,” Heather Onoday, FNP-BC, DCNP

• The Robin Weber Symposium: “JAK Inhibitors and Novel Therapy for Alopecia,” Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD

• “Understanding Clinical Trials,” Aaron Mangold, MD

• “Nonsurgical, Anatomy, Treatment, and Complications in Facial Plastics,” Brian Downs, MD

• “Genodermatoses,” Lara Winn Lee, MD, PhD

To promote excellence in dermatologic care, the DNA would like to request that dermatologists support their staff in attending the 41st Annual Hybrid Convention. Whether you are in an academic institution or private practice, this convention will enhance your staff members’ knowledge and improve overall job satisfaction.