With 25 years of clinical dermatology experience, Douglas DiRuggiero is a nationally-recognized medical lecturer and widely published physician assistant. He has received clinical precepting awards by NP, PA and residency programs, the Humanitarian PA of the Year for the state of Georgia, and the ‘National Dermatology PA of the Year’ by both the SDPA (2019) and the POCN Network (2022 and 2024). He was named the 2022 ‘Dermatology Medical Educator of the Year’ by the SDPA and was the first APP recognized as a National Honoree by the National Psoriasis Foundation in May 2025. He completed a Doctorate of Medical Sciences degree in 2019. Lastly, acting as co-founder and co-Editor-in-Chief, Douglas launched the new scientific publication, the Journal of Dermatology for NPs & PAs.