About Us:
The Center for Dermatology Nursing Practice (CDNP) and Center for Dermatology NP PA (CDNPPA) are educational companies dedicated to assessing and developing dermatology nursing and physician associate/assistant education and practice.
The founder and President, Dr. Margaret Bobonich, is known for her innovative and successful dermatology educational program development. As a cofounder of the Center for Advanced Practice Dermatology, she launched the first, live DCNP Review Course in 2019 and served as the course director. The DCNP Review Courses and the Practice to Pass program became a critical educational tool for dermatology NPs striving to elevate their level of professionalism by achieving national certification.
In 2023, Dr. Bobonich’s commitment to dermatology education has expanded to include all levels of dermatology nursing practice and physician assistants. The unmet demands for dermatologic care have resulted in the rapid influx of NPs and PAs into dermatology, yet there are few formalized post-Masters programs. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive dermatology curriculum for NPs and PAs. Furthermore, preparation for certification is critical for the DCNP certification and PAs CAQ-Derm certification examinations. As the science and technology of dermatology evolves rapidly, so must professional education and competencies.
2025 Dermatology Essentials and Advanced Pharmacology for NPs and PAs
Course Directors:
Margaret Bobonich, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP
Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C
Leigh Ann Pansch, MSN, FNP-C, DCNP
Center for Dermatology NPs and PAs
Margaret Bobonich, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP, FAANP, is the founder of the Center for Dermatology Nursing Practice (CDNP) and the Center for Dermatology NP PA (CDNPPA), educational companies dedicated to advancing dermatology nurse practitioner (NP) and physician assistant (PA) education.
Dr. Bobonich is an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine and Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. With over 40 years of nursing experience, she has focused her clinical practice on immunodermatology, as well as managing complex skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and blistering diseases.
A leader in dermatology education for over two decades, Dr. Bobonich served as faculty in the CWRU medical dermatology residency program and created the innovative 2-year interdisciplinary post-Master’s Dermatology NP Residency at UHCMC in 2015. Her doctoral research led to the seminal publication, A Core Curriculum for Dermatology NPs: Using Delphi Technique (Bobonich & Cooper, 2015), which laid the foundation for dermatology NP education. She also co-chaired the national task force that established the Professional Competencies for Nurse Practitioners in Dermatology (Bobonich & Nolen, 2018), a document awarded the American Association of Nurse Practitioners’ first Open Access Award in 2019 for its significant impact on NP practice.
As a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Dr. Bobonich launched the first Dermatology Specialty Group within the AANP. She co-edited Dermatology for Advanced Practice Clinicians, 2nd ed. and continues her research to identify gaps in education and practice for dermatology NPs and PAs. As a member of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association National Task Force, Dr. Bobonich contributed to the revision of Dermatology Nursing: Scope and Standards of Care published in 2020. In 2021, she co-founded the Florida Atlantic University Post-Master’s Dermatology NP Certificate program.
Recognizing the rapidly growing influx of NPs and PAs into dermatology along with their knowledge gaps, Dr. Bobonich is committed to the educational and professional preparation for all advanced practice providers in dermatology. She has expanded the 2025 Dermatology Essentials and Advanced Pharmacology for NPs and PAs to address the unique learning needs of early-career clinicians, as well as those preparing for certification. Most importantly, the course has been enhanced to provide an intensive focus on pharmacology so that dermatology NPs and PAs can competently and confidently prescribe new therapies.
