Faculty:

Faculty selected for CDNPPA educational programs are master clinicians who are expert NP & PA educators. Decades of experience and leadership enable faculty to engage dermatology colleagues for effective learning that impacts their professional practice and optimal patient outcomes.

Course Directors:
Margaret Bobonich, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP, FAANP
Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C
Leigh Ann Pansch, MSN, FNP-C, DCNP

Faculty:
Matthew Bruno, MSPAS, PA-C
Melissa Davis, PA-C
Kirk Gautier, PA-C
Kara Mudd, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C
Veronica L. Richardson, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP

Margaret Bobonich, DNP, FNP-C, DCNP, FAANP, is an Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. She is a Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner (DCNP) and founder of the Center for Dermatology NP PA. Her clinical focus has been on immune-mediated skin diseases and doctoral work in education for dermatology all advanced practice providers.

Dr. Bobonich leadership includes development University Hospitals Medical Center’s innovative 2-year interdisciplinary post-Master’s Dermatology NP Residency and conducted the seminal research for the published Core Curriculum for Dermatology NPs: Using Delphi Technique. She is co-editor of two editions of Dermatology for Advanced Practice Clinicians, co-chaired the national task force to establish and publish the Professional Competencies for Nurse Practitioners in Dermatology (2018), and Director of the first DCNP Review Course in 2019.

Most recently, Dr. Bobonich published Dermatology Essentials for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in 2023 which outlines the foundational competencies for clinical practice. She is founder of the DCNP and CAQ-DERM Review/ Dermatology Essentials & Advanced Pharmacology Conference, which focuses on early career development of dermatology NPs and PAs. In 2024, she serves as co-founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dermatology for Nurse Practitioners & Physician Assistants advancing professionalism and collaboration for all advanced practice clinicians in dermatology. Her leadership was recognized by AANP’s 2024 State of Ohio Award for Excellence, Elevate-Derm Alliance 2024 Honorary Lecture, Case Western Reserve University’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award to her outstanding contributions, and the second year as POCN 2024 NP of the Year Award.

Matt Bruno, MSPAS, PA-C

Matthew Bruno PA-C attended Louisiana State University where he completed a double Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Plant Biology in 1999 and an additional Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2006. He has been in clinical practice as a dermatology physician assistant (PA) at the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery Center (DSCSC) in Allen, TX since 2006 with a special interest in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

He serves as the Director, Advanced Practice Providers (APP) at DSCSC, overseeing 11 APPs across 14 clinics. In addition to his director duties and full-time clinical practice, Matt has academic appointments as Adjunct Professor at University of North Texas and St. Francis of Assisi plus is a clinical preceptor for Physician Assistant (PA) and nurse practitioner (NP)students from University of North Texas, University of Texas-Medical Branch, Touring University, Mary-Hardin Baylor, Texas Tech University, South College Knoxville, and Tennessee & Bethel University.

Matt has served in multiple leadership roles including on the Legislative Affairs (2021-present), Continuing Medical Education (CME) (2020-2021), and Conference CME Committees of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. He is a frequently invited speaker at conferences, educational events, CME, and holds positions of faculty at Maui Derm NP+PA and the Dermatology Education Foundation.

Melissa Davis, PA-C

Melissa Davis is a board-certified Physician Assistant based in Louisville, Kentucky, with over 17 years of clinical experience. She earned dual undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University in 2003. She went on to complete her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Kentucky in 2007.

Melissa began her career in Family Medicine, where she practiced for five years before transitioning to Dermatology in 2012. Since then, she has developed a strong clinical interest in psoriasis and other autoinflammatory skin conditions. She is deeply committed to patient education and advocacy, and takes great pride in delivering compassionate care to those she serves.

In addition to her clinical practice, Melissa is dedicated to shaping the next generation of healthcare providers. She serves as a clinical professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Sullivan University, where she mentors and trains future PAs. She also serves on the Advisory Board for the Maui Derm NPPA meeting.

She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants, the American Academy of Physician Associates, the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants, and the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Melissa and her husband have called Louisville home since 2006. Together, they are proud parents of two sons.

Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C

Douglas completed a Doctorate of Medical Sciences (DMSc–Lynchburg University) in 2019 and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society for doctorate-level academic excellence in Clinical Research. After practicing Internal Medicine for 2.5 years, he specialized in dermatology 24 years ago.

With more than 215,000 dermatology patient encounters, Douglas enjoys medical and surgical dermatology, clinical research, publishing, and mentoring.  Having delivered over 750 invited medical lectures and authored multiple textbook chapters and more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, he is a nationally recognized medical educator (national speaker bureau for Medscape, WebMD, NPF, and VisualDX).

Additionally, Douglas has acted as a principal and sub-principal investigator in clinical trials and been awarded a National Clinical Science Award for published research, Clinical Preceptor of the Year by the Emory University PA Program, Most Influential Clinical Preceptor by the Kennesaw State University Nurse Practitioner Program, Community Clinical Teacher of the Year by the Floyd Family Medicine Residency Program (the only PA to receive that honor), the Humanitarian PA of the year for the state of Georgia, and is the recipient of both the prestigious Whitehouse  Presidential Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement award and the “Top Physician Assistant” honor by the International Association of Healthcare Professionals.

He sits on the editorial board of several scientific journals, was the only PA on the executive board of the Dermatology Hall of Fame and was named the 2019 National Dermatology PA of the Year and 2022 Medical Educator PA of the year by the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA) and America’s Top Dermatology PA of 2022 by Point of Care Network, the nation’s largest PA/NP network. Douglas started the Georgia Dermatology PA Society, the first state dermatology group in the country and has served as President of the NY Society of Dermatology PAs.  He is a founding board member of the Dermatology PA Foundation and co-founded a health care clinic for the homeless in 2003, which continues to operate today.

Douglas and his daughter created the journal, “Emerging Female Scientist,” the first peer-reviewed scientific journal for high school females.  In 2024 he co-founded the Journal of Dermatology for NPs & PAs (JDNPPA).  He was selected as the first PA on the medical staff of the AAD Camp Discovery (Minnesota) and has done mission work in Haiti, St. Lucia, Russia, Mexico, and Israel. His wife of 30 years, Karen, and their three children are his most-prized possessions.

Kirk Gautier, PA-C

Kirk Gautier is a Registered Nurse who, after serving on the mission field in Central America, decided to further his education and became a Physician Assistant. His original intent was to serve the community of missionaries he had been working with—but God had other plans. After graduating summa cum laude from UT Health San Antonio, he began his career in dermatology and has been with the same group for over 20 years in his home town of Tyler, Texas.

Kirk enjoys both surgical and clinical dermatology, as well as teaching and precepting medical students and residents. He has presented from the podium at numerous national and local conferences and is a past president of the East Texas Physician Assistant Society, as well as a former SDPA Fall Conference Chair. He now serves as a faculty advisor for Maui Derm NP+PA and continues to enjoy presenting exciting and emerging data at conferences.

Kara Mudd, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C

Kara Mudd, is a board-certified physician assistant practicing in dermatology in Louisville, KY.  She received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Kentucky, and her Doctor of Medical Science through the University of Lynchburg.  She is currently involved in PA education as an Assistant Professor at Sullivan University and Adjunct Professor at the University of the Cumberlands.  Throughout her 16years of clinical experience, Kara has maintained a strong passion for dermatology, research, and educating future PA students. Her clinical focus in on allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and patch testing. She is a co-investigator in various research studies, has authored publications and is on several advisory boards for dermatology.  Kara is also a Diplomate Fellow of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants.  She resides in Louisville with her husband and two children.

Leigh Ann Pansch, MSN, FNP-C, DCNP

Leigh Ann Pansch is a Certified Dermatology Nurse Practitioner practicing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Leigh Ann received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Thomas More University in Kentucky. She has worked in women’s health, pediatrics, and nursing education for the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center where she was the first nurse to hold joint faculty appointments. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing with a family medicine focus at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing and Health in 2010. She is a national speaker on topics such as pediatric dermatology, melanoma, and psoriasis and enjoys educating hundreds of high school students yearly on sun safety.

She has worked as a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner since in pediatric, private practice, and hospital settings. Leigh Ann is currently the co-chair of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Dermatology Specialty Practice Group, faculty advisor for Maui Derm NPPA, Faculty for the Dermatology Certified Nurse Practitioner Review Course, and the Secretary for the Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Certification Board Quality Improvement Committee. She is an advisor for the Nurse Practitioner Society. Leigh Ann is married with three daughters.

Veronica L. Richardson, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP

Veronica Richardson is a dermatology certified nurse practitioner who currently practices in the Department of Medical Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine in Philadelphia, PA.  She obtained both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Her NP career began on a fast paced inpatient hospitalist medicine service, where she gained invaluable experience caring and managing acutely ill patients and was lovingly dubbed “The rash queen” by her peers. In 2011 she left rounding the busy halls of the hospital to take on a new challenge of being the first Advanced Practice Provider in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Since 2011, Veronica has been caring for patients with a wide variety of dermatologic conditions from simple to complex. She has a special interest in caring for patients with Psoriasis, as well as a passion for educating Advanced Practice Providers about Dermatology. In 2017 she combined her interests in education and Psoriasis and was invited to sit on the medical advisory board of the National Psoriasis Foundation, where she is the Chairperson of the Advanced Practice Providers Psoriasis Education Program. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, being a dog mom, running, snowboarding, paddle boarding and traveling.