There is growing use of physician extenders in the care of patients with skin disease. Physician assistants (PAs), employed by dermatologists, fill most of these positions. Some of the duties performed by PAs include diagnosis, evaluation, and management of common dermatologic conditions; preoperative and postoperative evaluations; writing prescriptions; cryotherapy of benign and premalignant lesions; intralesional injections; performing biopsies; and doing laser surgery and Mohs’ closings.

The shortage and uneven distribution of health personnel in the 1960s gave rise to the concept of the PA. The advanced medical assistant, an intermediate between the technician and the physician, would be able to handle technical procedures and exercise some degree of medical responsibility. With roots in primary care, PA use has now spread to many areas of medical specialty, including dermatology. This article answers questions concerning the role of the PA in the dermatologist’s office and provides specific data on the use of PAs in the care of patients with skin disease.