Travis Hayden, MPAS, PA-C

Travis Hayden completed his undergraduate studies here at Le Moyne College with a degree in biology. Upon graduating he was awarded enrollment into the U.S. Navy’s Health Services Collegiate Program. Through the program he received his formal training as a PA at the Sisters of Charity Medical Center of Staten Island, New York. Hayden then proudly served on active duty as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy, working as a PA in military and family medicine. During his time in the Navy, he completed his Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska. While stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy he pursued his interest in dermatology working with the Dermatology Department of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

Since completing his tour in the Navy in 2003, Hayden has enjoyed working in the specialty field of dermatology providing care to patients in a variety of clinical settings (ranging from urban centers to remote underserved rural communities and from private practices serving those with healthcare security to free clinics serving those with healthcare insecurity; the uninsured, immigrant, and migrant communities), as well as teaching in PA education.

Hayden’s interest in helping to educate healthcare professionals is focused on the goal of improving the quality of care our patients’ receive. He is a full time faculty member of the Le Moyne College Department of Physician Assistant Studies where he works as a Professor of Practice. Hayden’s dedication to medical education also extends to guest lecturing at multiple graduate and fellowship training programs nationally, impacting a multitude of medical professionals. Throughout his career he has had the privilege of helping to educate a variety of medical professionals (PAs, NPs, medical students, and residents), both in the didactic and clinical settings.

In addition to his clinical and educational work, Hayden has had the honor to serve in the advancement of our profession by way of volunteering for various appointed and elected positions within the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA). His service to the SDPA has included: Publications & Communications Committee Chair 2005-2017, SDPA Director At Large 2017-2018, SDPA AAPA House of Delegates Representative 2018-2021, SDPA Nominations Committee 2021-2023, and as the inaugural Chair of the SDPA Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Task Force 2023-present.

In 2015 Hayden was appointed to serve as a founding Board of Trustee member for the Dermatology PA Foundation (DPAF), the philanthropic arm of the SDPA. He has continued to work with the DPAF as a Research Committee member, helping PAs expand their contributions to the field of dermatology by way of engaging in scholarly and research activities designed to improve the practice of dermatologic patient care. In 2022 the Collaboratory for Interprofessional Authorship in Dermatology (CIAD) invited Hayden to join their inaugural team of scholars to help mentor and collaborate with early career healthcare professionals in the art of writing for scientific peer-reviewed publications.

Hayden’s pioneering efforts helped to create and establish the Journal of Dermatology for Physician Assistants (JDPA), the official journal of the SDPA, where he served as the inaugural Editor-in-Chief from 2007-2020, and has continued to work as the Founding Editor for the publication. In a landmark development in 2023, the JDPA proudly announced its partnership with Wolters Kluwer, a global publishing leader in healthcare information services. The partnership signified a significant milestone for the advancement of the PA profession. The JDPA, as a specialized publication, now plays an important role in elevating the standing of the dermatology PA profession globally.

In the fall of 2023, Hayden was honored with the SDPA Joe Monroe Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for his years of distinguished and trailblazing service to the dermatology PA community. His exceptional commitment to advancing the dermatology PA profession with unbroken volunteer service to the SDPA since 2005 and his pivotal role in establishing and leading the JDPA during its initial formative thirteen years earned him this esteemed accolade. Hayden’s receipt of the SDPA lifetime achievement award is a testament to his unwavering dedication and profound impact on the dermatology community and the PA profession; emphasizing his commitment to mentoring and encouraging future generations of healthcare professionals to carry the torch forward, fostering innovation and excellence in the PA profession for years to come.