Leadership

AAPA Leadership

AAPA is the only national professional society to represent all physician assistants in every area of medicine. Founded in 1968, the Academy has a federated structure of chartered chapters representing PAs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the federal services.

The governing body of the Academy is its Board of Directors. The Student Academy of the AAPA, the PA Foundation, and the Society for the Preservation of PA History have their own respective boards and committees. Many of the Academy's functions are handled by its standing committees and councils. The Academy also has official liaisons to many national medical and health care organizations. 2009-2010 Leadership Brochure

In addition, AAPA officially recognizes:

Specialty Organizations
Caucuses
Congresses
Special Interest Groups

AAPA Board of Directors

The governing body of AAPA, the Board of Directors, meets three times a year and is responsible for the Academy’s administrative and financial management. The board consists of 13 elected officials: the president, president elect, immediate past president, secretary, treasurer, vice president/Speaker of the House of Delegates, first vice speaker of the House, second vice speaker of the House, student representative, and four directors at large. AAPA fellow members are eligible to run for a Board of Directors seat by being nominated by the AAPA Nominating Committee or by self-declaring for office.

AAPA House of Delegates

The House of Delegates, AAPA’s policy-making body, consists of voting delegates from chartered constituent chapters, officially recognized specialty organizations, the Caucus Congress, the Student Academy, and the Physician Assistant Education Association.

Elected delegates have an effective voice in Academy activities in many ways:

They make recommendations on professional issues to committees, councils, caucuses, special interest groups, and congresses, or to the AAPA Board of Directors.
They submit formal resolutions through the procedure outlined by the House of Delegates.
They participate as a member of a reference committee, studying and reporting on the resolutions received.
They participate in open reference committee hearings conducted at the House of Delegates Meeting, held during AAPA’s Annual PA Conference.
Even if you are not a delegate, as a member, you may present testimony on issues of importance at House of Delegates reference committee hearings.

Issues and policies addressed by the House of Delegates have included innovative health care delivery models, affordable prescription medications, Medicare coverage, quality management, immunizations, National Health Service Corps ready responder units, state licensing of federal PAs, mental health and substance abuse — parity in benefits, medical staff bylaws, PA privileges, medical interpreters, stem cell research, health literacy, obesity, medical safety net, children and access to health care, health promotion and disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance, organ and tissue donation, tobacco education and outreach, licensure eligibility for international PAs, physician-PA relationship in a managed care environment, medical liability reform, quality incentive programs, and leadership excellence.

Student Academy

The Student Academy of AAPA (SAAAPA) has its own structure, starting with students at individual PA educational programs. All student members of AAPA are considered members of the Student Academy. Communication and programming between the Student Academy and PA students occur through student society presidents, Assembly of Representatives (AOR) delegates, and SAAAPA’s regional chairs. Student societies must be registered with the Student Academy. Each year students at each PA program may elect one representative to attend the AOR, the legislative body of the Student Academy, which meets once a year at AAPA’s Annual PA Conference. The AOR sets policy and elects the Student Academy officers. The Student Board of Directors guides Student Academy affairs for the following year. Any AAPA student member who has not graduated is eligible for a student officer position. PA students are involved in many aspects of the AAPA, including constituent organization leadership, Academy leadership, and regional activities.

AAPA Committee and Council Service

Many of the Academy’s most important functions are handled by its ten standing committees and four councils, whose chairs are appointed jointly by the AAPA president and Speaker of the House of Delegates, in consultation with the outgoing committee and council chairs. AAPA’s standing committees and councils meet throughout the year (for live web meetings and/or conference calls) to analyze, evaluate, and recommend new programs and policies and to handle charges from the House of Delegates.

Committees
Awards Committee
Committee on Diversity
Conference Education Program Committee
Constituent Relations Committee
Constituent Relations Committee Subcommittee, PPAP
Elections Committee
Government Affairs & Reimbursement Committee
Judicial Affairs Committee
Nominating Committee
Public Relations Committee
Quality Care Committee

Councils
Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council
Leadership & Professional Development Council
Professional Education & Development Council
Professional Practice Council

PA Foundation

AAPA members are also encouraged to apply to serve on a PA Foundation Board of Directors or committee. This is a great way to get involved in the profession’s philanthropic efforts, while learning new skills. Committees include marketing/communications, programs, grants review, scholarship review, resource development, and silent auction. Committee appointments are for one-year terms, beginning in July of each year.

Society for the Preservation of PA History

The Society is the preeminent leader in fostering the preservation, study and presentation of the history of the physician assistant (PA) profession by creating and presenting on-line, a virtual repository of historic and current information on the PA profession.