AAPA Awards Program
PAragon Awards Recognition Awards Student Awards
Constituent Organization Awards Nomination/Application Forms Stead Award of Achievement

The American Academy of Physician Assistants offers specific awards for excellence in distinct categories. These awards confer special recognition on members and constituent organizations that have distinguished themselves in service to patients, the community, the profession, and the Academy.

There are four award types: PAragon , Recognition , Student , and Constituent Organization . Any individual -- PA , PA student, physician, family member, coworker, or friend -- may nominate a person for an award. PAs many also self-nominate for a PAragon Award. However, please carefully read the information below on the various award eligibility requirements and application processes. Some awards require the nominations be made through specific constituent organizations, such as the Federal Services PA of the Year Award, and some require detailed written applications, such as the Constituent Organization Award of Achievement. Details about the various awards are included below, or you can submit specific questions to awards@aapa.org .

Since 1981, the Academy's awards program has recognized outstanding members, constituent organizations, and student societies. AAPA thanks the following corporate supporters for making the Academy's various 2007 awards programs possible:

PAragon Awards - January 15 Deadline for These Awards


Humanitarian PA of the Year Outstanding PA of the Year PA Service to the Underserved Award
Federal Service PA of the Year Physician-PA Partnership Award PAragon Publishing Award

There are two ways to suggest a person for a PAragon Award: nominate another person using the nomination form or self-nominate yourself using the application form.

Nominations can be submitted by colleagues, coworkers, physicians, patients, friends, family members, or through self-nomination by the individual PA.

Completed application forms -- including all supporting documentation -- must be received by AAPA no later than JANUARY 15. All PAragon Awards are presented at AAPA's Annual PA Conference. To assist you in filling out the application form, AAPA has developed a list of helpful tips.

PAragon Award winners receive the following:


HUMANITARIAN PA OF THE YEAR


This award honors a physician assistant who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to human rights and exemplifies the PA profession's philosophy of providing accessible and quality health care in geographic locations inside and outside of the United States. A nominee must be a current AAPA member in good standing.


OUTSTANDING PA OF THE YEAR


This award honors a physician assistant who has demonstrated exemplary service to the PA profession and the community and has furthered the image of physician assistants. Any PA who has been an AAPA member in good standing for the last three years and does not currently serve as an AAPA Board of Directors member, AAPA House of Delegates officer, or as an AAPA standing committee or council chair may participate in the award competition by self-nomination or nomination by someone else.


PA SERVICE TO THE UNDERSERVED AWARD


This award honors a physician assistant who has provided accessible, quality health care to the underserved in a rural community or an inner city setting of the United States. A nominee must be a current AAPA member in good standing.


PHYSICIAN-PA PARTNERSHIP AWARD


This award honors a physician-PA team that exemplifies the unique relationship of trust, collegiality, and mutual respect that is essential to the PA profession. This physician-PA team displays evidence of collaboration that allows both the PA and the physician to provide greater medical service to their patients and their community than either one would be able to do alone. Any physician-PA team in practice for at least one year is eligible to apply.


FEDERAL SERVICE PA OF THE YEAR


This award honors a PA who has demonstrated exemplary service in the federal service sector of the PA profession. Federal service sector is defined as a PA working for any of the uniformed services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Public Health Service, or other related federal agencies.

        Any physician assistant currently working in or retired from the federal service sector who has been an AAPA fellow member in good standing for the past three years and who is a current fellow or lifetime member of one of AAPA's recognized federal service constituent organizations -- Naval Association of PAs, Society of Air Force PAs, Society of Army PAs, Public Health Service Academy of PAs, Veterans Affairs Physician Assistant Association, or Veterans Caucus -- is eligible for nomination.
        Nominations are made by the boards of directors of these federal service constituent organizations and are done using a special Federal Service PA of the Year form.


PARAGON PUBLISHING AWARD

This award honors physician assistants who author articles that have been published in any peer-reviewed clinical journals during the prior calendar year.

Application
Articles considered must have been published during the prior calendar year. The term "article" for the purpose of this award means a peer-reviewed clinical article. Case reports and editorials are not eligible.

       Only one entry is accepted per author. A physician assistant who is an AAPA member must be the primary author of the article. The PA does not have to be the sole author, but an explanation of the roles of all authors must be included with the submission of the article. Based on the information submitted, the AAPA Communications Division will determine if the PA is the primary author. Clinical journals may submit entries on behalf of authors; however, it is the responsibility of the journals to notify the authors that the entries were submitted.

        Entries must be relevant to the goals of the physician assistant profession, whether the article addresses clinical, professional, or educational topics.

        Summit a copy of the Publishing Awards Application Form , plus one original copy (tear sheet from the journal) of the article with the author's name visible, plus two copies of the article with the author's name removed to AAPA Publishing Awards, 950 N. Washington Street , Alexandria , VA 22314-1552 . Copies of the articles submitted remain the property of the AAPA. The AAPA reserves the right to reject any entry that fails to meet any of the above requirements.

Judging
Entries are reviewed by a committee of practicing PAs and PA faculty, who rate them with a numerical rating system for their practical application to PA practice, enhancement to the knowledge base of the profession, and quality of presentation.
        The first-place winner receives a crystal PAragon award and other benefits listed above. Second- and third-place winners receive a framed certificate of accomplishment and an award check.
        For more information, contact Jane Howard, AAPA staff, 703/836-2272, ext. 3502; jane@aapa.org.


Recognition Awards


House of Delegates Outstanding Service Award SAAAPA President's Award Honorary Membership Stead Award of Achievement


HOUSE OF DELEGATES OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD

This award honors House of Delegates leaders who have provided exemplary and outstanding service to the House of Delegates as delegates, alternates, or officers; standing committee chairs or members; House committee chairs or members; or sergeants at arms. Nominees may be suggested to the Speaker of the House by any credentialed delegate of the House, House Officer, or standing committee chair. The House Officers review all nominations and make the final selection(s).

       Nomination deadline is JANUARY 15. For more information, contact the House officers staff advisor, 703/836-2272, ext. 3510; houseofficers@aapa.org.


SAAAPA PRESIDENT'S AWARD

This award honors a physician assistant who has demonstrated exemplary service to PA students and has furthered the leadership, educational, or professional development of PA students. The winner is recognized and given a plaque recognizing his or her outstanding dedication to PA students at the Assembly of Representatives meeting during AAPA’s annual conference. Transportation, lodging, and per diem expenses associated with attending the ceremony are not reimbursed.

       Any physician assistant who has been an AAPA member in good standing for the past three years and does not serve as a SAAAPA or AAPA Board of Directors member, AAPA House of Delegates officer, AAPA standing committee or council chair, or judging committee member may participate in the award competition by self-nomination or nomination by someone else.

       The judging committee, composed of members of the SAAAPA Board of Directors, reviews the applications and determines the award winners.

       Nomination deadline is JANUARY 15. For more information, contact Shannon Faherty at 703/836-2272, ext. 3311; sfaherty@aapa.org.

 

AAPA HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

 

Honorary membership in the Academy may be conferred upon non-physician assistants who have rendered distinguished service to the PA profession. Recipients of this honor receive a free, life-time membership in the Academy and have all the privileges of membership, except for voting, holding office, or chairing committees. For more information, write to awards@aapa.org.

 

EUGENE A. STEAD AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT

The Eugene A. Stead Award of Achievement honors an individual for his or her lifetime work that has had a broad and significant impact on the PA profession as a whole. Nominees do not necessarily have to be PAs or Academy members. The award will not necessarily be handed out annually.

Award recipients will have made meritorious contributions in advancing the basic tenets of the PA profession, namely the advancement of patient care through the full utilization of PAs, and will have demonstrated significant achievement in promoting the PA profession.

Any AAPA member may submit a nomination to the Awards Committee. Nomination materials must include a written rationale or biographical abstract detailing why the nominee is deserving of the award, along with a one-sentence citation summarizing the nominee’s overall achievements.

The AAPA Awards Committee will consider the following criteria when reviewing applications:

Nominees will be evaluated by the committee in consultation with other PA organizations, including the Physician Assistant Education Association and the Society for the Preservation of PA History.

Submissions should be sent to AAPA Awards Committee, 950 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1552. Electronic copies should be sent to awards@aapa.org and include “Stead Award Nomination” in the e-mail subject line. The deadline for submissions is January 15.

Student Awards



OUTSTANDING STUDENT SOCIETY AWARDS

These awards recognize student societies for outstanding service to the profession in the areas of public education, public service, promotion of diversity, and professional development. Two officially registered student societies are chosen as the award winners; each receives $500.

Application

Entries may be submitted by an officer (must be an AAPA member) of an officially registered student society and sent to the attention of the Student Academy, 950 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1552. An entry must be in scrapbook format or a PowerPoint presentation, documenting the activities for the past academic year, including the following:

Judging

The Student Academy Board of Directors evaluates each entry using the criteria above. A majority vote determines two winners, and the decision is announced at the Student Academy Assembly of Representatives Meeting.

        The application deadline is JANUARY 15 . For more information, contact Shannon Faherty at 703/836-2272, ext. 3311; sfaherty@aapa.org.

Constituent Organization Awards


Constituent Organization Award of Achievement Constituent Organization Public Education Achievement Awards SAAAPA Constituent Organization Award


Constituent Organization Award of Achievement

These awards seek to recognize PA constituent organizations that demonstrate a measurable improvement in the internal functioning of the organization. The award encourages constituent organizations to increase member involvement, improve overall planning and execution of programs, and increase use of AAPA resources in initiatives, programs, and events relevant to the organization's mission and goals. The award seeks to encourage constituent leaders of PA organizations to improve their organization and advance the PA profession.

Application & Judging
To be considered for the award, a constituent organization must submit an application. The Constituent Relations Committee evaluates the constituent organization's submissions based on the information provided in the application.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is JANUARY 15. For more information, contact Sue Curtis, AAPA staff, 703/836-2272, ext. 3318; scurtis@aapa.org.


CONSTITUENT ORGANIZATION PUBLIC EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The purpose of these awards is to honor constituent organizations for exemplary public relations and public education activities, with an emphasis on promoting the PA profession.

 

Eligibility and Application

Any recognized constituent organization -- chapter, specialty organization, or caucus -- may submit an entry for a Constituent Organization Public Education Achievement Award. A constituent organization can submit a presentation on diskette, CD, or in hard copy of a "project in a box" public relations effort completed in the previous year. In addition, the constituent organization must fill out a submission form that includes contact information, a description of the intended goal of the project, and whether the project met the objectives.

 

The PIB Concept   

A "project in a box" is a reproducible project that can be packaged, passed on, and promoted by individual PAs or constituent organizations. Projects submitted for the Public Education Achievement Award will be judged on

Submissions
Submissions for the award should include an outline of how the project was conceived, and carried out; a timeline from start to finish; helpful hints that could help another PA or chapter carry out the same project; and examples of any 'snags' that another constituent organization should watch out for. Appropriate supporting documentation could be photographs, a Power Point presentation, handouts, and other planning tools. The submission can be in the form of a scrapbook, a Web site, a Power Point presentation, or any other print or electronic format. Please submit the information and the required submission form to the AAPA Public Relations Committee in care of the national office.

 

Judging
The Public Relations Committee will judge the activity summaries in January. Awards will be given for first, second, and third prize.

 

Points are awarded for:

 

Awards
Winning organizations receive the following:

 

Application Deadline

The deadline for submission is January 15. For more information, call 703/836-2272 or email media@aapa.org.

 

SAAAPA CONSTITUENT ORGANIZATION AWARD

This award honors an individual constituent organization that has demonstrated exemplary service to PA students and has furthered the leadership, educational, or professional development of PA students. The winner is recognized and given a plaque recognizing the outstanding dedication to PA students at the Assembly of Representatives meeting during AAPA’s annual conference. Transportation, lodging, and per diem expenses associated with attending the ceremony are not reimbursed.

Eligibility
Any constituent organization of the AAPA may participate in the award competition by self-nomination or nomination by someone else.

Judging
The judging committee, composed of members of the SAAAPA Board of Directors, reviews the applications and determines the award winner.

Application Deadline
The application deadline is JANUARY 15. For more information, contact Shannon Faherty at 703/836-2272, ext. 3311; sfaherty@aapa.org.

Nomination/Application Forms

Don't forget, the deadline is JANUARY 15 for receipt of all completed PAragon Award applications and for PA recognition and constituent organization award applications. The deadline for SAAAPA award nominations is also JANUARY 15 . For more information about the Academy awards, send an e-mail message to awards@aapa.org or call 703/836-2272, ext. 3513.

 
 

The following awards have special requirements and procedures. Please refer to the specific awards above. If you have any questions about these specific awards, please contact the person listed with the award information.

 
 

 

Please direct any questions about the AAPA Awards program to awards@aapa.org or call 703/836-2272, ext. 3513.


 

 

Last Revised: 4/10/08