Constituent Organizations

Including Chapter Organizations, Specialty Organizations, Caucuses, and Special Interest Groups

Your first step toward greater involvement is to become active in your constituent chapter. There are chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Air Force, Army, Navy, Public Health Service, and Department of Veteran Affairs. By actively participating in a constituent chapter, you will have the opportunity to improve your leadership skills, learn about the legislative regulatory process, and become involved in special projects, program development, and committee activities at the grassroots level.

Chapter leaders gather annually at the Constituent Organization Resource Exchange (CORE) and Leadership Development meeting in February of odd numbered years in Washington, D.C., for training in the fundamentals of leadership, chapter management and legislative, regulatory, reimbursement, and professional issues. Regional Meetings also bring together leaders and interested members to be trained in the nuts and bolts of chapter leadership and to discuss key national and state issues.

If you are interested in volunteering with a constituent organization, consider participating in the Constituent Organization Leader Recruitment (COLOR) program. Fill out this application (http://www.formsite.com/aapa/form084115864/index.html) and AAPA staff will help you make your first connection with the constituent organization of your choice. If you have questions about the program please contact Kodi Blue Erb, 703/836-2272, ext 3127, kerb@aapa.org.

Contact your constituent organization's officers to get involved or to obtain more information (http://www.aapa.org/cood/index.html).

Physician assistants practice in a variety of medical and surgical subspecialities. Some have formed independent associations/organizations to share common concerns and interests related to their practice specialty. For further information about specialty organizations officially recognized by AAPA, click here.

Special interest group is a group of AAPA members who share a common concern, interest, or goal and desire to meet informally. The purpose of a special interest group is consistent with the AAPA's vision and mission. For additional information or to get invovled with a special interest group recognized byt AAPA, click here.

Last Revised9/11/07