Make an IMPACT by show casing your high quality posters that reflect the diversity of interests and talents of the physician assistant community.
Important Information
The American Academy of Physician Assistants is committed to presenting high quality posters that reflect the diversity of interests and talents of the physician assistant community. To continue to achieve this goal, we ask each participant to pay close attention to these guidelines. The primary reason abstracts are rejected is because they do not adhere to all the guidelines. Please read all the guidelines before submitting your abstract.
Abstracts are categorized as original research, case studies or clinical reports, and posters which have been previously presented at other medical or scientific conferences. Posters are presented in three different galleries: a Clinical and Professional Gallery for clinical and PA-related research, an Education Gallery for educational research, and a Student Gallery for PA student research.
Literature reviews are not acceptable for poster presentation.
Pharmaceutical or medical device trials sponsored by the manufacturer are generally discouraged unless the PA author has been an integral part of the research. Results of such trials without integral PA participation should be presented in the scientific poster area of the Exhibit Hall. For more information on presenting in the Exhibit Hall contact Patricia Swift at 703 836 2272 ext 3405,
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. Multiple submissions of similar abstracts from the same investigator are strongly discouraged.
General Requirements
All abstracts must be submitted by a PA or PA student who is an active fellow or student member of AAPA, and can claim authorship in the project. Authorship is defined as substantial participation, which includes involvement in the conception and design, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and final approval of the version to be published. Authorship is not acceptable if the author only provides encouragement, physical facilities, financial support, critiques, or editorial contributions.
An individual may be the submitting author on up to two abstracts, but cannot be included as an author on more than three. Authorship limitations maybe waived for faculty sponsoring students.
Presenters must pay the registration fee for attendance at the annual conference. Authors of posters selected for presentation are reminded the early-bird registration deadline is February 26 and the pre-register deadline is April 16, 2010. For more information on registration, contact the American Academy of Physician Assistants at 703 836 2272 or visit our Web site.
Expenses associated with the submission, preparation, and presentation of posters are the responsibility of the presenter.
Individuals or companies who are interested in presenting scientific information but did not have substantial participation by a physician assistant are encouraged to either present their information in the Exhibit Hall or submit a presentation proposal.
Abstract General Information
All author(s) must read the Disclosure Policy and Declaration Statements. Abstract submitters must disclose any known or potential conflicts of interest. Any source of funding must be disclosed at the time of on-line submission.
Physician assistants, PA faculty, and PA students are encouraged to submit abstracts describing original research.
Authors must submit abstracts electronically through AAPA's Web site no later than Friday, January 15, 2010, 11:59 p.m. EST.
Selection for participation in the poster session will be based on quality of research, clarity of the abstract and adherence to the guidelines.
Accepted abstracts will be published in the annual conference's Final Program and on the AAPA Web site.
Abstract Submission and Formatting Guidelines
Authors must submit abstracts electronically through our on-line submission process. Go to AAPA's Web site, select "On-line submission form". If you have a question or technical problem contact Cheryl Holmes, Assistant Director, Science and Education at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or 703 836 2272, ext. 3419.
All abstracts must be received on-line by Friday, January 15, 2010, 11:59 p.m. EST. Abstracts received after this deadline will not be accepted. After completely filling out the on-line submission form, attach the abstract by one of the following methods:
- Type the abstract into the space provided.
- Copy and paste the abstract from a word processing program.
- Attach a Word document to the form.
Titles should be brief and clearly indicate the content of the abstract. Capitalize the first letter of each word, except prepositions. No abbreviations should be used in the title.
Only abstracts for papers that have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal may be submitted; however, research presented within the past year at another organization's poster session is allowed in the previously presented category.
Only standard abbreviations will be accepted. Special or unusual abbreviations should be placed in parentheses after the full word appears the first time. Arabic numerals should be used to indicate numbers, except when used in the beginning of a paragraph. Non-proprietary (generic) names of drugs should be used.
Do not include tables, graphs, algorithms, pictures or references in the abstract. Abstracts that include tables, graphs, algorithms, pictures, or references will not be accepted.
Accepted abstracts will be printed as submitted. Changes to abstracts will not be accepted after on-line submission. Abstracts should be edited and carefully reviewed prior to submission. A common reason abstracts are not accepted is significant typographical or grammatical errors.
Only the submitting author of the abstract will receive all correspondence via e-mail from AAPA.
Clinical and Professional Gallery Guidelines
Clinical abstract presentations are divided into the following categories:
- Original Research - report of study findings or other research project that has not been previously presented or published.
- Clinical Report/Case Studies - clinical case reports or clinical vignettes highlighting unusual cases or innovative approaches to clinical problems/techniques.
- Previously Presented - abstracts that have been presented at another national or international medical meeting, scientific session, etc.
- Purpose: a brief statement explaining why the abstract was done, preferably limited to one sentence
- Methods: materials, methods, and any analytical procedures used, preferably limited to two sentences
- Results: need to be presented in sufficient detail to support the conclusions
(It is inadequate to state: "The results will be discussed" or "The data will be presented.") - Conclusions: the authors' opinion about the meaning of the study
Education Gallery Guidelines
These guidelines should be followed in addition to those listed under Abstract Submission and Formatting Guidelines.
Educational abstract presentations are divided into the following categories:
- Educational research - original research done in PA education including results from a grant funded project.
- Curricular innovation - a descriptive poster about a new teaching method, learning opportunity or other innovative educational modality introduced into the clinical or didactic phase of a PA program
- Previously presented - abstracts that have been presented at PAEA's Education Forum or other health professions education venue
Project directors of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded PA programs are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts. HRSA will not be sponsoring travel stipends for the 2010 poster session; however, AAPA recognizes the value of training grants in generating innovative techniques for PA education and strongly encourages their participation.
Educational research abstracts will be peer-reviewed by PA educators and PAs familiar with PA education.
PA education abstracts will be evaluated based on their overall quality, the level of innovation, inclusion of measurable outcomes, and value to other PA educators.
Posters that were previously presented at a PAEA Education Forum can be submitted for the AAPA poster session. Authors should follow AAPA's submission guidelines.
Student Research Gallery Guidelines
These guidelines should be followed in addition to those listed under Abstract Submission and Formatting Guidelines.
Students may submit abstracts for consideration in the Student Research Gallery to include original research, clinical reports/case studies, and previously presented posters.
All student submissions must meet the following criteria:
- Abstract submissions must be original work by PA student author(s), originating from research projects and/or assignments in physician assistant education courses.
- A faculty member must serve as one of the co-authors.
- The primary and submitting authors with the exception of the faculty co-author must be students at the time of abstract submission.
- Original research projects should be completed at the time of abstract submission; however, well-designed research studies will be considered without the completion of the Results or Conclusions sections. In this case, the selection will be based on the quality of the study design and the question(s) being asked. If available, the anticipated results and outcomes should be adequately addressed in the abstract.
- Clinical reports/case studies highlighting unusual cases or innovative approaches to clinical problems/techniques and previously presented posters may be submitted for the Student Gallery. The information must originate from research projects or assignments in physician assistant education courses.
- Literature reviews will not be accepted.
- Purpose: a brief statement explaining why the abstract was done
- Methods: materials, methods, and any analytical procedures used
- Results: should be presented in sufficient detail to support the conclusions (If results are not yet available, then anticipated results should be included.)
- Conclusions: the authors' opinion about the meaning of the study even if results are not yet available.
As an added enticement, AAPA's Clinical and Scientific Affairs Council will award up to three $500 travel stipends to the outstanding student abstracts. The stipend has been named in honor of the late Karen Brich, a Chatham College faculty member who mentored dozens of PA students and encouraged them to present posters at the annual conference.
Abstract Acknowledgement
After you have successfully completed the submission application, you will receive an e-mail notification confirming receipt of your abstract. If you have not received confirmation within 24 hours, please contact Cheryl Holmes at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Poster Guidelines
The typical poster surface provided by convention centers is approximately 4 feet high and 8 feet wide. A neutral color fabric is surrounded by the metal frame. We will provide push pins for mounting.
A sample layout has been provided below. The poster should have the title placed at the top with the authors' names and affiliations (optional) beneath it. We recommend lettering of at least 1.5 inches high for easy readability. The title should match that submitted with the abstract.
The poster should also include a copy of the abstract, and expanded sections of the purpose, methods, results and conclusions as appropriate to the type of abstract. Use large enough fonts for subtitles and text so that the poster can be read from approximately 2-3 feet away. Avoid the use of script fonts that are difficult to read.
A popular technique is to produce a single sheet poster using PowerPoint. When creating a single sheet, the dimensions of the poster should be less than 4 feet by 8 feet to account for the 2 inch metal frame surrounding the poster surface and variations in its size.
All illustrations (graphs, pictures, figures, tables) should be large enough for easy observation. Matte finish on graphs or pictures gives better visibility due to reduction of glare. All figures and tables should have brief captions.
Authors are responsible for the transportation of their presentations. Roll poster materials in a large mailing tube or place in a large portfolio for travel to the meeting. Do not mail posters to the conference headquarters. See the Frequently Asked Questions on the Poster Session Web page for more information and resources on designing and presenting posters.
Sample Poster Presentation Layout
Abstract and Poster Timeline
- January 15: Abstracts deadline; all abstracts must be received by 11:59 p.m., EST
- January 20: Abstracts distributed to reviewers
- February 10: Abstracts received from reviewers
- March 5: E-mail of notification sent to submitting authors
- March 24: Deadline for authors to confirm participation
- April 16: Deadline for pre-registration
- May 30: Poster set-up begins
- June 1: Presenters at posters (From Noon to 1:00 p.m.)
- June 2: Final poster removal
Notification
Decisions regarding acceptance will be made by March 5, 2010. The submitting author will be notified via e-mail of the final results. Authors of accepted abstracts are required to make their own travel arrangements to present and discuss their research at the annual conference. Reminder: Presenting authors must register for the conference by April 16 to receive the pre-registration rate. Nonmembers will have to pay the nonmember rate.
Attendance Policy
Authors of accepted posters are required to be present at their posters for discussion at the specified time during the annual conference. Authors are also encouraged to attend and participate in the other annual conference activities. If your poster includes more than one author, at least one of the presenters at the annual conference must be a PA or PA student and a current member of AAPA.
Blue Ribbons
In 2010 there will be no "blue ribbons" awarded.
Continuing Medical Education Eligibility
Clinical and professional research is eligible for Category II (Elective) CME toward NCCPA certificate maintenance. Category II (Elective) CME is earned on an hour-per-hour basis.
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