From AAPA’s Leaders

Hear directly from the president and chair of AAPA’s Board of Directors, the organization’s chief executive officer, and your fellow PAs who volunteer their time and expertise in support of the profession. Be inspired by the ways in which they give back to their communities and their patients and work to raise awareness of PAs, and stay up to date on AAPA’s short- and long-term initiatives and business goals.

From Our President

Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi, DM, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA

President and Chair, Board of Directors

From Our President

  • March
    2024

    • The Countdown to AAPA 2024 is On!
      In the lead up to AAPA 2024, President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi shares details on some of the special events, CME offerings, and other opportunities PAs and PA students can look forward to in Houston.

  • January
    2024

    • 5 Ways to Be an Advocate for the PA Profession
      AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi celebrates the PA profession being named one of the top five jobs across the country by U.S. News & World Report – for the seventh year in a row! To start off 2024, he challenges all PAs to advocate for the profession and make their voices heard.

  • December
    2023

    • Our Profession’s Top Victories This Year
      To end the year, AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi reports on the profession’s top legislative wins, highlights a new PAs Go Beyond campaign milestone, and more.

  • November
    2023

    • A Thanksgiving Reflection: Leading with Purpose
      With Thanksgiving fast approaching, AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi reflects on the diverse opportunities that shaped his career and urges PAs to look to the future. He encourages all PAs to embrace a leadership role in their community or practice, to make a difference for their patients and the PA profession.

  • October
    2023

    • Happy PA Week!
      AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi spotlights the numerous ways PAs can participate during National PA Week. He also highlights a national PAs Go Beyond advertising campaign that complements a dynamic TV and radio tour featuring AAPA and state leaders to share the latest Harris poll data.

  • September
    2023

    • Save the Date for PA Week
      In the lead up to PA Week, AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi urges PAs to show their support for their profession and their fellow PAs, by engaging on social media and spreading the word that PAs Go Beyond.

  • August
    2023

    • PA Leadership Opportunities: Unleash Your Potential!
      This month, AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi encourages all PAs to consider how they can become a leader in the profession and work toward removing barriers and increasing access to high-quality patient care.

 

Read Archived Messages

From Our CEO
Lisa Gables headshot

Lisa M. Gables, CPA

Chief Executive Officer

From Our CEO

  • December
    2023

    • The Latest on PA Brand and Title Change
      Since the AAPA House of Delegates passed a resolution affirming “physician associate” as the official title of the PA profession in 2021, AAPA has made progress in building public awareness of this new title while simultaneously elevating the PA brand.

  • May
    2023

    • Tennessee Patients Weigh in on the Current State of Healthcare
      The Harris Poll findings illuminate challenges patients face every day to take care of themselves and their loved ones. The alarming poll results signal a need for immediate action to shore up the healthcare workforce and increase access to care for patients.

  • April
    2023

    • Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Learning Lab
      During this DAC Learning Laboratory, AAPA CEO Lisa Gables spoke about the importance of partnership and collaboration in developing sustainable and scalable programs for Alzheimer’s early detection.

  • February
    2023

    • Letter to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
      AAPA CEO Lisa Gables provides comments on the proposed rulemaking on medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder and how AAPA is committed to working with federal agencies to advance our shared mission of improving access to high-quality healthcare and ending the opioid epidemic.

  • November
    2020

    • AAPA Response to AMA’s #StopScopeCreep Campaign
      In a letter to the American Medical Association (AMA), AAPA CEO Lisa Gable and President Beth Smolko ask that AMA cease advancing the false and offensive narrative in the #StopScopeCreep campaign, which suggests PA care is not safe and jeopardizes patient safety.

  • March
    2020

    • To fight coronavirus, let physician assistants order home health services
      CEO Lisa Gables discusses how PAs play a significant part of the on-the-ground efforts to diagnose and treat COVID-19, and what legislative action can be taken to allow PAs to practice to the fullest extent of their training and abilities to improve access and affordability of care to patients.

Our Volunteer Leaders

Our Volunteer Leaders

  • September
    2022

    • PA Ben Reynolds Represents PAs at the Leadership Table
      Ben Reynolds, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, believes participation is the lifeblood of a community. But he’s more than a participant; he’s a leader, always looking for ways to improve others’ lives – whether PAs, patients, or fellow community members.

  • August
    2022

 

PAs Go Beyond News

PA Martine Altieri Brings an Obesity Medicine Clinic to Her Cardiology Patients

When applying for a position in cardiology, PA Martine Altieri expressed interest in starting an obesity medicine clinic for cardiology patients. Now Altieri, who is also a co-host of the JAAPA podcast, is focused on building up this clinic, as well educating as many PAs as possible about obesity medicine and more.

A Day in the Life of a PA in Orthopaedic Express Care

PA Chuck Dowell talks about a typical day as lead PA for an orthopaedic, urgent care-type clinic. He also recommends attending the AAPA/AAOS Musculoskeletal Galaxy Conference—a good fit for PAs in any specialty who are treating orthopaedic injuries.

PAs Create Program to Boost Representation of Black Men in the PA Profession

To address the low percentage of Black men in the PA profession, PAs Lucy Kibe and Samuel Paik established the Empowering Diversity, Growth, and Excellence (EDGE-PA) program to offer tools and mentorship to potential PA students.

During Her First Marathon, PA Melissa Volpe Stopped to Save the Life of a Fellow Runner

PA Melissa Volpe was approaching mile 13 of the Richmond Marathon in Virginia when she saw another runner on the ground. She sprinted to the scene and led a group in giving CPR. From this experience, Volpe found a new goal: advocating for widespread CPR training and the use of automated external defibrillators to improve outcomes for people who experience cardiac arrest.

TV Host and ‘Wellness Kitchenista’ PA Jessica DeLuise Promotes a Food-as-Medicine Philosophy

Jessica DeLuise, PA-C, MHS, CCMS, set out to provide her patients with more tools to help prevent hospital readmission or exacerbations of their chronic diseases. Now, she infuses culinary medicine concepts into her Emmy Award winning show, examining how certain foods can impact one’s health.

Carl Frizell Advocates for Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion

As an educator and mentor, PA Carl Frizell focuses on creating equitable educational environments so students, faculty, and staff feel safe and have the resources they need to meet their goals. It’s a framework that Frizell also encourages his PA students to consider using in their future clinical environments.

PA and Medical Students Serve the Unsheltered Population through the HOME Street Medicine Program

PA and medical students at Florida State University are providing care to unsheltered individuals through the Homeless Outreach Medicine & Education (HOME) Street Medicine Program. Assistant Professor and PA Allison Justice and PA student and HOME president, Samantha Mankus, talk about how they connect with patients who have made their homes in the deep woods, and how this program benefits everyone involved.

PA Vanessa Cobarrubias Becomes First PA in White House Fellows Program

As an outspoken advocate for expanding access to quality healthcare, Vanessa Cobarrubias, PA-C, applied for the White House Fellows program for a chance to engage directly with lawmakers on a national level.

PA Olivia Bell Celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Her Open-Heart Surgery by Running the New York City Marathon

In 1998, eight-year-old Olivia Bell had open-heart surgery to patch a hole between the top two chambers of her heart. In November of this year, Bell commemorated the 25th anniversary of that surgery by running the New York City Marathon for The Children’s Heart Foundation.

A Day in the Life of a PA in Family Medicine

PAs who choose to practice in family medicine will learn a broad range of skills and have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with their patients. Read about a day in the life of PA Joseph Carter, who has practiced in family medicine for four years, and consider signing up for AAPA’s We Are Family (Medicine) Conference in January.