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.
Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi, DM, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA
President and Chair, Board of Directors
From Our President
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March
2024 -
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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.
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February
2024 -
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Strengthening PA Practice: Recent Advocacy Wins & Strategies
This month, AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi honors remarkable PAs throughout history and shares pivotal advocacy wins, from a landmark federal ruling to grassroots movements in state legislatures.
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January
2024 -
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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.
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December
2023 -
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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.
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November
2023 -
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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.
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October
2023 -
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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.
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September
2023 -
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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.
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August
2023 -
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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.
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July
2023 -
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Charting A Path Forward: My Goals and Vision for Our Profession
In his first month in office, AAPA President Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi, DM, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA shares his PA story, leadership philosophy, and vision for the PA profession.
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July
2023 -
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Leadership Voices: Folusho Ogunfiditimi, DM, MPH, PA-C
In an interview with POCN, President Folusho Ogunfiditimi shares insight into the future of AAPA and how its work is vital to the growth and success of the PA profession.
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Lisa M. Gables, CPA
Chief Executive Officer
From Our CEO
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December
2023 -
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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.
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August
2023 -
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Oregon clinic in Sherman County tests tool kit to help patients with cognitive decline
AAPA CEO Lisa Gables joined Erin Haines, a PA at the Sherman County Medical Clinic, on OPB’s Think Out Loud to discuss the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) toolkit and pilot program.
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June
2023 -
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Raising the Voices of Patients Through Public Opinion Research
AAPA CEO Lisa Gables reflects on AAPA’s commitment to enhancing patient health and empowering PAs to help address modern healthcare challenges.
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May
2023 -
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Workforce Shortages Demand Collaborative, Cross-Sector Solutions
AAPA CEO Lisa Gables speaks on the shortage of direct care and healthcare workers and the growing population of older adults who rely upon them for medical care, community services and support.
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May
2023 -
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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.
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April
2023 -
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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.
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April
2023 -
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AAPA Joins United Front on Value-Based Medicare Reimbursement Proposal for Primary Care
AAPA’s CEO Lisa Gables stresses the need to change the structure of the healthcare delivery system by strengthening the primary care workforce to provide preventive care, chronic disease management, and help address skyrocketing mental health and substance use problems.
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February
2023 -
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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.
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December
2022 -
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Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
AAPA CEO Lisa Gables reflects on the inclusivity, tolerance, and kindness engrained in the PA profession and shares an update on AAPA’s DEI initiatives.
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September
2022 -
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World Alzheimer’s Day: What to know about Alzheimer’s screenings
AAPA CEO Lisa Gables joins reporters on FOX 5 to share the importance of screening for Alzheimer’s and a special grant that is paving the way for treatment.
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September
2022 -
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Alzheimer’s is expected to affect 150 million families worldwide by 2050
ABC’s Good Morning Washington welcomes AAPA CEO Lisa Gables to discuss how Alzheimer’s affects the healthcare workforce of today and the future.
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July
2022 -
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CEO Lisa Gables Shares Her Perspective on AAPA Five-Year Strategic Pillars
Meet AAPA’s CEO Lisa Gables and learn her perspective on AAPA’s five-year strategic pillars: Partnering With Purpose, Advancing the Core, and Building a Movement.
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June
2021 -
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Q&A: AAPA seeks ‘physician associate’ title change despite opposition from AMA
After members of AAPA’s House of Delegates passed a resolution to change the title of physician assistants to “physician associates,” CEO Lisa Gables spoke with Healio Primary Care to explain the reasons behind the title change, how it will be implemented and more.
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November
2020 -
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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.
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March
2020 -
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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.
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Our Volunteer Leaders
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September
2022 -
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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.
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August
2022 -
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AAPA Past President Josanne Pagel Urges PAs to ‘Just Say Yes’
Josanne Pagel, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, reflects on her more than 20 years of dedicated volunteer service to AAPA at the state and national level. The best way to strengthen the profession, she advises, is to mentor future PAs to take up the mantle.
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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.
March 5, 2024
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.
February 29, 2024
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.
February 23, 2024
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.
February 9, 2024
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.
January 25, 2024
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.
January 19, 2024
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.
January 8, 2024
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.
December 18, 2023
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.
December 12, 2023
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.
December 6, 2023