News Central

After a 10-day family vacation in Hawaii, Emily Haley, PA-C, boarded a late-night flight bound for home, expecting nothing more than a quiet ride. But high above the Pacific Ocean, she found herself back in the role she knows best—emergency medicine provider.

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) has released the findings of its 2025 AAPA Salary Report, shedding light on key trends shaping the physician associate/assistant (PA) profession. Notably, the report reveals a 5.5% increase in the total median compensation for PAs, reflecting a growing recognition of their essential role in healthcare.

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) will explore how innovation is helping medical providers address today’s top healthcare issues and improve patient outcomes during AAPA 2025’s opening main stage event on May 17 in Denver.

Kansas has officially joined the growing ranks of states participating in the PA Licensure Compact, following the passage of HB 2609. With this milestone, Kansas becomes the 16th state to enter the compact, marking a significant advancement in improving access to care and expanding licensure mobility for PAs.

Explore the candidates endorsed by AAPA's 2025 Nominating Committee. Learn about the evaluation and selection process behind each endorsement.

Asha Byrd, PA-C, first saw the importance of building a rapport with patients through her volunteer work at medical facilities like the Northeastern Tribal Health System in Oklahoma. Now as a physician associate in primary care, she continues to prioritize connection—along with creating safe spaces and addressing barriers—when caring for undeserved patients at the holistic-minded Sacramento Native American Health Center.

It's hard to believe how much we have already accomplished in 2025, but there is much more to be done! In case you missed it, here are some recent Advocacy highlights.

Montana is the latest state to join the PA Licensure Compact, following Governor Greg Gianforte’s signing of HB 183 on April 3.

Jenny Burke was on her second day of ski patrol in Casper, Wyoming, when her team got the call: A man was lying in the snow at the bottom of the hill. Burke responded to Colin Anderson’s cardiac arrest as a volunteer at the ski facility, then later took the lead on a crucial procedure as a cardiothoracic physician associate on his open-heart surgery team at the local hospital.