AAPA CEO, Jennifer L. Dorn, MPA, Appointed to Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Survivor Advisory Committee

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Oct. 4, 2017) – The American Academy of PAs (AAPA) announced today that Jennifer L. (Jenna) Dorn, CEO of AAPA, has been appointed by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David J. Shulkin to serve as a member of the newly formed VA Veterans’ Family, Caregiver, and Survivor Advisory Committee. The Committee will advise the Secretary on matters related to Veterans’ families, caregivers, and survivors, with a focus on gaining a better understanding of the use of VA care and benefits services. The committee is expected to make recommendations on issues related to access, quality, and accountability, three areas that have a real life, daily impact on veteran families.

“It is my honor to serve on this committee to advance issues important to veterans and their families,” said Dorn, who is CEO of AAPA, the national organization that represents more than 115,500 PAs (physician assistants) who provide medical care to patients throughout the nation. The PA profession has long been connected and committed to veterans and veterans’ healthcare. The first PA students were Navy Corpsmen who served in the Vietnam War. Today, the VA is the single largest employer of PAs, with more than 2,200 PAs caring for patients in VA hospitals and facilities across the country.

Previously, Dorn was President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration, a nonprofit organization chartered by Congress and dedicated to improving the management of government.  Dorn’s 30 years of management experience include leading multi-billion dollar federal agencies, as well as start-ups and well-established nonprofit organizations. Appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to four senior leadership posts in the federal government, she has served as the U.S. representative on the Board of Directors of the World Bank, Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, Assistant Secretary for Policy at the Department of Labor, and Associate Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Her nonprofit leadership posts include Senior Vice President of the American National Red Cross, President of the National Health Museum, and service on a number of boards.

The VA Veterans’ Family, Caregiver and Survivor Advisory Committee will be chaired by former Senator Elizabeth H. Dole, founder and board chair of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring the nation’s 5.5 million military caregivers –  spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured veterans.

The 20 members of the Committee come from various sectors and organizations, and include members of Veteran-focused organizations, military history and academic communities, veterans service organizations, military service organizations, the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, non-profit, private and corporate partners, and the federal executive branch. The committee will also include research experts, service providers, veterans’ family members, caregivers and survivors, and leaders of key stakeholder associations and organizations.

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About the American Academy of PAs
AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. Founded in 1968, AAPA represents a profession of more than 115,500 PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories and the uniformed services. Visit www.aapa.org to learn more.