22 PA Students Elected to AAPA’s House of Delegates

November 25, 2019

By Kaci Hardsock, PA-S

Last month, the Student Academy Board of Directors elected 22 student delegates to join me on the floor at the 2020 AAPA House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. As chief delegate, I have the privilege of leading and working with the HOD student delegation, as they offer student perspectives on policies that guide the PA profession. As the Student Academy Board of Directors member elected to this vital position, my responsibilities also include educating and counseling other Student Board members, as well as students at large, on the purpose of the HOD.

I had been looking forward to the election since May, when I was elected chief delegate. Since then, the Student Board and I worked diligently to promote awareness to PA students of the opportunity presented by serving as an HOD student delegate, while also emphasizing the importance of the HOD for our patients and the PA profession. Much to my delight, our efforts were rewarded with a 55% increase in applications from the previous year. I used to be a college coach, and I was so excited to review each application and cast my vote – it felt like I was electing my national championship team. What I did not expect was for all of the applicants to be five-star recruits. Every applicant was passionate about our profession, eager to learn, and offered unique experiences and backgrounds. It made voting very difficult for the Student Board.

[PA Students: Engagement in AAPA is Vital]

The HOD student delegation represents more than 17,000 students across the country and is the future of the PA profession. Not only do these students bring fresh enthusiasm and unique perspective to the HOD, but also their involvement today as students prepares them for the challenges of leading the profession tomorrow. These are the individuals who will continue to drive the PA profession forward.

[Student Academy President Appoints Student Board Committee Members]

It is an honor to serve with my colleagues and I look forward to working with the hearts and minds of this year’s delegation. The following students will hold their positions until September 30, 2020:

• Alexandra Huechteman, Baylor College of Medicine
• Bari Peyser, Quinnipiac University
• Brandon Mark Hughey, University of Toledo
• Brittany J. Dingler, Drexel University
• Calvin Richards, Frostburg State University
• Corinne Benson, Touro University-CA
• Daniel M. Garner, Texas Tech University
• Daniel Mulcahy, MCPHS University
• Darin Poulsen, Mary Baldwin University
• Delilah Dominguez, Quinnipiac University
• Hunter Gibbs, University of Alabama Birmingham
• John M. Giacona, UT Southwestern
• Julia Piwowarski, University of Saint Joseph
• Julie Harning, University of Detroit Mercy
• Karin Madison, Baylor College of Medicine
• Katherine Crandall, University of Southern CA
• Lea Hix, Stanford University
• Megan Ann Pederson, St. Catherine University
• Michael Gumpert, Radford University
• Raquel Padilla Moore, Oregon Health & Science University
• Rebecca Ranous, University of North Texas
• Sunayana Chopra Pydah, University of Lynchburg

Kaci Hardsock is the current chief delegate to the HOD student delegation and also sits on the Student Academy Board of Directors. She is a Student Board representative to the student Advocacy & Policy Committee and a member of the Student Governance Committee. Hardsock is a current third-year student at Monmouth University and can be reached at [email protected].