Maine Becomes Second State to Secure Legislative Title Change 

June 14, 2025

Maine became the second state to change the title of the PA profession to physician associate with LD 1166 becoming law. Oregon previously adopted the updated title in April 2024. 

The Maine Academy of Physician Associates (MEAPA) has worked on this effort for two years, engaging with members and working together with state legislators, Board of Licensure in Medicine, and the University of New England, Maine’s only PA program. 

“It was a strategic plan that took time and dedication. We had support via written testimony from other COs, specifically Alisa Gifford from Oregon and Ana Eliza Souza Cunha from Connecticut who grew up in Maine and graduated from Yale PA school as a physician associate,” said Kathleen Moneghan, DHA, MPAS, PA-C, vice president of the MEAPA. We are so thankful to our bill sponsor, Rep. Kristen Cloutier, lobbyist, Laura Harper, and AAPA for their support. It is an exciting time to be a PA, and we can’t wait to see the positive change this has with our patients and with our role in the healthcare system.”  

AAPA congratulates MEAPA for building legislator support for this profession-wide effort to enhance patient understanding of PA expertise and their role in patient care. 

“Every step we take forward – whether legislative title change, a PA program name update, or a CO embracing ‘physician associate’ as the current title – brings us closer to ushering in a new era of our profession where misconceptions about PAs’ abilities will not hinder efforts to modernize PA practice,” said AAPA President and Chair of the Board Jason Prevelige, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA.  

Another Title Change Win on the Horizon!  
New Hampshire legislation to change the PA title is pending – keep watch on AAPA’s News Central for more updates!  

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