Honoring Ina Cushman, Past President of AAPA
“Be true to yourself. Be true to your profession. Be true to your education. These three pieces add up to a whole and complete life.”
November 19, 2025
AAPA honors Ina Cushman, PA-C, AAPA’s 34th president (2002-03) and committed patient advocate and preceptor. Cushman passed away on November 16, 2025.
During a commencement address in 2002, Cushman shared, “Be true to yourself. Be true to your profession. Be true to your education. These three pieces add up to a whole and complete life.”
Cushman held leadership positions within AAPA, the Massachusetts Association of PAs, and JAAPA. During her time as president of AAPA, she testified in front of Congress, representing more than 100,000 PAs. While practicing in orthopaedic and general surgery, Cushman developed an innovative method of wound care that decreased recovery time and was then adopted by 14 healthcare centers. Later in her career, she became a lecturer, mentoring students and aiding with the creation of the Northeastern University PA Program orthopaedics course.
“PA Cushman made an indelible impact on our profession through her leadership, innovation, and commitment to educating the next generation of PAs,” said AAPA President Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO. “Her career-long passion for this profession serves as an inspiration to us all.”
Read Cushman’s full biography from the PA History Society.
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