Meet David J. Bunnell, 2026–27 President and Chair of the AAPA Board of Directors

President Bunnell Brings Experience in Clinical Practice, Education, Research, and Professional Leadership

July 1, 2026

By David J. Bunnell

Today marks the beginning of my tenure as president and chair of the American Academy of Physician Associates Board of Directors. I am deeply grateful to the physician associate community for the opportunity to serve and for the trust you have placed in me. At a time when healthcare continues to evolve and communities face growing challenges in accessing high-quality care, this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

My career has taken me through many parts of healthcare. I began in emergency medical services, becoming an EMT at sixteen and a paramedic at eighteen. I later practiced in emergency medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, surgical critical care, and cardiac electrophysiology before becoming an educator, researcher, and national volunteer leader. Although those roles have been different, they have all shared the same purpose: helping patients receive better care by strengthening the people and systems that support them.

Across every stage of my career, one conclusion has remained constant. PAs are essential to the health of our communities.

Long before PA school, I learned an important lesson about healthcare while serving in EMS. In the community where I served, having all hands on deck was often a necessity. When a call came in, no one asked whether conditions were ideal or whether the system was perfectly designed. We showed up, assessed what was in front of us, worked together, and did the best we could for the person who needed us.

I learned early that healthcare depends on people who are willing to step forward when others need them. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career, and I continue to see it reflected every day in PAs across the country.

Whether caring for patients in operating rooms, teaching future PAs in the classroom, conducting research, or serving in professional leadership, I have seen firsthand how PAs improve access to care, strengthen healthcare teams, and help patients navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system. Our profession’s greatest strength has always been its ability to adapt. PAs are uniquely prepared to work across settings, specialties, and healthcare systems that continue to evolve to meet the needs of patients and communities.

The work PAs do has never been more important. Yet there remains a gap between what PAs contribute every day and how our profession is understood by many policymakers, employers, and members of the public. Closing that gap is one of AAPA’s most important responsibilities. We must continue demonstrating the value PAs bring to patients and communities, while advocating for practice environments that allow PAs to practice to the full extent of their education, experience, and expertise.

As president, I hope to help strengthen that understanding by listening carefully to our members, representing the profession with integrity, and ensuring that AAPA remains focused on what matters most: improving the health of the patients and communities we serve.

I also believe the future of our profession depends on investing in the next generation of PAs. Supporting students, advancing high-quality education, embracing thoughtful innovation, and preparing the profession for the changing healthcare landscape are essential responsibilities that will shape our future.

What gives me the greatest confidence is not any one initiative or policy. It is the people who make up this profession. Every day, PAs care for patients in urban medical centers and rural communities, mentor students and colleagues, lead healthcare teams, improve healthcare systems, and serve patients with compassion and professionalism.

That is the profession I am honored to represent, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside you as we build its future together.

David J. Bunnell, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, is president and chair of the American Academy of Physician Associates.

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