PA Kirsten Brondstater Champions Inclusivity for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Communities

PA Kirsten Brondstater was told she would never work in medicine because of her hearing impairment. This only fueled her resolve, and she has since become a PA and earned a Doctor of Medical Science degree. Now, she advocates for appropriate accommodations and inclusivity in medical settings and beyond for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

Get to Know AAPA’s 2026 Social Media Ambassadors

AAPA is thrilled to announce the second year of the Social Media Ambassador program! These 17 PAs reflect the breadth of the profession, bringing together PAs at various career stages, from early-career PAs to experienced clinicians with more than 20 years of practice. Get to know the people behind this program and follow along as they highlight and amplify the voices of PAs nationwide!

CM&F Group Partners with the Physician Associate Foundation

PAF is proud to announce a generous contribution from CM&F Group, a longtime advocate and supporter of physician associates. The funds will support PAF’s IMPACT Grant program during PA Week and its broader mission-driven work for Giving Tuesday —advancing PA-led efforts to transform health and change lives.

Why I’m Inspired by the Spirit of the PA Profession

For nearly 60 years, PAs have been essential members of the healthcare team. During PA Week, AAPA President Todd Pickard shares why he’s inspired by the profession’s enduring spirit of leadership and service.

This PA Week: Celebrate 117 Years of Progress

PA Week is almost here! Join us from October 6-12 as we celebrate 117 years of history, beginning with the man who started it all: Dr. Eugene Stead. From the first graduating PA class to a growing profession that’s now nearly 190,000 PAs strong, we have plenty to celebrate.

Early-Career PA William Lara Aims to Provide Care to the Underserved Community in Rural Nevada

In the early 2000s, eight-year-old William Lara was diagnosed with a tumor in his lower back. He grew up in Mesquite, Nevada, where healthcare access was a challenge. Lara had to travel about an hour away for surgery and follow-up care. Now, having recently graduated from PA school, he has a long-term goal of returning to Mesquite to open a much-needed family practice to care for the underserved.