Timeline

Jan – Aug

2020
  • Identify financial implications related to title change
  • The TCI final report presentations will occur during the virtual meeting of the AAPA House of Delegates on Friday, November 20, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST

Oct – Dec

2019
  • Launch quantitative research to gain feedback on selected potential titles
  • Legal counsel identifies conflicts with potential title(s)

Aug – Oct

2019
  • Identify alternative titles based on the PA brand positioning strategy
  • Examine alternative titles to determine any trademark, regulatory, or other conflicts
  • Identify all stakeholders, organizations, partners, etc. that would be impacted by a title change

Jul – Aug

2019
  • Complete quantitative research on PA brand
  • Identify all places in the US Code and Code of Federal Regulations where PAs are named
  • Develop PA brand positioning strategy

May

2019
  • WPP presents an update to AAPA House of Delegates on the research that will guide and inform the best marketing strategy and title for the PA profession

Mar – Apr

2019
  • Quantitative research on PA perceptions begins
  • WPP deploys surveys to PAs and PA students and patients and follows up with employers, patients, and physicians

Nov

2018

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Apr

2019
  • Qualitative research begins and focus groups convene

Oct – Nov

2018
  • WPP develops objectives, refines overall project plan, aligns key assumptions & methodologies, and develops research hypotheses
  • Meets with TCI Advisory Council

Sept

2018
  • AAPA selects WPP to conduct the TCI

Aug

2018
  • AAPA submits request for proposal to search for independent agencies to conduct the TCI

May

2018
  • AAPA House of Delegates submits a resolution to move forward with a PA Title Change Investigation (TCI)
  • AAPA Board of Directors approves TCI project plan and funding