From Physical Therapist to Physician Associate: Darvin Foo Found New Fulfillment

After 17 years as a physical therapist, Darvin Foo was ready for a change. He found gratifying work as a physician associate at Shriners Children’s Northern California, a pediatric specialty hospital where he works on the sports medicine and complex hip teams. As a PA, Foo strives to build connection, both as a provider and sometimes a mentor, with his young patients.

March 2, 2026

Welcome to the New AAPA Community

AAPA recently launched the new and improved AAPA Community—a members-only online space created to support meaningful discussions about the PA profession by PAs, students, and pre-PAs in all stages of their careers.

March 2, 2026

AAPA Files Formal Comments Opposing Proposed Federal Student Loan Rule

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) has filed formal public comments with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) opposing its proposal to exclude PA programs from higher federal “professional” student loan limits and urging the Department to align the final rule with the statute by classifying PAs under the professional loan tier. 

February 26, 2026

What’s at Stake: Fighting for PA Access to Student Loans

Since the announcement of the Department of Education’s proposed cap on federal student loans, AAPA has received nearly 2,000 of stories from PAs, PA students, and pre-PAs describing how essential federal loans are to affording PA education and how the Department’s proposed rule would disrupt the PA workforce pipeline. This article is the second in a special AAPA News Central series, “What’s at Stake: Fighting for PA Access to Student Loans.”

February 20, 2026

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