Past Accomplishments Move PAEA Toward Future Goals

Dana Sayre-Stanhope, EdD, PA-C
President

When I arrived in Tucson for our Annual Education Forum back in October, with my presidential term due to begin in January, I was anticipating a relatively quiet year working out the details of implementing our new strategic plan. I thought that the really tough work of the transition was behind us and that my work would consist largely of refining what we’d already accomplished to move the Association still further along. At the conclusion of that meeting my perception of the coming year was significantly altered and, I must say, engendered much more excitement. Folks I spoke with were alternately consoling (Boy, do you have a tough year ahead!) or enthusiastic (Boy, do you have an exciting year ahead!), and both, it seems, will be correct. As always, the passionate discussions during the business meetings — and in the hallways — remind me of the deep commitment we all have to the health and growth of our profession, to the development of our newest colleagues, and ultimately to the health of our patients.

The national scene is presenting us with political candidates who are taking positions on health care access through various insurance processes, physicians are retiring from practice at unprecedented rates, and sociologists tell us that this generation of students fear boredom above all else. There is the very real likelihood that we will soon have our first female president or our first African-American president, and even as we participate in bringing these outcomes about, we’ll be watching for their ramifications for the PA profession.

Closer to home, PAEA has focused heavily on its transition to independent management over the past several years. It is fair to say that the administrative transition is complete, and we now embark on the kind of transition that is inherent in any dynamic and fluid environment. Our challenges are of a different nature, but no less demanding, while our opportunities are just as great. I’d like to update you briefly on where PAEA stands with regard to the issues we have been exploring over the last year before I speculate on what the future may bring.

PAEA’s Strategic Plan
One year ago, we embarked on a formal process to create a living, vital strategic plan for our future directions that would capture the best of what PAEA is coupled with the best that the Association can be. The board will be meeting in retreat this month to complete its work on this plan and vote on its final approval. The first phase of the process was completed last January with an articulation of PAEA’s core values. These values have been captured and are reflected in the goals which will, in turn, be realized by our committees and task forces. As the board considered the ways we might express these values, we used four questions to frame their discussion:

1. What do we know about stakeholders’ needs, wants, and preferences?
2. What do we know about the current realities and evolving dynamics of our environment?
3. What do we know about the “capacity” and “strategic position” of our Association?
4. What are the ethical implications?

Within this framework a plan was drafted, revised, and ultimately shared with you. Some of our committees have already considered how they might best implement those portions of the plan that are specific to their functions, and others will be considering their roles during their spring meetings. Thanks to those of you who took the time to provide feedback. Your comments were insightful and once again demonstrated the importance of clear communication and well-informed feedback. You will see many of your suggestions incorporated into the final document, which will be published on the PAEA Web site shortly.

Knowledge-Based Organization
PAEA has devoted significant energy to becoming a more knowledge-based organization, recognizing the importance of gathering appropriate information and communicating it effectively. We have taken a number of steps in this regard. In addition to our monthly newsletter, the Networker, we have instituted quarterly communiqués to committees, liaisons, and other Association leaders; conducted surveys to solicit information about the wants and needs of members; and communicated directly with program directors and other groups as needed. As we move into the New Year, the Research and Data Workgroup has completed the first of several surveys that will provide a meaningful dataset to inform the Association’s decisions, guide our participation in national dialogues, and improve the products and services we are able to provide to our members. Most recently, we identified a vendor for a communication management system that will take us to the next level with our Web site and allow us to provide more targeted information to groups of members and other constituencies.

Collaboration with Other PA Organizations: the Four Organization Meeting
Early in December I had the pleasure of attending the Four Organization (AAPA, ARC-PA, NCCPA, and PAEA) Meeting at PAEA’s offices in Alexandria. It was particularly interesting to compare this meeting with one I had attended four years ago in my capacity as chair of the ARC-PA. The tenor of this meeting was very different from the one that prevailed earlier, at a time of tension across the organizations. This group met already committed to work together to address many of the very questions raised in Tucson. I can report that the meeting ended with the group’s acceptance of a PAEA proposal, developed by outgoing president Anita Glicken, for a visioning process that will focus on the future of PA education as it relates to projected trends in PA practice, the PA workforce, and health care policy. We will be providing you with more information on this as the structure and process evolves.

Challenges Facing the Association
In addition to the tasks that we have set ourselves through our strategic plan, there will be other questions to tackle. Do we join the movement toward advanced degrees? Do we refocus our commitment to primary care? Do we shift our emphasis to acknowledge our students’ increasing interest in specialty practice? Do we weigh into the inevitable debate around health care reorganization? Do we focus our attention on meeting our nation’s need for providers or do we give equal attention to the crushing need for health care internationally? With the dramatic increase in medical technology, how do we ensure that our graduates are adequately prepared but do not become technicians?

Challenge to PAEA Members

How can one help but be energized by the opportunity to participate in such profound deliberations? Very real change is in the air, and change often elicits passion. Just as I left Tucson reinvigorated by the challenges I recognized this year, so I challenge each of you to communicate with me regarding the question that you feel most passionate about. Tell me which issues keep you awake at night or generate the most excitement for you. There is a role for each of us — let me know what yours is.

Last year, Anita concluded her inaugural message by citing the Chinese blessing, “May you live in interesting times.” We do, we certainly do.