Announcements

PAEA Seeks Photos of Preceptors and Students in Action
PAEA is seeking photographs of PA students working with preceptors in clinical settings for a PAEA booth display to be set up at the AAPA’s Annual PA Conference in San Antonio. Photos should be of high (ideally professional) quality, at least 300 dpi, and should be sent electronically to Steven Lane at slane@paeaonline.org. All photos used will be credited appropriately.

Submissions Deadline Approaching for AAPA’s New Book Corner at Annual Conference Store
AAPA, which recently announced a new Book Corner at the Annual Conference AAPA Store, is accepting submissions for placement in the Book Corner until March 28. From May 23-29, publications that PAs have either written or collaborated on will be showcased and sold. The content of the publications must be nonclinical and relevant to the PA profession (for example, the history of the profession, regulatory and professional issues).

For more information, visit the Book Corner section in the annual conference Web pages at www.aapa.org/annual-conf/sanan08/book.php or contact Valerie Baybas, AAPA marketing services manager, at vbaybas@aapa.org or (703) 836-2272, ext. 3118.

PAs for Latino Health Caucus Launches New Features on Web Site
A feature on the new Web site of the AAPA caucus PAs for Latino Health (PALH) allows its members, whether students or fellows, to search for clinical sites that offer opportunities for improving their proficiency in Spanish and that provide health care to the Latino community. This site, in the Members Only section, is intended to serve as a forum for students to list their needs and, through online discussion with other students, fellows, mentors, clinics, or PA program faculty, to locate clinical rotations. The PALH site also includes a Mentoring section through which its more experienced members mentor students, recent graduates, or prospective PAs.

Visit pasforlatinohealth.org for more information or contact Ron Garcia-Herrera, PA-C, the caucus cofounder, with questions at rgpa1@yahoo.com.

Developing the Framework for Healthy People 2020: Public Comment Meeting
The first in a series of public meetings being held across the country to obtain perspectives on the framework used to organize Healthy People 2020 objectives will be held on March 17, in Atlanta, Georgia. This meeting targets HHS region III and IV participants. Four more meetings will be held in spring 2008 across the country and will target participants from the remaining eight HHS regions. A final meeting is planned for the Washington, D.C., area.

All are welcome, including those from the following sectors:

• State and local government
• Academia
• Businesses
• Health careers
• Non-profit and/or volunteer organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Advocacy groups
• Faith-based organizations
• Federal government
• Those interested in improving disease prevention and
  health promotion efforts for the nation

Registration. There is at no cost for registration, which is now open online at http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/regional/default.asp. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.

More Information or Questions. For further details about the agenda, venue, and other regional meetings, visit http://www.healthypeople.gov, or e-mail 2020regional@air.org with any questions.

Public comment on specific objectives will also be sought in 2009. The public will also have opportunities to provide comments for the development of Healthy People 2020 through the Internet at http://www.healthypeople.gov.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Seeks Proposals for Health Policy Research
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Awards in Health Policy Research program funds highly qualified individuals to undertake broad studies of the most challenging health policy issues facing America. Approximately 10 grants of up to $335,000 each will be awarded to investigators from a variety of disciplines to support projects that combine creative and conceptual thinking with innovative policy-relevant approaches. Applications are welcomed from investigators in the health, social, and behavioral sciences as well as other fields. Applicants must be affiliated either with educational institutions or with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations located in the United States or its territories. Past awardees may not apply. Submit a letter of intent by March 26. The complete call for proposals is available at www.rwjf.org/cfp/investigatorawards and the program's Web site at www.investigatorawards.org, or by calling (732) 932-3817.

SAAAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl: Call for Questions
The Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA) is requesting your help in formulating questions for the upcoming SAAAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl in San Antonio. SAAAPA is asking each program to submit 20 questions by March 7. Additional information about the National Medical Challenge Bowl, including registration information, rules, and eligibility, can be found at http://saaapa.aapa.org/students/challengebowl.htm. Registration opens on March 15 for programs interested in registering a team.

Please e-mail your questions, answers, and references to Shannon Faherty, director, SAAAPA, sfaherty@aapa.org. If you have questions, please call (703) 836-2272, ext. 3311.