PAEA Returns to AAPA Conference in San Diego

By Steven Lane

The Association and its board of directors were more visible at AAPA’s 37th Annual PA Conference in San Diego as compared with its relatively low profile last year. The full board met formally during the conference and there were several PAEA-sponsored sessions, including three well-attended sessions dealing with the preceptor initiative. PAEA President Justine Stand addressed the House of Delegates and the SAAAPA Assembly of Representatives while other board members attended the HOD and participated in many other aspects of the conference, including cheering their students on in the Challenge Bowl, where Director at Large Tony Brenneman served as a judge.

“We felt it was important to be here,” said PAEA President Justine Strand. “Though PAEA’s main focus is now on our annual fall Forum, the AAPA Annual Conference is the largest gathering of PAs each year, and there are many opportunities for us to work collaboratively with AAPA and other PA organizations, as well as to represent PA education in policy discussions in the House and in other less formal venues throughout the meeting.”

HOD actions that affected PA education and PAEA included a resolution to change PAEA’s status in the House from voting member to observer status and a revised Professional Practice Council position paper on licensure eligibility for PAs trained outside of the United States. PAEA provided feedback on the paper and will also follow up with Academy leadership on those sections of the paper that related to PA programs.

The board was in favor of the move to observer status, seeing it as a logical step in the Association’s transition to independent management. “As an independent organization, observer status is more appropriate for us,” said Strand. “Just as the AAPA does not have voting rights at our meeting, we should not have voting rights at theirs.” As a recognized observer, PAEA will still have the right to testify at reference committee hearings and to make its views known on the issues.

The board was also pleased to note the change of the AAPA Education Council’s name to Professional Education and Development Council, partly in recognition, as the resolution’s rationale stated, of the possible misperception that the council was concerned with entry-level PA education, “which clearly falls within the purview of the Physician Assistant Education Association.”

At its board retreat and meeting on Tuesday, May 26, the board reviewed progress on the strategic plan and 2009 goals, which include

• Advancing the doctorate issue
• Redefining and clarifying the roles of the Association’s board, committees, and staff
• Developing research priorities
• Developing alliances with external organizations
• Defining key advocacy issues and devoting resources to advocating on behalf of PA programs
• Advancing the image of PA education

Time was also spent among the board and committee chairs developing the agenda for a three-day retreat in Jackson, Wyoming, in August, when committee chairs will also join the board and staff for comprehensive annual planning and evaluation of progress on the strategic plan. Several committee chairs were able to attend lunch with the board in San Diego, as part of a continuing effort to improve communication between the board and committee chairs.

During a brief executive session, the board

• Approved ethics, record retention, and whistle-blower policies.
• Established an Audit Committee, to consist of the president, president elect, past president, treasurer, and one additional member of the Finance Committee. The Committee will review the Association’s annual financial audit
• Renewed the Association’s contract with the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs (APPAP), under which PAEA will continue to provide management services to APPAP for two more years.
• Approved revisions to policies governing removal of board members, committee chairs, and liaisons, and on submission of motions for the annual business meeting. These have been added to the policy manual.