Reviewing a Year of Activity and Looking Toward the New Year

Kevin Lohenry
Director at Large

December has always been one of my favorite months. It brings back memories of the magnificent smell of evergreen trees that were lined up in snow-covered fields like soldiers preparing for inspection. I also remember the sound of firewood crackling in the old stone fireplace, the holiday lights that lit up the communities, and the quality time spent with friends and family. December is also a great time of year to reflect on the past and begin visioning for the future.

This past year has been an amazing journey for the Association. We began our first full year as an independent organization with a January board retreat in Tucson. The retreat allowed the board and staff to begin to partner in the creation of PAEA’s strategic plan. The opportunity to creatively reflect on and forecast the future of our profession was invaluable and the time allowed us to discuss current trends in PA education and try to anticipate those we’d be seeing in the future. One of the things that surprised me was the length of time we took to reflect on our work and the vision the group had created. The consultant who was brought in to guide us in the process recommended that we take our time to consider the reality of what was being processed. Several months were spent considering alternatives and seeking input from stakeholders to determine whether we had overlooked anything or taken on too much. The plan continued to morph into its final form as stakeholders provided additional input, and the strategic plan was ultimately shared with members at the PAEA Annual Education Forum in Tucson in October. We will continue to revisit the plan, which was always considered to be a vital, living document, on a regular basis to allow for the ever-changing shifts in our environment.

The Association has also benefited this year from dynamic leadership throughout its structure, including the committees, workgroups, liaisons, and our prestigious journal. The Education Committee planned an amazing meeting in Tucson this past October. The committee instituted several effective changes, beginning with a program sporting a new look that allowed the members to see presentations in a variety of ways and that included a daily planner and icons indicating which sessions focused on particular aspects of PA education. The committee had a record number of submissions to work with, which allowed its members to create a meeting that was truly outstanding in every way. The location ended up being one of the most popular in PAEA’s history: more than 460 attendees from 122 member programs — nearly 90% of member programs — made the trip.

The Faculty Development Institute (FDI) also had a successful year. It formulated a plan to continue to enhance its Web site that will soon offer resources in the areas of teaching, scholarship, service, and leadership. In addition, the FDI undertook planning that will result in additional regional workshops. Basic Skills Faculty Development Workshops have been held in Denver for several years, and future workshops are being considered for other areas of the country. The three workshops that were offered this fall as part of the PAEA Annual Education Forum were designed for deans, new faculty, and program, associate, and medical directors. FDI is planning additional workshops in the coming year, including one on academic law and an advanced clinical coordinators workshop.

The Research Institute (RI) continues to offer excellent opportunities for faculty to learn about scholarship and this year awarded several research grants that have provided faculty with the opportunity to conduct research that will inform the profession. The Finance Committee has strengthened the status of PAEA’s financial future and the standing of research within the Association in particular by transferring $70,000 into the Research Institute’s Endowment Fund. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education added to its impressive list of accomplishments by publishing a commemorative edition that celebrates the first 40 years of PA education.

Our Data and Research Workgroup, under the leadership of Anita Glicken, has developed an ambitious research agenda, and the Association has engaged a vendor to supply a new data management system that will allow us to track and analyze a variety of data sets. A new commitment to data-driven decision making will be an important part of our journey forward.

PAEA has always been fortunate to have visionary leaders, and this year was no exception. And as in the past, the Association has had to say goodbye to a number of leaders who have given their heart and soul to the work of their particular committees. At PAEA’s annual awards luncheon in Tucson, Forum attendees honored Ted Ruback for his long service to CASPA, which has made significant contributions to the Association’s success. Ted has been associated with CASPA since 1996 and has chaired the committee since 2001. During the past six years, his leadership has brought about many of the refinements and upgrades that both applicants and programs now enjoy, and the application service has been widely accepted. Applications to CASPA have increased steadily over the last five years.

Members also said goodbye to Karen Mulitalo, chair of the CECD since 2001. This committee has made several historic contributions to the Association, most recently gaining membership approval for its document, “Cultural Competencies for PA Students.”

Departing PACKRAT Committee Chair Jim Van Rhee has chaired the committee for six years, and this group continues to improve the product with new versions of e-PACKRAT. Currently, over 90% of the members use this resource, and Jim’s leadership has been a large part of the growth of this committee.

Walt Eisenhauer also completed his term as chair of the Governance Committee. During his tenure, Walt and the committee completed the long-awaited PAEA Policy and Procedures Manual, which will help guide us procedurally as we move forward. In addition, the committee has improved the process for reviewing and debating motions, which has resulted in better informed debate on the issues facing PA education.

Terms for two board members will expire in December, and PAEA honored Frank Acevedo and Dawn Morton-Rias in Tucson. Frank has been a director at large since 2005, and his contributions to the organization are numerous. His technological bent has been invaluable in his role as liaison to the PACKRAT Committee and in formulating the board’s thinking about the future role of technology in PAEA. He also served as a liaison to CASPA, the Data and Research Workgroup, and the International Affairs Committee. His presence on the board and the service he provided will be missed.

And finally, Dawn Morton-Rias received a warm sendoff from forum attendees for her three years on the board. She was praised for her unflappability, her calm authority, and her dedication to accomplishing what needed to be done for the Association. She exerted a major effort to promote transparency in all procedures and to increase communication between the board and the membership. One of her proudest moments has been the completion during her term of the new policy manual. She has served as liaison to the Nominations and Awards Committee, CECD, and to the Federal Affairs Workgroup. She was also a member of the Transition Task Force and in this capacity, contributed enormously to bringing PAEA to its present independent stature.

In addition, I’d like to mention a few changes in the PAEA staff over the past year. Sam Kang, who joined PAEA in October 2005 just before the Annual Education Forum in Puerto Rico, had a chance to say goodbye at this year’s Forum to members he had worked closely with, especially on the FDI, the Education Committee, and the PACKRAT Committee. Sam left PAEA to become a part of his family’s new business in California. This year has also seen the welcome addition of Lynn Heitzman and Mei Liang to the PAEA staff. Lynn is the new coordinator for governance and executive services; and as PAEA’s assistant director for data and research, Mei was brought on board to help implement the Association’s vision for data collection and research.

December has always been a time for family and friends and often brings an opportunity to renew old acquaintances and recharge the batteries for a new year. The New Year will arrive with new challenges for PAEA, but I am confident that the Association is well-served by great leaders who will continue to offer their insights, time, and energy to the continued growth of PA education. The board and staff will kick off the New Year with a retreat in Savannah, from January 13 to 15. On behalf of PAEA’s board and staff members, I would like to wish you a safe and happy holiday season. May you find time to rest, reflect, and renew your energy for 2008.