The National Honor Society for Physician Assistants

Mission

Pi Alpha is the national PA honor society organized for the promotion and recognition of both PA students and graduates. Membership signifies the inductees’ significant academic achievement and honors them for their leadership, research, community/professional service, and other related activities. The society also encourages a high standard of character and conduct among students and graduates.

History

At the October 2003 Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Educational Forum in Phoenix, Arizona, the PAEA membership Board of Directors (BOD) passed a motion to support the creation of a national honor society for physician assistants to be known as Pi Alpha. In February 2004, the PAEA BOD appointed the PAEA National PA Honor Society Advisory Committee with the task to oversee the development and maintenance of the Society. The committee's faculty and student members crafted by-laws, budget and other documents necessary to begin the process of chapter membership.

Organization

Government

The Society operates as part of PAEA and as such is a non-profit educational organization. Administrative support is supplied by PAEA.

Chapters

PA Program participation in Pi Alpha is voluntary. A chapter may be chartered at any ARC-PA accredited program regardless of the type of degree granted to graduates. A completed and signed application and fee for chapter membership must be submitted to the national Pi Alpha office for approval. A one time chapter establishment fee of $200.00 is required.

The Chapter Council is the sole responsible governing body at the chapter level. It consists of program director, faculty and others deemed appropriate by the individual chapter. The Chapter Council determines who is eligible for membership in accordance with Pi Alpha by-laws and submits a list of nominees to the national Pi Alpha office at least two months prior to the chapter's date of graduation.

Membership

There are three categories of official Pi Alpha membership: student, alumni/faculty, and honorary. The individual Chapter Council will determine the list of nominees in all categories for induction according to Pi Alpha by-laws. Each type of membership requires approval by the national Pi Alpha office. All members receive an individually numbered certificate, honor cord and pin. Costs for these are covered by a $25.00 per inductee fee. These costs are to be absorbed by the chapter for all student inductees resulting in no cost to the student inductee. Fees for alumni/faculty and honorary inductees are paid by whatever mechanism deemed appropriate by the chapter.

Student Membership

Student membership in Pi Alpha is an honor bestowed upon a graduating student in recognition of NOT ONLY scholastic achievement (minimum professional grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale) BUT ALSO demonstrated excellence in research, publishing, community professional service, or leadership activities. GPA alone is not an indication for induction. Total number of student members cannot exceed 15% of graduating class.

Alumni/Faculty Membership

Membership for PA program alumni and full-time faculty provides a means to recognize and honor those who have distinguished themselves in their professional careers. Alumni should fulfill the same criteria as current graduates. Total number of alumni members cannot exceed 15% of graduating class.

Nominated faculty should be full-time PA faculty who have three years’ experience with a PA program and who have fulfilled the criteria of distinguished scholarship, as well as leadership or service to a physician assistant program or the profession.

Finances

Funds generated by Pi Alpha are devoted to the benefit and support of the Society.