Meetings / News

The role of physician assistants (PAs) in the US Coast Guard is to provide healthcare to uniformed members of the armed services and their dependents (Figures 1 and 2). The Coast Guard is a branch of the US Armed Forces and performs domestic and international missions. During peacetime, it operates under the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) but may come under the Department of the Navy during times of war. PAs in the Coast Guard serve as a part of a broad healthcare team. Read the full article here.

National Public Radio (NPR) interviews Admiral Brett Giroir regarding the passing of The CARES Act and the U.S. Public Health Service Modernization Act, S. 2629, providing for a ready reserve corps

Click HERE to listen to the NPR story

In response to Vice Admiral Adams declaration of the Adolescent Vaping Epidemic, PHSAPA President Brian Burt published a comprehensive clinician's review on Youth Vaping.  AAPA members receive Category 1 CME for completing the Post Test

Click here for the article: The_electronic_cigarette_epidemic_in_youth_and.99709.pdf

PHS PAs,

Please see attached article put out by our senior PHS PA colleagues that was forwarded by the Physician Assistant Professional Advisory Group (PAPAG) Chair.

2016 McKinnon PAs Public Health Service.pdf

Dear Constituent Organization Leaders:

We want to apprise you of the following developments.  This message will be posted on social media and our AAPA website later today. 

HEADLINE:  AAPA to Take Next Steps Toward Creating New PA Certifying Body

At its July meeting, the AAPA Board of Directors unanimously voted to take the following action:

“AAPA will take the next steps toward establishing a new certifying organization by gathering more information and developing the necessary documents. “

“The changes to the recertification process proposed by NCCPA would have such a significant detrimental impact on PA practice and patient access to care that the AAPA Board decided it would be prudent to begin the work necessary to establish a new certifying body,” said AAPA President and Board Chair Josanne Pagel, MPAS, PA-C, Karuna®RMT, DFAAPA.  “Of course, we continue to hope that NCCPA will accept our invitation, which was extended after the May HOD meeting and again after our most recent Board meeting, to discuss its recertification exam proposal with us directly, board-to-board.” 

 Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our CEO, Jenna Dorn (jdorn@aapa.org or 571.319.4301) or BOD Chair Josanne Pagel (jpagel@aapa.org).

It is important to understand, and to communicate to PAs who ask, the following information: 

• This Board action is the next step in exploring and gathering information about establishing a new certifying body.  It will be a thorough and thoughtful process.
• This announcement in no way changes the current CME, certification or recertification, process -- PAs should continue to prepare for and comply with NCCPA's requirements.
• More information about why AAPA believes NCCPA's proposed changes will be detrimental to PAs and the profession can be found on the AAPA News Center: http://news-center.aapa.org/

 

On October 15, 2016, landscaping and construction will begin to upgrade the Veteran Memorial Garden at the Eugene A. Stead, Jr. Center for Physician Assistants into a place of remembrance for Physician Assistants who are veterans or who are currently serving in the uniformed services of the USA.   The PA History Society welcomes all to become a part of this wonderful event by purchasing name engraved brick pavers to be embedded in the wheelchair accessible walkway and the patio area surrounding the life-size bronze combat medic statue and flagpole, the centerpiece of the garden.   Beginning July 1st 2016 through October 1, 2016 we are offering the opportunity to purchase a 9x9 inch named engraved brick pavers to PAs who are veterans or who are on active duty for $100 each.  We have the capacity to embed 400 pavers in the sidewalk and patio, so please do not delay in purchasing pavers so that your name or that of someone you want to honor is displayed prominently in the garden.  The insignia of your branch of service, name and date of service can be engraved on the paver.  For more information on this project, and to  order your pavers, please visit  the PA History Website at http://pahx.org/.

Thank you for your service and support. 

Public Health Service Academy of Physician Assistants

Full summary of all the actions and final votes from the AAPA House of Delegates 2016 in San Antonio, Texas at the link below.

All PHS Physician Assistants as well as Federal Service PAs were represented by the PHSAPA HOD Delegation.

2016-SOA-FINAL.doc

The 2015 - 2016 Leadership Year will draw to a close on June 30th 2016.

On July 1st, the newly elected PHSAP Board of Directors will assume responsibility of their duties and the organization. 

Find out more during the PHSAPA Conference Call on Wed, June 22nd - please see the Events page for more information. 

PHSAPA Board of Directors group photo at the Federal Services Dining Out in San Antonio, Texas.