Association of Physician Assistant Programs

The Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP) met in conjunction with the AAPA’s 25th Annual Physician Assistant Meeting in Minneapolis, Mn. It is estimated that 250+ educators attended and met during the APAP sessions. An excellent series of presentations, workshops, discussions, and debates were conducted. The first in a series of grant supported Faculty Development Workshops was presented to selected new faculty. Initial evaluations and comments were very positive. The Workshop was presented by Anita Glicken, Marvis Lary, Eleanor Russell, and Tony Miller. The new APAP logo appeared everywhere we could place it. Logo lapel pins were distributed to attendees and was very favorable received and praised for its design and colors.

Other highlights of the meeting included the recognition and honoring of outgoing Board members: Jim Hammond, Ginna Joslin, Kathy Dobbs, Sherry Stolberg, and Jerry Fushianes. They have stepped to the forefront to lead APAP in demanding times. Their efforts made the past year a very successful one and one that will serve as a base for future actions of the Association. Elected to the Board were Walter Stein (President-elect), Rosslynn Byous (Vice-president), Bill Marquardt (Secretary/Treasurer), Wayne Bottom (Director at Large), and Tim Pysell (Student Director). As always, APAP has been very fortunate to have a staff that is professional and very capable. Timi Agar Barwick, Kate Barkowski, and Steve Lane were keys to a well run, efficient meeting.

Major actions from the Board or Business Meetings included:

• approval to develop an RFP and select a vendor to begin a central application service.

• creation of an APAP Research Institute

• creation of an APAP Faculty Development Institute

• develop a self assessment examination for PAs

• approval to support a liaison to the Student Academy

New President Don Pedersen has an ambition agenda for the coming year and started to implement his plans as this meeting ended.

The Conference Planning Committee, Education Committee, and Research and Review Committee are to be congratulated for an excellent program. Every committee contributed to the meeting and this has been one of the most active years for all APAP committees. The next meeting of APAP is in Milwaukee in October. Contact the APAP National Office for information.

James Dennis Blessings, PhD, PA-C