PAs Continue to Push Boundaries and Lead in Healthcare

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of PAs will honor three outstanding PAs (physician assistants) for their contributions to the profession during its annual conference in San Antonio. The 2016 AAPA awards—the highest recognition bestowed upon Academy members—recognize exemplary PAs who have distinguished themselves in service to patients, their community and the PA profession.

"Every day, PAs around the nation are transforming medicine and increasing access to high-quality care for millions of Americans. These teachers, researchers and clinical providers are pushing boundaries in healthcare and it's an honor to be able to recognize PAs that exemplify the profession," said Jeffrey A. Katz, PA-C, DFAAPA, AAPA President and Chair of the Board of Directors.

The AAPA/PAEA Preceptor of the Year Award will be presented to Maureen Barrett, MPAS, PA-C, of Bethlehem, Pa., for her commitment to excellence in the clinical education of PA students as both a mentor and instructor. Barrett, the chief PA for St. Luke's University Health Network, has demonstrated great advocacy for the PA profession through her leadership in establishing a PA shadowing internship program, allowing high school and undergraduate students to rotate with PAs in the Saint Luke's system through all aspects of practice, providing each student with more than 70 hours of shadowing time.

The AAPA Military Service PA of the Year Award will presented to Col. Rene' Chadwell, U.S. Air Force, BSC, MPAS, PA-C, of San Antonio, Texas, for her work in advancing military healthcare services and commitment to patient care, patient education and community health promotion. A leader in the Air Force and PA education communities, she served as an OB/GYN preceptor for future PAs and developed a preventive care tracking, training and education system that significantly decreased health risks for female patients in her community. As chief PA consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, Chadwell has distinguished herself as an outstanding clinician, military officer and healthcare leader.

The AAPA Publishing Award will be presented to Alicia Quella, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, of St. Paul, Minn., for her in-depth analysis of PA compensation and the influence of PAs and NPs on the healthcare market in her article, "PA wages and employment, 2000–2025." Published in the Journal of the American Academy of PAs, Quella's analysis highlights the growth of the profession and found the future of the PA profession promising in terms of employment and wages, with PA wage increases projected to consistently exceed inflation rates for more than a decade.

AAPA will honor this exceptional group of PAs during the AAPA Conference 2016 General Session Saturday, May 14, at 5 pm CT. AAPA's annual conference will be held May 14-18 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. To learn more about the 2016 AAPA Awards, visit AAPA.org. 

About the American Academy of PAs
AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. Founded in 1968, AAPA represents a profession of more than 108,500 certified PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories and the uniformed services. Visit AAPA.org to learn more. 

SOURCE American Academy of Physician Assistants

Related Links

http://www.AAPA.org