Our mission is: Advancing excellence in PA education through leadership, scholarship, equity and inclusion
PAEA’s advocacy agenda is congruent with these values and drives our interaction, communication, and partnership with key professional, federal, and local stakeholders. These activities intersect with the services that PAEA provides for our programs, faculty, staff, applicants, students, and other entities interested in improving the health of the nation.
PAEA’s advocacy agenda is designed to advance five interconnected key priorities: clinical training support, student support, program support, faculty and staff support, and support of the profession.
Advocate that quality clinical training sites are available to prepare students to enter practice with high-quality experience caring for patients across the lifespan in various clinical settings.
The current shortage of clinical training sites has become severe for all health professions in the face of an evolving and uncertain practice environment coupled with the expansion of training programs. PAEA believes that the creation of new incentives will be crucial in alleviating this shortage.
Our specific efforts to provide clinical training support will include:
- Monitoring and strategically supporting tax and reimbursement incentives for preceptors of PA students at the state and federal levels
- Supporting efforts within HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce to link federally qualified health center funding to clinical training opportunities for workforce development purposes
- Advocating for improved transparency on the impact of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) improvement activity for preceptors of PA students
- Collaborating with the research community to build a body of evidence supporting the positive impact of training students on patient outcomes
- Advocating in support of appropriations for the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Care Training Demonstration program which would provide funding to PA programs for OB/GYN clinical training opportunities.
- Supporting programs in securing VA-based clinical rotations
- Advocating for increased clinical training opportunities for PA students in private/for-profit health systems
- Supporting funding for Area Health Education Centers
- Working with other health profession educators to expand interprofessional training experiences in all settings
- Supporting preceptor recruitment, development, and retention in primary care and other high-priority specialties
- Supporting the prioritization of entry-level clinical education for HRSA funding opportunities
Broaden access to the PA profession for students from diverse and/or historically marginalized backgrounds to include veterans and those from rural and underserved communities.
PAEA will advocate for funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce to create pathways for PA students from disadvantaged, rural, and underserved backgrounds. Additionally, we will make the case for equitable access to financial resources for PA students on par with their colleagues in the health professions.
Our specific efforts to provide student support will include:
- Seeking to expand PA scholarship opportunities with the National Health Service Corps
- Restoring access to Federal Direct Subsidized loans to PA and other health professions students
- Protecting the Grad PLUS Loan and Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs in any effort to reauthorize the Higher Education Act
- Instituting borrowing parity for PA students in accordance with their peers in the health professions under the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program
- Supporting investments in the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program
- Encouraging funding for scholarship opportunities for students interested in careers in maternal health from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds
- Fostering wellness and resilience among all students through psychosocial support resources
- Promote equal access to federal and state loan forgiveness options for PA students and graduates
- Expanding efforts to cultivate student leadership
- Advocating for increased investments in the Health Careers Opportunity Program to support a strong pipeline of diverse students to the PA profession
Advocate for the funding and resources needed for PA programs to meet the emerging needs of an evolving health care environment.
Our specific efforts to provide program support will include:
- Supporting innovative pathway expansion projects to promote the diversification of the PA profession
- Advocating for the development of psychosocial support programs for diverse and/or historically marginalized students enrolled in PA programs
- Advocating for increased appropriations for PA Primary Care Training and Enhancement grants
- Pursuing the authorization of grants to support PA program development at historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and rural-serving institutions
- Advocating that PA programs are included in grant opportunities to foster health workforce development
- Advocating for investments in innovative didactic and clinical curriculum development related to emerging trends in health care
Provide PA program personnel with professional development opportunities that contribute to career growth and high-quality education for students.
Our specific efforts to support faculty and staff will include:
- Securing opportunities for PA faculty to serve on federal advisory committees and other external bodies
- Creating and promoting faculty and staff leadership development opportunities with an emphasis on policy and advocacy skills
- Supporting increased investments in the federal Faculty Loan Repayment Program
- Seeking funding opportunities for continued faculty and staff professional development
- Advocating for resources to support faculty resilience and well-being
- Pursue funding opportunities for recruitment and retention of PA faculty to mitigate PA faculty shortages
Collaborate with state and national PA organizations along with other stakeholders in advocacy campaigns/initiatives to advance the PA profession and expand access to high-quality care.
Our specific efforts to support the profession will include:
- Promoting student loan forgiveness for PAs who serve as primary care providers or PA educators
- Advocating for increased funding for HRSA’s STAR Loan Repayment program authorized by the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act
- Collaborating with AAPA and other stakeholders to promote maximum utilization of incentives such as continuing medical education credit for preceptors of PA students
- Supporting the efforts of AAPA and state chapters to achieve advancements in the policy environment benefiting the profession