PAEA is committed to supporting fair access to the PA profession and ensuring that students are prepared to care for an increasingly diverse patient population. From early outreach in K-12 schools to faculty development and program resources, the following initiatives aim to strengthen recruitment, student success, and professional growth across the PA education pathway.
Recruitment and Outreach
PA Student Success Program (PASS)
PAEA’s PA Student Success Program is a recruitment program that aims to encourage K-12 students from all backgrounds and regions to consider the PA profession as a career. Our primary goal is to increase the number of qualified PAs across the country, provide primary care, and increase the overall health of the growing patient population. We aim to help students become competitive candidates for PA programs by preparing them early in their education.
PASS Volunteer Opportunities
Each year during National PA Week, we honor PAs and their incredible contributions to medicine. Starting in 2021, we created a competition to see which of our programs could host the most innovative and engaging, student-led informational event during PA Week.
At PAEA’s annual Education Forum, volunteers visit local high schools to share their stories and pathways to the PA profession.
Sign up for both opportunities on the PASS web page.
PASS Toolkit
All groups are welcome and encouraged to utilize our toolkit, post-event surveys, sample presentations, and downloadable resources.
Virtual PA Admissions Fairs
Having a virtual booth in the PA Admissions Fairs is a great way to engage with prospective applicants, provide application feedback, and develop long-term relationships with health professions advisors and your future cohorts. It’s also a great way for PA programs to showcase the most unique aspects of their program, especially if they are developing. Stay tuned for future fairs.
Faculty and Program Development
Cultural Humility in Assessment (CHIA)
The Cultural Humility in Assessment (CHIA) volunteers provide suggestions to make test items unbiased and to identify themes in the item bank for consideration of future form and style changes. This work helps to ensure that students’ exams are reflective of the patients that they will be called upon to treat.
PA Educational Excellence Scholarship
One of the significant barriers to advancement is the lack of funding for faculty and full-time staff development. The PA Educational Excellence Scholarship funds up to $3,000 for expenses for conferences and training courses that help create fairer and more welcoming environments for PA faculty, staff, and students. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis. If you have questions about this scholarship, please email bbuesking@PAEAonline.org or call (703) 651-8540.
Future Educator Fellowship
Designed to provide PA students with a better understanding of medical education and academic careers in PA education. The Fellowship focuses on professional development, leadership, and mentorship for those interested in becoming PA educators.
On-Demand Learning
Insights for PA Programs Navigating The Current Higher Educational Landscape
In this webinar, attorney Jason Qu discusses the current legal and policy considerations that impact PA programs. He provides an understanding of the current educational environment to help PA programs make well-informed data-driven decisions that align with institutional priorities and position them for success.
Peer Perspectives in Recruiting and Retaining Veteran PA Students
In this webinar, the Veteran Educators and Allies in PA Education (VEAP) Special Interest Group discuss strategies to recruit and retain veteran PA students. Whether you’re an admissions officer, PA educator, or advocate for veteran learners, this session offers practical insights to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for military-affiliated students.
Caring for Hard of Hearing Patients: Designing a Patient Interpreter Experience
In this webinar, you will learn how to provide appropriate and accessible care for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. Presenter Lisa Walker, MPAS, PA-C, also offers concrete examples for incorporating this content into your curriculum with an emphasis on experiential learning from her own practice of delivering a simulated patient encounter using Deaf actors and American Sign Language interpreters.
PA Path Podcast
An original podcast from the PA Education Association where prospective PAs, PA students, and current PAs can learn more about the profession and the paths that PAs take to serve their communities. Access all episodes here.
Applying Smart: PAEA Tools Every Future PA Should Know
In this episode, host Emma Sellers, MS, chats with Erika Brooks, manager of application services at the PA Education Association (PAEA), about the essential tools and resources available to prospective PA students.
Ghosting in PA Admissions: Why Applicants Go Quiet
Emma Sellers, MS, talks with Kristy Goodman, MS, MPH, PA-C, associate director of PA admissions at Southern California University of Health Sciences, and Amy Terstriep, Ph.D., director of pre-professional advising at Purdue University, about the growing issue of ghosting in the PA admissions process.
Mission Matters: Choosing the Right PA Program for You
Nathalie Ortiz Pate, Associate Professor and Clinical Coordinator at High Point University, and Demetrius Dunbar, a first-year PA student at Howard University join the podcast. They share valuable insights for pre-PA students, from navigating the admissions process and managing mental health to finding balance and choosing the right program.
PA Path Podcast Resources
Recruitment & Outreach Toolkit
learn moreCASPA Program Directory
Our ProgramsPre-PA Videos
Explore VideosPartnerships
AHEAD
The Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) promotes professional practice that operationalizes access with the goal of disability equity in postsecondary education. They are partnering with PAEA to offer a plethora of resources on disabilities and accommodations for PA programs.
AHEAD’s Deputy CEO Elisa Laird, JD, provided an overview of disability law and tips on how to implement accommodations in PA programs.
HOSA: Future Health Professionals
HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, middle school, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in the health professions.
PAEA is partnering with HOSA to expand health science curriculum for the PA profession and to develop programming to prepare future leaders for college and their future health professions.
National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)
The NSHSS recognizes and empowers high-achieving students from all backgrounds through academic service and leadership opportunities. They provide a wide variety of educational and counseling resources, scholarships and grants, experiences, programs, and partner offerings.
PAEA is partnering with NSHSS to network with and support high school educators and scholars, as well as to provide college and career preparation resources and information to future leaders.