2026 PAEA Student Health Policy Fellows Advocate for PA Education
The 2026 PAEA Student Health Policy Fellowship (SHPF) convened September 14-16, bringing together 21 PA students from programs across the country for three days of virtual training, leadership development and advocacy. The Fellowship gives students an opportunity to move beyond learning about health policy and experience firsthand how advocacy can shape PA education, the profession, and the patients PAs serve.
This year’s fellowship came at a particularly consequential time for PA students. Changes to federal student loan policy have raised significant concerns about how future PA students will finance their education, making the permanent classification of PA education as a professional degree PAEA’s top federal advocacy priority. During the fellowship, students learned about the ongoing policy debate, heard from congressional and advocacy leaders working on these issues, and ultimately brought their own experiences and perspectives to Capitol Hill.
Day One: Connecting PA Students to Policymaking
The fellowship opened by introducing students to advocacy at the federal and state levels and providing a firsthand perspective on how congressional offices engage with constituents and stakeholders.
Becca Damante, Health and Education Policy Advisor in the office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), joined the fellows for a discussion on engaging effectively with congressional staff. Damante also highlighted the office’s work on the professional-degree issue and its efforts to support students affected by changes to federal student loan policy. The conversation gave fellows insight into how congressional offices work with advocates and stakeholders as legislative and regulatory issues develop.
The discussion was particularly timely as Senator Merkley’s office has been engaged in congressional efforts related to the federal government’s treatment of professional degree programs and student borrowing. For fellows preparing to advocate on the same issue later in the week, the session provided a real-world example of how sustained advocacy can translate into congressional action.
Fellows also heard from Tate Heuer, vice president of federal advocacy at AAPA, who discussed federal PA practice policy issues. Aileen G. Berquist, MPS, assistant director of state advocacy and outreach at AAPA, and Lizeth Zardeneta, manager of state advocacy and external affairs at PAEA, explored state advocacy and opportunities for engagement through constituent organizations. PAEA Chief Executive Officer Sara Fletcher, PhD, joined fellows for a lunchtime question-and-answer session focused on the Association and issues affecting PA education.
The day also featured 2025 Student Health Policy Fellow Kyra McIntosh, who shared her experience completing the Fellowship’s advocacy project and offered guidance as the new cohort began developing projects of their own.
Day Two: Understanding the Issues
On the second day, the focus shifted toward preparing fellows to become effective advocates and giving them a deeper understanding of the policy issues they would bring to congressional offices.
PAEA’s external advocacy partners at Polsinelli, LLC and TSG Advocates provided an overview of the Washington policy environment and prepared fellows for effective conversations with congressional staff. PAEA Government Relations staff then walked students through the Association’s current Hill priorities, with a particular focus on federal student loan policy and its implications for PA education.
At the center of those discussions was the Professional Student Degree Act, which would explicitly and permanently name PA students as professional students for federal student loan purposes.
Fellows also learned about the POST GRAD Act (H.R. 3711/S. 1948), which would restore access to Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans for graduate and professional students. With nearly 85% of PA students relying on federal student loans, the legislation would significantly reduce long-term debt for students, improving their ability to expand access to care in rural and underserved communities.
Beyond federal policy, fellows heard from PA leaders about the many ways advocacy can remain part of their careers. Aaron Woodall, MPAS, PA-C, director of didactic education at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences PA Program, discussed leadership, policy, and advocacy from the PA perspective. Christy Eskes, DHSc, MPA, PA-C, associate professor at the Keck Graduate Institute, shared how PAs can make a difference through involvement in constituent organizations.
Day Three: Advocacy in Action
On the final day of the Fellowship, students moved from learning about advocacy to practicing it.
Following final meeting preparation, the 21 fellows participated in nearly 40 virtual meetings with congressional offices, bringing the PA student perspective directly to federal policymakers.
During their meetings, fellows urged members of the House to cosponsor the Professional Student Degree Act. They explained how PA education prepares students for professional practice and licensure and shared concerns about what lower federal borrowing limits could mean for students’ ability to pursue PA education. Fellows also advocated for the POST GRAD Act, asking representatives to cosponsor H.R. 3711 and senators to support S. 1948.
Looking Ahead
The Student Health Policy Fellowship is designed not simply to teach students about health policy, but to help future PAs recognize that they have a role in shaping it. That mission was particularly visible this year as fellows engaged with an evolving federal policy issue with direct implications for PA students and programs.
Members of the PA education community can join the fellows in advocating for a long-term solution for PA students. Through PAEA’s Grassroots Action Network (GAN), PA educators, students, and other stakeholders can contact their members of Congress and urge them to support the Professional Student Degree Act.
Students and faculty interested in learning more about the Student Health Policy Fellowship can visit PAEA’s Student Health Policy Fellowship webpage or contact SHPF@PAEAonline.org.
