Another PA Educator Named to HRSA Primary Care Advisory Committee

Following the announcement earlier this year that past PAEA president Anita Glicken, MSW, was appointed as the new chair of the Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry (ACTPCMD) for the Health Resources and Services Administration, PAEA has received news that the committee will soon have additional PA education representation.

Michael Huckabee, PhD, MPAS, PA-C, currently the director for the PA program at Mayo Clinic, will become the second PA on the ACTPCMD. Huckabee has an extensive background of more than 20 years in PA education, having served on the faculty of four programs and as program director at three. In addition to his experience as an educator, he has practiced in primary care for more than 35 years. In 2018, Huckabee won PAEA’s Leadership Development Award, and he has written extensively on clinical leadership for advanced practice providers.

“Opportunities abound for dynamic federal initiatives for all health professional education programs, including PA education,” said Huckabee “It is an honor to serve on this committee to further advance such opportunities in support of making primary care more accessible.”

The ACTPCMD is tasked with providing guidance to the leadership of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the administration of primary care workforce development programs, including those benefiting PA education. A key area of focus is Primary Care Training and Enhancement grants, which provide PA programs with resources to enhance primary care curricula and fund clinical experiences.

This news follows the appointment of Pamela Patton, a faculty member at the University of Florida PA program, to the committee last year. Increasing PA representation on the ACTPCMD and other federal advisory committees has been a top priority for PAEA’s Government Relations team to ensure that the administration of federal programs is responsive to the evolving needs of health professions education. PAEA was proud to support Huckabee for this position through a letter submitted in late 2018.

On behalf of PAEA, congratulations to Dr. Huckabee on this critical appointment.