Alert

Award Opportunity: Preparing PAs to Treat Obesity

On October 11, the American College of Sports Medicine, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation will open applications for the Innovation Award for Health Care Provider Training and Education. This new award recognizes health professional training programs that are ahead of the curve in providing nutrition and physical activity education to their students. This is a unique opportunity, and we’d love to see some PA programs in the mix — we know many of you are doing great work to prepare future PAs to treat obesity.

Despite the fact that over two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, less than one-quarter of physicians feel they have received adequate training in counseling patients on diet or physical activity level. As a result, many of America’s health care professionals are not prepared to consistently deliver effective counseling on maintaining a healthy weight, diet, and physical activity level. This award will spotlight the leadership of inventive educational models from all health disciplines and inspire others with examples of what can be achieved.

Visit the award website to learn more about the award and see if your program qualifies — awards are available for future health care professional training programs, current health care professional training programs, and student-led programs.

There will be an informational webinar on September 29, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. ET for anyone interested in applying for the award. Applications are due on November 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET.