PAEA Leadership Represents PA Education at the 2026 AAPA House of Delegates Meeting
This week, PAEA’s leadership represented the interests and perspectives of members during the 2026 meeting of the AAPA House of Delegates, providing testimony on a series of resolutions affecting PA students, programs, faculty, and the future of the profession.
Throughout the meeting, PAEA leaders and staff worked to ensure that the perspective of PA education remained part of important policy discussions taking place within the profession. The Association’s testimony focused on issues tied to workforce development, educational access, clinical training capacity, and the continued advancement of PA education.
Among the issues addressed by PAEA was a resolution related to federal and state tax incentives for clinical preceptors. In its testimony, the Association emphasized the critical role preceptors play in preparing the next generation of PAs and highlighted the increasing pressures facing clinical education nationwide. PAEA noted that many PA programs continue to face challenges securing sufficient clinical training opportunities as competition increases for a limited preceptor pool. Association leaders expressed support for policies that recognize the time, expertise, and resources contributed by preceptors, detailing PAEA’s advocacy work to support preceptor incentives at both the state and federal level.
PAEA also testified in support of restoring access to federal student loans that fully cover the cost of attendance for PA students. In its remarks, PAEA highlighted the importance of maintaining comprehensive federal financial aid options to ensure that qualified students from a wide range of backgrounds can continue to pursue PA education. Association representatives noted that protecting affordability and access remains an important part of supporting the future health care workforce at a time when communities across the country continue to experience provider shortages.
During discussion related to surgical training, PAEA testified in support of the strength and quality of PA education and clinical preparation in surgery without the need for additional certifications. The Association reaffirmed that PA programs provide broad medical and surgical training designed to prepare graduates for collaborative practice across specialties and care settings. The testimony reflected the Association’s continued commitment to maintaining high educational standards while supporting the flexibility that has long been a defining characteristic of the profession.
PAEA also voiced support for the work of post-professional doctoral programs, many of which are among the Association’s newest members. In its testimony, the Association highlighted the contributions these programs make to leadership development, scholarship, education, health care administration, and innovation within the profession. PAEA emphasized that post-professional doctoral education provides PA graduates with opportunities for advanced professional growth while helping strengthen the profession’s impact across clinical, academic, and organizational settings.
The 2026 House of Delegates meeting provided an important opportunity for dialogue about the future of the profession and the evolving health care environment. Through testimony and engagement with delegates, PAEA leadership continued its work to advocate for policies that support students, educators, academic programs, and the continued advancement of PA education. PAEA staff would like to thank President Michael Roscoe, PhD, PA-C, and President Elect Gabrielle Poole, DMSc, PA-C, for representing the Association during this year’s meeting.
