PAEA

12/11/2025

Advocacy works best when individual voices come together to form a strong, unified message.

PAEA ensures that the experiences of PA educators reach policymakers at every level of government — translating program needs into coordinated advocacy that secures funding, shapes regulation, and expands opportunities for students and faculty.

Your story is where it starts. When you share the challenges and successes of your program, you help strengthen PAEA’s national voice and advance real change for PA education.

Watch the video to learn how your story makes an impact. https://paeaonline.org/our-work/advocacy-for-pa-education

12/10/2025

In this special year-end episode of the JPAE Podcast, JPAE managing editor Denise Rizzolo, PhD, turns the microphone on co-hosts Trenton Honda, PhD, MMS, PA-C, and Carey Barry, MHS, PA-C, to reflect on their journey creating and producing the show. Together, they revisit the inspirations that sparked the podcast, the unexpected challenges they navigated along the way, and how their interviewing styles have evolved over time.

They share a mix of humorous moments and meaningful insights drawn from their conversations with the PA education community, offering listeners a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring each episode to life. The discussion also looks ahead to future goals and topics they hope to tackle, underscoring the importance of human connection, curiosity, and continuous improvement in PA education.

Listen & subscribe: https://ow.ly/xKN850XGWCh

This episode is sponsored by Body Interact. Explore Body Interact’s new PA Virtual Simulation Catalog and see how it supports your curriculum: https://ow.ly/KRu650XGWCf

12/04/2025

Faculty recruitment starts long before a job posting goes live.

In this new video, PA educators share their tips for building a faculty pipeline by encouraging students to consider teaching before graduation, offering a faculty fellowship for those interested in education, and providing mentorship from experienced faculty. By engaging potential educators early, programs can develop skills, nurture interest, and create a strong foundation for the next generation of PA faculty.

How does your program identify and support future educators? Share your strategies and explore more resources at PAEAonline.org.

12/03/2025

Check out the December 2025 issue of JPAE, now available online.

https://ow.ly/FUeS50X8q0B

12/02/2025

Host Emma Sellers, MS, talks with Heather Storm, CSM, ICP-ACC, manager of recruitment and engagement at PAEA. Heather shares how PAEA is expanding awareness of the PA profession through key partnerships, virtual admissions fairs, and national student competitions.

She also discusses how COVID-19 accelerated digital recruitment tools—from virtual interviews to online shadowing and peer-based mentorship—helping advisors, students, and pre-PAs access clearer pathways into the profession. Together, they highlight how these efforts are shaping a more informed and accessible pipeline for future PAs.

Listen & subscribe: https://ow.ly/3TNv50XAUQo

11/28/2025

Advocacy doesn’t have to be complicated. PAEA's Grassroots Action Network is your go-to resource for learning about emerging issues, contacting elected officials, and ensuring PA education has a strong voice in policy conversations.

Getting involved is quick and accessible — whether you send a ready-to-go message or add your own story, every action helps move our priorities forward. Watch the video to see just how easy it is to make an impact, and join the Grassroots Action Network: https://www.votervoice.net/PAEA/home

11/26/2025

In response to the Department of Education’s recent negotiated rulemaking session in which the RISE committee proposed a significantly narrower “professional student” definition than the one in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the PA education community has mobilized to protect appropriate access to federal student aid.

Building upon early organizational and coalition efforts to ensure appropriate classification, PAEA will continue to advocate on behalf of students and facilitate opportunities for all interested stakeholders to join these efforts.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/xy1e50XycCi

11/25/2025

In this episode, Sara Fletcher, PhD, CEO of the PA Education Association, talks with David Asprey, PhD, PA-C, and Jennifer Snyder, PhD, PA-C, co-chairs of PAEA’s Doctoral Education Commission, about the ongoing exploration of a potential entry-level doctorate for the PA profession.

They revisit the origins of the Commission and walk through the extensive research, environmental scanning, and stakeholder engagement that have shaped its work so far. The conversation examines the potential advantages of a doctoral entry degree, the risks and concerns raised by various groups, and what a shift of this scale could mean for legislation, regulation, accreditation, and reimbursement. Looking ahead, the Commission continues to gather data, deepen its dialogue with the profession, and refine its analysis—with plans to put forward formal recommendations by 2026.

Listen & subscribe: https://ow.ly/YJqh50XxIPK

This episode is sponsored by PA Excel. For more information, visit https://ow.ly/wPTF50XxIPE.

11/25/2025

An inspiring story about a couple of PA students at University of South Florida who jumped into action to save a life. We love hearing about how building competency through their PA education applied to a real life scenario.

Two first-year USF Health physician assistant students, Taylor Clayton and Julia Riordan, saved a man's life by performing CPR during a study break in downtown Tampa. Just three months into their program, the students encountered a pulseless man outside the Tampa Convention Center and sprang into ac...

11/18/2025

Join the PAEA Leadership Mission Advancement Commission (LMAC) for a virtual session designed to help you lead with confidence and clarity — no matter your title or role.

November 20, 2025
12:00–1:30 p.m. ET

We’ll revisit key concepts from our Forum presentation “Everyday Leadership: Leveraging Your Role and Influence as a PA Educator,” and explore:
✨ How to understand and apply your natural strengths using the CliftonStrengths framework
✨ How the Circles of Control, Influence, and Concern can expand your impact
✨ Practical ways to lead intentionally and sustainably in your everyday work

If you’re looking to grow as a leader right where you are, this conversation is for you. Register to join us: https://ow.ly/Lubh50XtIEl

11/14/2025

As the national association for PA education, PAEA advocates on behalf of our member programs to strengthen and improve the accreditation process.

Grounded in data, we collect and analyze program feedback, document challenges, and propose evidence-based solutions—while also equipping programs with the resources and connections they need to succeed today.

Our goal: a collaborative accreditation process that maintains rigorous standards, supports programs, and ensures a positive future for PA education.

11/11/2025

Military applicants —including active duty, Reserves, National Guard, and veterans — play a vital role in PA education, bringing valuable leadership, discipline, and, for some, hands-on medical experience from their service. The states with the highest percentage of military PA applicants—California, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia—reflect regions with strong military presence, large veteran populations, and access to education benefits that support the transition from service to healthcare careers.

Recognizing these geographic trends enables institutions to develop initiatives, strengthen military-to-PA pathways, and ensure that service members and veterans have the necessary resources to succeed in PA school and beyond. By fostering these connections, PA programs contribute to a healthcare workforce enriched by the skills and dedication of those who have served or are currently serving.

For more information on strategies to recruit and retain veteran PA students, check out this recording: https://ow.ly/igcp50XncHJ