05/28/2025

Ohio PAs Represent OAPA at the AAPA House of Delegates

A delegation of 9 Ohio PAs recently represented OAPA at the 2025 American Academy of Physician Associates House of Delegates (AAPA HOD) in Denver, CO.

Ohio delegates L to R: Patricia Hirkala, PA-C, JP Thompson, PA-C, Jennifer Richardson, PA-C, Jill Brown DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, Chief Delegate Melissa Bowlby, MHA, MSBS, PA-C, DFAAPA, David Dzurick, PA-C, Rev. Josanne Kissel Pagel M.Div., MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, C-EBS, Karuna®RMT, Lynn Pagliaccio, PA-C, and Mel Roxas, PA-C

Photo Credit: Mia Thatcher

The HOD is the rulemaking body of the AAPA that enacts policies and provides position statements for the profession. The body is composed of apportioned representatives from its Constituent Organizations and the Student Academy. Delegates from across the country gathered to debate and vote on the resolutions that will shape the future of the PA profession. AAPA members can access the resolutions and reference committee reports at aapa.org/governance/house-of-delegates/.

The resolutions brought to the HOD were broad and included those affecting PA practice, research, healthcare delivery, and professional practice. Of those, several were considered for an extensive amount of time, including A-01 Special Meetings, A-07 Fellow Membership, A-14 Removing Opposition Language to Doctoral Degrees, A-15 Doctoral Degrees for PAs, B-08 Robotic Surgery, and B-12 Incorporating Advocacy in PA Education. The Ohio Resolutions C-18 and C-19 regarding Ageism were adopted into policy, with very little debate.

Our delegation was recognized, and we had the privilege of presenting our proclamation "Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Ohio Association of PAs, a Constituent Chapter of the AAPA."

In addition to the formal proceedings of the House, the delegates had the opportunity to network with leadership from AAPA plus the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), and the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), as well as other leaders from around the country. We are proud of the work that was done and were thrilled to represent our great organization.

The next AAPA House of Delegates will take place in May 2026 in New Orleans, LA.

Photos include 50th anniversary recognition, Delegate Pagel, and Delegate Roxas.

Photo credits: Melissa Bowlby