Complete Story
10/10/2025
PA Week 2025 - Spotlight on World Mental Health Day
Happy PA Week!
OAPA is proud to join the PA community in Ohio and across the nation in celebrating PA Week 2025.
Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing daily updates on our website and social media, including PA news and spotlights on outstanding Ohio PAs. We’re also reaching out to nonmember PAs, encouraging them to get involved and join our growing community.
A stronger, more connected PA network in Ohio brings us closer to our shared vision - making Ohio the premier state for PAs.
PA Week Profile of the Day: World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day 2025 emphasizes the urgent need to prioritize mental health during humanitarian emergencies, as crises like natural disasters and conflicts significantly impact emotional well-being. PAs are trained in behavioral medicine and play a vital role in responding to these challenges, especially in underserved areas.
In Ohio, where millions face mental health and substance use disorders, the growing number of PAs in behavioral medicine is helping to address critical care gaps. OAPA is actively advocating for greater inclusion of PAs in mental health initiatives, aiming to expand access, improve outcomes, and strengthen the behavioral health workforce statewide.
Here are just a few of the PAs around Ohio who are currently working in behavioral medicine:
Dr. Taylor G. Thorpe, DMS, MSPAS, MBA, PA-C
Psychiatric PA
Murtis Taylor Human Services System
Jacqueline Clinger, MSPAS, PA-C
Psychiatric PA Resident
Chillicothe VA Medical Center
Jenna Jeffries, MSPAS, PA-C
Psychiatric PA
Greenbrook Mental Wellness Centers
Kelly O’Connor, MSPAS, PA-C
Psychiatric PA
Signature Health Inc.
Michael Czajka, MSPAS, PA-C, CAQ-Psych
Psychiatric PA
Cleveland Clinic