2026 PA OlymPAcs
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Mount Saint Joseph University
Cincinnati, Ohio
PA OlymPAcs is Ohio’s annual field day–style competition where PA students from across the state come together to compete, connect, and make an impact.
Programs from around Ohio bring the spirit, the strategy, and the school pride as they compete for the championship, and the honor of selecting the charity that will benefit from next year’s event. Every challenge, every point, and every cheer fuels something bigger: building community and supporting meaningful causes.
Beyond the competition, PA OlymPAcs is a powerful opportunity to network with students from other programs, meet practicing PAs, and strengthen your connection to Ohio’s PA community. It’s teamwork, leadership, and service, all in one high-energy day.
The event is led by the OAPA Student Affairs Committee Chair(s) and Student Representative. SCSRs and volunteers from every Ohio PA program are welcome to help plan and execute the event, making PA OlymPAcs a truly student-powered tradition.
Save the date for this year's games on Saturday, June 20, at Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Details and registration information are coming this spring. Start building your team now!
For questions or to get involved, contact the Student Affairs Committee at oapa@ohiopa.com.
*Please note that OAPA is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization and therefore contributions made to the PA OlymPAcs or any other OAPA fundraising effort are not tax-deductible for the contributor.
History of the Games
2016 was the first Ohio PA OlymPAcs and it was quite a chilly event - it snowed! The event took place in April at Baldwin Wallace University with a total of six programs involved and more than 150 attendees. The day was a success, raising more than $5,000 for the Alzheimer's Association. The University of Findlay won and received the privilege of choosing the next charity. This first event set the stage for the subsequent years and it only continued to grow!
The following year, the number of programs, attendees, and fundraising grew exponentially! In July 2017, ten programs and more than 300 students and PAs came to support and participate in the event. Fundraising efforts were for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the students raised more than $10,000. The winner was the University of Dayton.
The 3rd annual PA OlymPAcs took place in July 2018 at the University of Mount Union. PA students from across the state of Ohio helped raise more than $12,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The University of Mount Union won the event. The games were a success with around 400 students, PA-Cs, faculty, and family members in attendance.
PA OlymPAcs - June 28, 2025
In 2025, the PA OlymPAcs supported these worthy causes:
- The Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati - provides short-term room and board to critically ill children and their families while they are receiving care at Cincinnati Children's Hospital
- OAPA Legislative Fund - supports OAPA's efforts to reduce legislative barriers to PA practice to promote quality, accessible, and cost-effective patient care
The event was supported with a lunch sponsorship from Lincoln Memorial University Doctor of Medical Science Program and MedOne Hospital Physicians.
OAPA would like to thank Ohio Dominican University for hosting the event, and also to congratulate them as the 2025 winning team!
In second place was University of Findlay, and Kettering College came in third. Also participating in the games were Baldwin Wallace University, Case Western Reserve University, Cedarville University, Lake Erie College, Miami University, Mount St. Joseph University, Ohio University, University of Dayton, University of Mount Union, and University of Toledo.
Thanks to all of the participating students, their program directors and faculty, the organizing team of OAPA Student Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Tyler Fitzgerald, PA-C and Daniel Bixel, PA-C, and Student Representative and Student Representative-Elect, Romal Patel, PA-S and Allyson Whittaker, PA-S, respectively, and all who helped to make it a fun and successful day!
The 2025 PA OlymPAcs lunch was generously sponsored by Lincoln Memorial University.
PA OlymPAcs - June 29, 2024
The PA OlymPAcs is an annual field day style event bringing together PA students from around the state of Ohio in friendly competition to raise funds for worthy causes.
This year the event raised money for GoPacks in Marietta, Ohio, as well as the OAPA Legislative Fund through custom T-shirts as well as direct monetary contributions. In addition to the fun and games, recruiters from Nationwide Children's Hospital and Mount Carmel Health System also attended to meet with students and support the event.
OAPA would like to thank Ohio Dominican University for hosting the event and congratulate Mount St. Joseph University as this year's winning team!
Tying for second place were Marietta College and Ohio Dominican University. Also participating in the games and/or fundraising were Ashland University, Baldwin Wallace University, Case Western Reserve University, Cedarville University, Kettering University, Lake Erie College, Miami University, Mount Union College, Ohio University, University of Findlay, University of Toledo, Ursuline College.
Thanks to all of the participating students, their program directors, and the organizing team of OAPA Student Affairs Committee Chair Tyler Fitzgerald, PA-C, Student Representative Daniel Bixel, PA-S, Student Representative-Elect Romal Patel, PA-S, and all who helped make it a fun and successful day!
PA OlymPAcs - October 14, 2023
The PA OlymPAcs returned on October 14, 2023, after a pandemic-induced hiatus. It was a wonderful success!
There were teams from 13 PA programs and more than 100 people in attendance to participate in a variety of games, meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate the Ohio PA community. More than $2,600 in contributions poured in for the event, with the money split between the Ken Anderson Alliance and the OAPA Legislative Fund.
Congrats to Marietta College for taking 1st place! Besides bragging rights, the Marietta students are honored with the opportunity to select the charitable cause for next year’s PA OlymPAcs.
Here are the final scores:
- Marietta: 14
- Toledo: 12
- Ohio University: 12
- Cedarville: 12
- Ohio Dominican: 10
- MSJ: 10
- Combo group (LEC, CWRU, Kettering): 8
- Dayton: 7
- Ashland: 5
- Mount Union: 1
- Findlay: 1
Thank you to all who participated in or supported the PA OlymPAcs, and to the planners, Student Affairs Committee Chair (and Region 1 Director) Tyler Fitzgerald, PA-C, Student Representative to the OAPA Board Daniel Bixel, PA-S, and Student Representative-Elect Romal Patel, PA-S, and their team for their hard work.
