The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is taking the pulse of the PA profession. Through the AAPA Census, PAs from across the country -- wherever you work and whether or not you are an AAPA member -- will supply important, accurate information about your profession that can influence your future. Data collected through the Census will inform professional leadership and others who can propose federal and state funding and legislation, scholarships and grants and -- most of all -- influence better working conditions for you and your practice. Please support your profession by taking AAPA's Census online at www.aapa.org/census and get entered to win an Apple^® iPAD and many other prizes!

Monterey, Calif. - Nearly 350 PAs and NPs from 40 states convened at the Portola Hotel here Nov. 9-12 for the Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants 13th Annual Fall CME Conference and Exhibition. In addition to the family practice curriculum offering up to 25 hours of category 1 CME credits, the event featured a rheumatology track hosted by the Society of PAs in Rheumatology.

The Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants (AFPPA) is pleased to announce that eight student members are the recipients of its 2011 scholarship awards. Two students are receiving the Meeks Scholarship, in memory of the late Jim Meeks, who served as president of AFPPA in 2008-09.

AFPPA is offering a 15% "bring a colleague" discount to physician assistants and nurse practitioners attending our annual conferences.  Download and complete the AFPPA Conference registration form, write code “AFPPA15” across the bottom along with the name of your colleague and fax to 770.640.1095. Make sure your colleague registers for the same conference to receive your discount!

Randy D. Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, has co-authored a new book entitled The Preceptor's Handbook for Supervising Physician Assistants. This book is dedicated to educating doctors on how to supervise PAs effectively, and is the first of its kind. Randy is also scheduled to speak at AFPPA's 2011 Fall Conference in Monterey, CA.

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The Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants (AFPPA) is proud to continue its support of students interested in family practice. The Association begins accepting applications for the AFPPA Student Scholarship in June and awards scholarships in the fall of each year.  Awards given to junior students are in the amount of $1000 and are given to students of senior or master's status in the amount of $1500. In addition, the Jim Meeks PA-C, DFAAPA Memorial AFPPA Student Scholarship in the amount of $1500 is awarded.

Deadline for receipt of all scholarship applications is September 1. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. For questions, please email scholarshipchair@afppa.org.

Money Magazine Ranks PAs as 2nd Best Job in America

What’s the one of the best jobs in America? According to the editors at Money Magazine, it’s being a physician assistant.  In fact, out of the top 100 positions, PAs jobs are ranked #2.

Although AFPPA offers conferences in family-friendly destinations from coast to coast, we know you have other conferences to choose from. So, why should you choose AFPPA?

Convenience You could settle for a huge convention hall with large crowds, long lines, and impersonal lectures, or you can enjoy AFPPA’s   conferences at resort type settings and family-friendly destinations.

AFPPA offers unparalleled peer-to-peer CME in small group settings at conferences held in exciting and diverse locations across the country. Nowhere else can you find CME for PAs, taught by PAs, with a curriculum that is specifically designed for primary care physician assistants. That’s one reason why the AFPPA is growing by leaps and bounds. Join us and discover why we’re now serving over 1,500 attendees at our educational events.