American Academy of Physician Associates
 | |
| Formation | May 20, 1968 |
|---|---|
| Type | Professional association |
| 23-7067770 | |
| Legal status | 501(c)(6) |
| Headquarters | Alexandria, Virginia |
| Membership | 73,000[1] |
President | Jason Prevelige |
CEO | Lisa Gables |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | American Academy of Physician Assistants |
The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), previously named the American Academy of Physician Assistants, is a professional association for physician assistants/associates (PAs) in the United States.[2] It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.
History
[edit]The Duke University Physician Assistant Program was established in 1965 as the first formalized PA program in the United States and graduated its inaugural class in October 1967. In April 1968, the recent graduates of the Duke PA program, along with current students, began organizing a professional organization, incorporating as the "American Association of Physician's Assistants" in North Carolina on May 20, 1968. Within three years, the organization expanded its membership beyond the local community and elected leadership representing various regions across the nation.[3][4][5][6]: 6 In 1971, the name was changed to the "American Academy of Physicians' Associates"[7][8] and it published its first official journal, Physician's Associate.[6]: 32 [7] The organization adopted the name "American Academy of Physician's Assistants" in 1973,[7][8] and then "American Academy of Physician Assistants" after dropping the apostrophe from "physician" in 1981.[8][9] On May 24, 2021, the AAPA House of Delegates approved changing the profession's title from "physician assistant" to "physician associate" by a vote of 198 to 68.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Member Central". American Academy of Physician Associates. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "About". American Academy of Physician Associates. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "History". American Academy of Physician Associates. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "Founding of AAPA". Physician Assistant History Society. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "The Formative Years". Physician Assistant History Society. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Piemme, Thomas E.; Sadler, Alfred Mitchell; Carter, Reginald D.; Ballweg, Ruth (2013). The Physician Assistant: An Illustrated History. Gilbert, Ariz: Acacia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-935089-64-3.
- ^ a b c "Establishing a Profession". Physician Assistant History Society. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c Bean, Mackenzie (January 5, 2024). "'Physician associate' marks a return to the past". Becker's Hospital Review. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ "Nationwide Adoption". Physician Assistant History Society. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
- ^ "AAPA Adopts Physician Associate as Official Title for Profession". Clinical Advisor. May 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
- ^ "AAPA House of Delegates Votes to Change Profession Title to Physician Associate". American Academy of Physician Associates. May 24, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2025.