Student Academy Representative Toolkit 2020

American Academy of PAs Founded in 1968, the American Academy of PAs is the national professional for PAs. It represents a profession of more than 131,000 PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and the uniformed services.

AAPA advocates and educates on behalf of the profession and the patients PAs serve. They work to ensure the professional growth, personal excellence, and recognition of PAs. They also enhance PAs’ ability to improve the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of patient-centered healthcare.

Student Academy of AAPA The Student Academy of the American Academy of PAs is part of AAPA The Student Academy gives voice to the unique views and needs of PA within AAPA and the PA profession. All AAPA student members are automatically Student Academy members. The Student Academy is led by the Student Board of Directors and includes the Assembly of Representatives, which is comprised of Student Academy Representatives (SARs) from each recognized PA program’s Student Society. Students’ voices can be heard through their own Student Academy Representative at the Student Academy’s Assembly of Representatives (AOR) meeting.

Student Board of Directors • The Student Board of Directors (SBOD) is comprised of ten positions, elected by the AOR at Conference. In addition, there is a PA Foundation liaison (appointed by the Student Board), two advisors, and one staff advisor from AAPA. • All Student Board Members must be AAPA student members. • The SBOD leads the business of the Student Academy and coordinates efforts at the national level to develop Student Academy activities based on the AOR resolutions.

Student Academy Board Positions: • President - oversees the work of the Student Academy and serves on the AAPA Board of Directors as Student Director. President-elect - coordinates action and activity of the Student Academy as a whole. The president-elect will serve a second year as President. • Chief Delegate – leads the student delegation to the AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD). • Director of Outreach – develops external outreach opportunities for PA students focused on local service, interprofessional collaboration, leadership development, and diversity and health disparities. • Director of Student Communications – develops comprehensive communication efforts on behalf of the Student Board to portray the ongoing work of the Student Academy. • Regional Directors (6) - works with SARs in their respective to maintain open means of communication from the national to student society levels, and coordinate projects at the regional and student society levels. o Mid-Atlantic - DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV o North Central - IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, OH, SD, WI o Northeast - CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT o South Central - AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, NE, NM, OK, TX o Southeast - AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN o West - AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY For more information visit: Student Academy Board of Directors

Student Student societies are groups of PA students who assemble on a regular basis to discuss issues of common interest that often deal with healthcare, the PA profession, or other social issues. Each student society can have its own unique mission and goals, but they all work to promote PA students and the PA profession. Any PA program can start a student society; however, to become a student society that is officially recognized by the Student Academy, the student society must meet the following criteria: • At least fthree unique PA student officers of the society must also be student members of AAPA; • The PA program must be accredited or provisionally accredited; • The student society must register online with the Student Academy; • Only one student society will be recognized by the Student Academy from each accredited or provisionally accredited PA program. PA programs with multiple campuses are allowed one officially recognized student society from each campus.

How can the student society register with the Student Academy? Complete the online form each year. Student society online applications open September 1 and contain the following student positions: • REQUIRED Officer Positions include: President, Student Academy Representative, and State Chapter Student Representative (name, email, AAPA ID number) • Optional positions include: Vice President, Outreach Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Student Academy Alternate, Student Historian, Student Diversity Committee Representative, Green Chair, Health and Wellness Chair You will want to register your society as soon as you can so your society officers can start communicating with the Student Academy Board members. A list of all PA programs and a checklist of registered societies, including eligibility for individual events, is available online.

Your student society is not obligated to have each position filled; however, it does allow more students in your program a chance to practice and improve their leadership skills, and expand your student society’s awareness of the community, other PA programs, and state chapter’s activities.

Positions Required for Student Society Registration: • Faculty Advisor – The role of the faculty advisor is to motivate future leaders in the PA profession by encouraging participation, providing information about resources, and nurturing interest in the activities of the program’s student society. • President – The President shall preside over the monthly meetings, set the meetings’ agendas, and submit agendas to the secretary for copies and distribution, coordinate the activities of the committees, and keep the membership informed of the activities of these committees. • Student Academy Representative (SAR) – This is your program's student representative to the Assembly of Representatives (AOR). The AOR meeting is an opportunity for students to discuss and determine resolutions which will guide the work of the Student Academy Board of Directors and student volunteers for the subsequent leadership year. They also elect the Student Academy Board of Directors. • State Chapter Student Representative (SCSR) – This position represents your program to the AAPA constituent chapter on the state level. This individual might work directly with the student who is an officer for the state chapter, or this individual might be the officer of the state chapter.

Optional Positions for Student Society Registration: • Vice President – This position assists the President in their duties and acts as the leader when the President is absent. • Secretary – This position records the minutes and then distributes these minutes to all student society members. • Treasurer – The Treasurer is responsible for any monies your chapter may receive, raise, or inherit from the previous year’s student society. • Outreach Chair (OC) – This position serves as a liaison to coordinate activities and public relations efforts between their student society and external groups and works to promote the profession. These groups may include but are not limited to other medical professionals (MD, DO, PT, OT, nurses, speech, etc.), city organizations, county organizations, state organizations, national organizations, and other community related organizations. • Student Historian – This position serves as a liaison to coordinate activities between their student society and the Society for the Preservation of PA History. • Student Academy Alternate – Your program may also designate a Student Academy Alternate. The alternate will not be allowed on the floor to introduce new business, make a motion, or vote unless the seated representative to the AOR relinquishes their seat either temporarily or permanently. • Student Diversity Committee Representative (SDCR) – The SDCR serves as the liaison between the Student Academy and the student society regarding diversity issues affecting their classmates as future colleagues and health care providers. • Green Chair – The Green Chair shall educate student society members on local and national "green" issues; work with campus and PA program leadership to facilitate green initiatives; increase interaction between the student society, constituent chapter, the Student Academy, and the AAPA national office with regard to green practice. • Health & Wellness Chair—The Health & Wellness Chair is responsible for organizing wellness activities for the student society and promoting school and life balance.

Assembly of Representatives (AOR) The Assembly of Representatives is comprised of the elected Student Academy Representatives (SARs) from each recognized PA program’s student society. All AAPA student members are welcome to attend and participate in the AOR meeting at Conference. This is the opportunity for students to discuss and determine resolutions which will guide the work of the Student Academy Board of Directors and student volunteers for the subsequent leadership year. In addition to discussing resolutions, SARs are also responsible for electing the Student Board of Directors (SBOD) for the following year. SARs are the liaison between AAPA and their respective student society and are responsible for relaying all information to their student society and classmates.

The AOR is also where students are given an opportunity to engage with national leaders on current issues impacting the PA profession and their future career through a Leadership Panel.

Student Academy Representative Timeline Take these steps within the first month of leadership. • Email your Regional Director to introduce yourself as the new SAR (Elections are held at different times for each PA program, so they may not know to expect you!) • You can expect emails from your Regional Director twice monthly, which include information and updates to share with your classmates in addition to important dates to be aware of and advocacy updates. • SAR conference calls will occur quarterly. Information regarding the call will be sent in an email by your Regional Director. • Follow social media for the student society and your for news and updates

Summer • Consider joining a Student Board Committee to get involved! • Start planning with your own student society on how to fund travel to the AAPA Conference and recruit as many classmates as possible. Fall • Student society Registration opens September 1! You will need all officers AAPA ID numbers. • Collaborate with classmates and faculty on how to celebrate PA week! PA week is celebrated nationally each year from October 6-12. • Begin to make plans for a Challenge Bowl team. • Conference Registration opens. Winter • SAR and HOD Travel Grants due in mid-February. • Challenge Bowl registration open during the month of February. • Start drafting an AOR resolution with your classmates which can be pre-submitted to the Student Academy. Spring • Think about running for a position on the Student Board and visit the elections page. • Prepare to attend the AAPA Conference and have fun! • It is important to pass along the toolkit, contacts, and other helpful information to the next SAR elected at your school.

The above list is not all-inclusive and some additional responsibilities can be found on the AOR page. Follow the AOR Steps to Success document for regular duties that are not seasonal. The best way to be successful is to prepare a smooth transition with your class’s incoming officers. You can always reach out with any questions you may have and don’t hesitate to do so if anything seems unclear.

AOR Resolutions A resolution is an action statement that empowers the Student Academy Board of Directors to conduct business in areas that are meaningful and impactful to PA students. Submitting resolutions for the AOR meeting is encouraged but not required. Read resolutions passed during previous years.

• Beneficial resolutions - When creating resolutions, keep the idea broad so that the volunteer committees will have room to work with their creativity and so the resolution is achievable. o Example: Resolution 2012‐02 The Student Academy resolves to establish a PA student mentorship program whose aim will be to connect current PA students and existing student society leaders with interested pre‐PA and high school students with the intent of helping guide interested individuals in their progress towards PA school. -CARRIES o Reasoning: Note that in this example it is not specified how they will connect with students. This allows the use of social media, forums, direct contact, etc., allowing the committee to find the best possible way to make the resolution succeed. • Problematic resolutions -These resolutions are items that are related to AAPA and their business/fiduciary decisions, which can’t be dictated by PA students. Make sure the resolution is within the scope of what the Student Academy can accomplish. o Example: Resolution 2012‐18 The Student Academy proposes to encourage the AAPA investigate options to allow students to have access to EMR to allow students to be able to review past medical history, labs, studies, and the ability to document as a student in charts. – FAILS o Reasoning: We can encourage these organizations to investigate these topics or suggestions, but we aren’t able to make changes to curriculum requirements. PAEA and ARC-PA are organizations focused on PA programs and . o Example: Resolution 2013‐11 The Student Academy resolves to encourage all PA programs to participate in promoting the profession during National PA Week – October 6‐12. -WITHDRAWN o Reasoning: The AAPA already encourages PA programs to participate in National PA Week. If AAPA is already working on something, the Student Academy will be expected to participate in some way –you don’t need a resolution to empower that action.

Student Awards The following student-related awards are given by AAPA. • PA Student of the Year: This award honors a PA student who has demonstrated exemplary service. Student should be a member of AAPA. • Outstanding Student Society: This award recognizes one student society for their outstanding service to the profession.

Travel Grants: A $200 grant for Student Academy Representatives/alternates and Student Academy elected HOD student delegates to minimize travel expenses to the annual conference. All applicants must be members of AAPA. These travel grants are due February 11, 2020.

What is the House of Delegates (HOD)? The House of Delegates (HOD) is AAPA’s policy-making body that defines the bylaws, policies and procedures of AAPA. Students have input on AAPA policy by way of their votes during the HOD. Currently, students have the largest number of delegates, meaning they have the largest collective vote. The student delegation is elected by the Student Board at their fall meeting.

Students interested in the HOD can go through the application process in the fall. Any student member of the AAPA can apply to be an HOD student delegate (multiple students from the same PA program can apply). Once elected, student delegates are assigned to a Reference Committee and will represent the collective interests of all AAPA student members.

Student Board Committees: Student Board Committees are chaired by Student Academy leaders. Participation on these groups is open to all PA student members of AAPA. Student Board Committees will change annually based on resolutions passed during the Assembly of Representatives at Conference. Sign-ups for committees is open during summer. • Volunteer sign-up form

AAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl This is a high-energy medical game show that is held during AAPA Conference. All teams will answer multiple choice questions on a screen using an Audience Response System (ARS) keypad. The top-scoring 36 teams will then advance to the on-stage rounds and will answer free response questions on a variety of topics ranging from physical diagnosis, microbiology, psychiatry, anatomy, OB/GYN, pulmonary, cardiology, primary care, emergency medicine and surgery. The SAR is responsible for relaying information about Challenge Bowl to their respective program.

To participate in the AAPA National Medical Challenge Bowl, you MUST have the following: • At least 75% of all PA students in the team's PA program must be AAPA members; • The team's Student Academy Representative must attend the AOR meeting held during AAPA's Conference; • All team members must be AAPA student members currently enrolled in an accredited PA program that has a student society registered with AAPA; • All team members must be registered for AAPA's Conference; • Only one team member per team can be graduating within 30 days of competition.

Team registration opens annually in February. There is no entrance fee. Participants must be registered as Conference attendees and show their conference name badge at team orientation. Find information about Challenge Bowl orientation, game scoring and policies in the Challenge Bowl Rules & Procedures. For more information, contact the Student Academy National Office at 571-319-4310 or email [email protected].

Student Academy Social Media • The Student Academy Page: https://www.aapa.org/StudentAcademy • Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AAPAstudents • Twitter www.Twitter.com/StuAcademyAAPA • Instagram: www.Instagram.com/AAPAorg • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-physician-assistants • Huddle: huddle.aapa.org • YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/aapavideo