APPAP HISTORY

At the American Academy of Physician Assistants Convention in Los Angeles in May 1988 a group of postgraduate PA programs met to formalize a national postgraduate PA program organization. Bylaws were written and approved by the eight founding programs and the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs (APPAP) was formed to further specialty education for PAs.

Since that meeting, APPAP has gained the support of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). APPAP members work with AAPA and PAEA on mutual goals designed to expand the PA profession.

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PURPOSE AND GOALS

APPAP’s bylaws broadly define the educational, professional, and informational purposes of APPAP:

• To assist in the development and organization of postgraduate educational curricula and programs for PAs.
• To assist in defining the role of the physician assistant-especially in the specialties.
• To assist in the development of evaluation methodologies for postgraduate educational curricula and programs.
• To serve as an information center for PAs, programs training PAs at the entry level, other medical and health care disciplines and to the public with respect to postgraduate educational curricula and programs for PAs.

APPAP’s business meetings are open to all PA students, educators, administrators, and health professionals interested in postgraduate PA education.

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APPAP MEMBER PROGRAMS

All member programs of APPAP are formal postgraduate PA programs that offer structured curricula, including didactic and clinical components, to educate NCCPA eligible/certified PAs for a defined period of time (usually 12 months) in a medical specialty.

APPAP member programs follow several models including fellowships, Masters Degree programs, and residency programs. All APPAP member programs must award a certificate or degree or provide graduate academic credit.

Employment opportunities and roles for PAs are rapidly expanding to include a high proportion of specialty areas. The PAEA Annual Report reports the following distribution of PAs by specialty as: Family/General Medicine (36%); General Surgery & Surgical Subspecialties (20%); Internal Medicine & IM Subspecialties (17%); Emergency Medicine (10%); Pediatrics (4%); Ob/Gyn (3%); and Other (10%). The PAEA Annual Report also reports the distribution of PAs’ by work setting as follows: Hospital (37%); Group Practice (27%); Ambulatory Care (11%); Solo MD Practice (10%); Other Settings (10%); and HMO/Managed Care (4%).

 

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CAREER PLANNING

Because of this diversity and specialization, formal postgraduate training is assuming a greater importance as an adjunct to PA primary care education. Postgraduate curriculums are designed to build upon the knowledge and experience acquired in PA school enabling the PA to competently assume a role as physician assistant on a specialty health care team. Many postgraduate programs have pioneered the role of the PA in these specialty areas and offer experienced role models as well as formalized instruction.

Information about postgraduate PA educational opportunities is made available to students and graduate PAs interested in the medical specialties in this directory. Applications and further information may be obtained by contacting individual postgraduate programs. Students and graduate PAs may also talk with postgraduate program directors at the AAPA Annual Conference.

 

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FOUNDING PROGRAMS

• Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Residency
• Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Physician Assistant Neonatology Residency Program
• Montefiore Postgraduate Residency in Surgery and Masters in Health Sciences
• Montefiore Residency in Gynecology for Physician Assistants and Optional Masters in Health Sciences
• Norwalk Hospital/Yale University Pediatric Physician Assistant Postgraduate Training Program
• Norwalk Hospital/Yale University School of Medicine PA Surgical Residency Program
• Sinai Hospital Postgraduate Physician Assistant Surgical Residency
• University of Southern California Physician Assistant Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine