+ AAPA,
SAAAPA,
and
Students
+
AAPA Organization Overview
AAPA
Executive
AAPA Board
of Directors
State Chapters
Philanthropic
PA Foundation
Specialty
Organizations
Judicial/Legislative
Covers all issues
pertinent to PAs
through Volunteer
projects and groups
House of
Delegates
Caucuses
Volunteer
Engagement
Special Interest
Groups
Student Academy
+ What is the Student Academy of
the American Academy of
Physician Assistants (SAAAPA)?
The Student Academy is a part of the AAPA that
was created to represent the unique views and
needs of PA students.
 Has
its own governance within the AAPA.
 Has elected student leaders.
 Includes the Assembly of Representatives
(AOR), which is the policy-making arm
designated solely for PA students.
+ Student Academy Organization
Student
Academy
Executive
Philanthropic
Judicial/Legislative
SAAAPA
Leaders
PA Foundation
Assembly of
Representatives
(AOR)
Caring for
Communities
ProgramBased
Grants
Student Society Representatives
Awards
Volunteer
Groups
Fulfills the
agenda set
forth by the
SAAAPA AOR
Resolutions
+ Student Academy Leadership
The Student Board of Directors is comprised of ten
elected positions, chosen by the AOR at the AAPA
annual conference.
There is also one appointed student liaison
position, selected by the elections committee with
recommendations from the AOR at the AAPA
annual conference.
+
Student Academy Leadership

All student officers must be AAPA student
members.

Leadership duties include:
•
Representing all PA students and promoting the
profession on your behalf,
•
Developing SAAAPA activities based on the AOR
resolutions,
•
Working with national and local PA student
leaders.
+
Student Academy Mission
Statement
The mission of the Student Academy is to
foster the personal and professional
development of physician assistant
students, encourage educational
excellence, and advocate for student and
professional issues.
+E
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P
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SAAAPA Elections
President
President Elect
Chief Delegate
Director of Outreach
AOR Resolution
Submission
Director of Student Communications
Regional Director - West
Regional Director - South Central
Volunteer Group Chairs
Regional Director – North Central
Regional Director – Southeast
Regional Director – Northeast
Regional Director – Mid Atlantic
President position is second year of
president-elect position.
+ Student Academy Leaders 2014-2015
+ Student Academy Leaders 2014-2015
•
President: Melissa Ricker, East Carolina University, saaapapres@gmail.com
•
President-Elect: Elizabeth Prevou, George Washington University,
saaapape@gmail.com
•
Chief Delegate: Hayley Chestnut, MCPHS-Boston, saaapacd@gmail.com
•
Director of Outreach: Jennifer Price, Union College, saaapado@gmail.com
•
Director of Student Communications: Bethany Rohrs, Salus University,
saaapacom@gmail.com
Advisors
•
AAPA Graduate Advisor: Rachel Carlson, aapaadvisor@gmail.com
•
PAEA Graduate Advisor: Cody Sasek, paeaadvisor@gmail.com
•
SAAAPA Staff Advisor: Caitlin Harrison,, students@aapa.org
Appointed Position
•
PA Foundation Student Representative: Hannah Sitter, South College-Tennessee,
saaapapaf@gmail.com
+ Student Academy Leaders 2014-2015
•
Regional Director – Mid-Atlantic: Virginia Tran, Philadelphia University,
saaapama@gmail.com
Representing: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, West Virginia
•
Regional Director – North Central: Wyatt Baxter, Southern Illinois University,
saaapanc@gmail.com
Representing: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South
Dakota, Wisconsin
•
Regional Director – Northeast: Mandy Foote, MCPHS-Boston, saaapane@gmail.com
Representing: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, Rhode Island, Vermont
•
Regional Director – South Central: Josh Ellis, Wichita State University,
saaapasc@gmail.com
Representing: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
•
Regional Director – Southeast: Nicole Fajardo, Elon University, saaapase@gmail.com
Representing: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee
•
Regional Director – West: Richard Bruce, University of Southern California,
saaapaw@gmail.com
Representing: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
+ Assembly of Representatives
(AOR)

Governing body of SAAAPA.

Comprised of one representative from the registered student society
at each accredited PA program.

You must be an AAPA student member.

You must be elected or appointed as your student society’s AOR
representative.

The AOR passes
resolutions that are
submitted by the Board
and by student
societies.

The carried resolutions
set the Student
Academy agenda for the
upcoming year.
AOR representatives vote on a resolution at AOR at the
AAPA annual conference.
+ Assembly of Representatives
Duties
AOR representative’s primary responsibilities include:
• Acting as liaison between
your student society and
SAAAPA.
• Submitting resolutions
for the AOR to consider.
• Discussing and voting on
resolutions.
• Electing the SAAAPA
Board of Directors.
PA student participating in AOR at the AAPA annual
conference.
+ Passed AOR Resolutions
2014-2015

11 resolutions were reviewed, debated, and voted upon during the
two-day AOR meeting.

The AOR passed eight resolutions, which will be used by Student
Academy leaders in strategic planning for the 2014-2015 leadership
year.

Charges to the Student Academy set forth by resolutions will be
accomplished through individual actions and volunteer groups.

Complete list of resolutions: 2014 Resolutions
+
Student Academy Focus

The goal of the Student Academy is to become a more student
society-centric organization, based on student participation.

The foundation of the Student Academy is grounded in the student
members of the AAPA who participate in local outreach, advocacy,
and service in their respective communities.

To reinforce and strengthen efforts on a national level, local action
by individual student societies will grow a stronger and more
prepared cohort of individual PAs.

With the guidance of Regional Directors, and other members of the
SAAAPA Leadership, PA students will be provided with the
necessary resources to fulfill the mission and goals of the Student
Academy and the AAPA as a whole.
+ Student Academy Volunteer Groups
Last year, the Student Academy operated using
work groups and task forces. Work groups were
created for task/projects that were to last the
entire year or longer and task forces were
designed to meet a goal and then absolve.
In order to reflect the new structure put in place
by the AAPA, the Student Academy will use
volunteer groups to fulfill the mission set forth
by AOR resolutions. There are permanent and
temporary Volunteer Groups.
Any student member of the AAPA is eligible to
serve on a volunteer group, and can apply at:
http://fs18.formsite.com/AAPAGovernance/for
m4/index.html
+ Student Academy Standing Volunteer
Groups
Standing Volunteer Groups:
• Collective group of volunteer groups, organized by
common purpose. A standing volunteer group is
voted on by the AOR.
• Will be active throughout the year, and will have
continuity for the next leadership year.
• Each will be chaired by a Student Academy Director,
who will function as a resource and coordinator of
efforts.
+ 2014-2015 SAAAPA Standing Volunteer
Groups
 Service Student Volunteer Group
 Leadership Student Volunteer Group
 Advocacy and Policy Student Volunteer
Group
 Communication and Outreach Student
Volunteer Group
+ Student Academy Project Groups
Project Groups:
• Project or goal-driven group of student members.
• Chaired by student member of AAPA, and includes
one Student Academy Director, and other student
members.
• Once goal of volunteer group is accomplished,
essentially the work of the group is completed.
• Volunteer group chairs will report activities and
recommendations back to the Director of Student
Communications for Student Academy Board of
Directors’ approval.
+ 2014-2015 SAAAPA Volunteer Groups
 Promoting Sexual Identity in Health
 Collaboration/Awareness of Global
Health
 Promotion of APPAP Training
 Oral Health Task Force
 Recognizing Outstanding Preceptors
 National Leadership Institute
 Mentorship Project
+ AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD)

Students help influence policy for the AAPA and the PA
profession by way of their votes during the HOD.

Currently, students have the largest number of delegates at 19,
meaning we have the largest collective vote.


Students interested in the HOD
can go through the application
process in the fall.



HOD organization mimics the House of Representatives in the US
Government.
Any student member of the AAPA
can apply to be a HOD student
delegate.
Once selected, student delegates
are assigned to a Reference
Committee and will represent the
collective interests of all AAPA
student members.
HOD proceedings at AAPA’s annual conference.
Student delegates will go through a training process led by the
Student Academy Chief Delegate.
+ PA Program Student Societies



What is a student society?

A group of at least four PA students (president, AOR representative, Outreach Chair,
State Chapter Student Representative) who regularly meet to discuss issues pertinent to
the PA profession and local community.

Student society members must be AAPA student members.
Why join a student society?

Opportunity to interact with other students who have the same interests.

Work collaboratively to educate others about the PA profession; improve the
community with outreach projects; and enhance ones own leadership skills.

The student society provides a way for you to get involved with your peers, the PA
profession, and the community!
Why register a student society?

Send a representative to the Assembly of Representatives (AOR), SAAAPA's legislative
body.

Compete for the Outstanding Student Society Award with a prize of $500.

Participate in the National Medical Challenge Bowl held at the annual conference.
Registration opens September 1st
+ Student Society Governance
President
Outreach Chair
State Chapter Student
Representative
AOR Representative
Vice President
Green Chair
Alternate AOR Representative
Secretary/Treasurer
Historian
+ Student Society Officer
Responsibilities-Required Positions
President: Oversees and coordinates all activities of the student society, presides over
monthly meetings, set the meetings’ agendas, coordinates the activities of the committees,
and keeps the membership informed of the activities of these committees.
Outreach Chair: Coordinates activities and public relations efforts between the student
society and external groups, such as other medical professionals, city, state and national
organizations; promotes the PA profession and seeks out ways to work with other
organizations in their community; disseminates information on diversity issues; coordinates
community outreach projects, serves as a liaison between his or her student society and the
SAAAPA Director of Outreach; coordinates and oversees philanthropic outreach and
fundraising efforts.
State Constituent Student Representative: Serves as representative for the student society
to the state chapter. The duties of this person vary from state to state, depending on how
many PA programs are located in the state and according to the bylaws of the constituent
chapter. However, the SCSR is responsible for attending all constituent state chapter board of
directors meetings and reporting back to his or her student society as directed by the state
chapter. Also, the SCSR should increase interaction between the student society, constituent
chapter, SAAAPA, and AAPA.
AOR Representative: Responsible for distributing all Student Academy information to his
or her program; monitors the SAAAPA website for announcements, leadership opportunities,
and available resources which would be of interest to fellow students; and serves as the
contact for SAAAPA leaders and committees. Attends the annual AOR meeting at AAPA’s
annual conference to elect new officers of the Student Academy, to establish and amend
policy of SAAAPA, and to conduct business as necessary.
+
STUDENT MICROSITE!

Explore, share, and contribute!

http://www.pastudentessentials.com/
+ IMPACT 2015: San Francisco, CA
43rd Annual Conference
May 23 – May 27, 2015
•Assembly of Representatives Meeting
•Student SPARK Sessions
•National Medical Challenge Bowl
•PArty With a Cause
•Shaking Hands, Taking Names
•National Student Leadership Forum
•A PAramount Evening
For more information…
www.aapa.org/saaapa
students@aapa.org
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/AAPAstudents
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/SAAAPA