The Student Academy and You

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The Student Academy and You
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Student Academy of the American Academy of
Physician Assistants (SAAAPA)

• Mission Statement
• To foster the personal and professional
  development of physician assistant students,
  encourage educational excellence and advocate for
  student and professional issues.

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The Student Academy will help students to
develop their career through leadership,
involvement and mentoring.
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• Getting involved is easy!
• There are over 170
• student positions
• available each year!!!

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Why Get Involved?

• Affect the course of students career as a PA
• Build strong bonds with students and colleagues
• Strengthen your PA Program
• Teach your students important leadership skills
• Have fun!

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Where do you start?

• Begin by organizing and registering your student
  society annually
• Seek opportunities for students to be involved
  with SAAAPA and their local community
• You will find many opportunities will evolve from
  this beginning.

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Student Societies

• Requirements
• At least five AAPA members
• Student Society Officer Roster Form
• Student Society officers must be members of AAPA
• Submit copy of bylaws (samples available)
• Election of AOR/HOD/SDCR
• Provide all materials to SAAAPA by Nov 1

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Student Society Organization

• Student Society
• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Constituent Chapter Student Representative (CCSR)
• Program Representatives to the Assembly of
  Representatives (AOR) and House of Delegates
  (HOD)
• Student Diversity Committee Representative (SDCR)

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Assembly of Representatives, (AOR) the Core of
SAAAPA

• AOR is the governing body of the Student Academy
• We recommend the AOR representative be a first
  year student
• AOR responsibilities
• Distribute SAAAPA information at his/her program
• Attend the national conference
• Be a contact for SAAAPA
• Regularly monitor the SAAAPA website

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House of Delegates, (HOD) Student Representative

• A programs representative to the SAAAPA
  delegation of the HOD.
• Vote on and debate important issues facing the
  profession.
• It is recommended that the AOR representative
  serve in the HOD the following year.

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Constituent Chapter Student Representative, CCSR

• Serve as your programs representative to the
  professional chapter in your state
• A vital link between your program and the state
  PA chapter

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Student Academy LeadershipBoard of Directors

• Elected each year by the AOR
• President
• Vice President
• Director of Internal Affairs
• Chief Delegate
• APAP Student Member at Large
• Director of External Affairs
• Director of Diversity
• Director of Online Affairs
• These students are here to help. So, dont
  hesitate to contact them!!

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Current Leadership Advisors

• AAPA Staff Advisor
• Dedicated to the functioning of the Student
  Academy and Student Societies
• The current AAPA Staff Advisor
• Cyndi Brown
• (cynthia_at_aapa.org or [phone] X3311

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Current Leadership Advisors

• AAPA Graduate Advisor
• AAPA appoints a Graduate Advisor to the Student
  Academy Board of Directors
• A practicing PA who has experience with students,
  student societies, and AAPA policy and procedure
• Current AAPA Graduate Advisor
• Cindy Lord (fredlord_at_aol.com)

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Current Leadership Advisors

• APAP Graduate Advisor
• APAP appoints a Graduate Advisor to the Student
  Academy Board of Directors
• Faculty member who has experience with student
  societies, the Student Academy, and the
  Association of PA Programs policies and
  procedures
• Currently is David Fahringer (dafahr1_at_uky.edu)

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More Student Academy Leadership

• Regional Communications Chair (RCC)
• Student Diversity Committee Chair (SDCC)
• Encourage your students to join their regional
  committee
• Complete details of positions at
  www.saaapa.aapa.org

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Regional Communications Chair (RCC)

• One in each of 5 regions
• Appointed annually by the SAAAPA BOD
• Disseminates SAAAPA information
• Plans regional meetings and projects for students
• Truly, one of the keystone leadership positions
  in each region!

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Student Diversity Committee Chair, SDCC

• One in each of the five regions
• Appointed annually by the SAAAPA BOD
• Disseminate information to PA students regarding
  diversity issues
• Assist in organizing the SDCC roundtable at
  regional and annual conferences

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AAPA SAAAPA Resources for Faculty and Students

• Current Leadership
• Student Society Handbook
• Faculty Advisor Handbook
• PACE Newsletter
• AAPA News Student Section
• AAPA/SAAAPA Homepage
• Student Society Mentoring Program

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Student Society Handbook

• Sent every fall to the program director, faculty
  advisor, and student society president
• Includes information on registration, running a
  student society, fundraising ideas, available
  scholarships and much more!!
• Highly recommend one copy be kept in the PA
  office or at the library circulation desk so all
  PA students have access to this important resource

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Faculty Advisor Handbook

• Sent each fall to the Faculty Advisor
• Designed to familiarize faculty with the Student
  Academy
• Aids faculty in assisting student societies in
  getting registered and getting involved
• Sections include
• Organizing your student society
• Resources for the faculty advisor
• Important national projects for student societies
• Leadership opportunities for students outside the
  student society

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Publications

• AAPA News-Student Section
• Mailed to all AAPA members
• Included is a student section with issues that
  are important to students

• PACE Newsletter
• Sent out in Spring and Fall
• Fall issue goes to all PA students
• Spring issue only to AAPA members

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SAAAPA Homepage

• www.saaapa.aapa.org
• One of the most extensive collections of
  information
• Regular updates are posted to the website
  including scholarship information, community
  events, and leadership opportunities
• We highly recommend monitoring the website
  monthly!

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Student Society Mentoring Program

• Serves to match a more experienced Student
  Society with a new or inexperienced Student
  Society
• A mentoring relationship will bring support,
  guidance, and assistance to a new student society
  as well as provide an experienced and active
  student society with the opportunity to teach and
  serve the profession
• Sign up on the website or with Cyndi Brown
  (Cynthia_at_aapa.org)

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What can an active student society do?

• Create acknowledgement of your PA program from
  national leaders
• Generate future PA leaders
• Establish a presence as a prominent and proactive
  PA program
• Ensure the success and excellence of your
  graduates
• Provide visibility and recognition of your PA
  program within the profession, within the
  community, and to potential PA school applicants

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PA Program Visits

• Each SAAAPA board member visits a school who is
  unfamiliar with SAAAPA
• Presentation about the benefits of developing a
  student society
• If interested, please let us know!

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Ways to activate your student society

• Host City Philanthropic Project
• Scholarship/Awards
• PA Day activities
• Medical Challenge Bowl
• Community and Service Activities
• Regional and National Meetings

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Host City Philanthropic Project SAAAPA
Sponsored/Student Society Contribution

• Supports a charitable organization in the host
  city at the annual conference
• Helps the community
• Increases awareness of PAs
• Through dedicated student societies,
• SAAAPA makes a significant donation
• each year.

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Awards Available to Students

• SAAAPA Outstanding Student Society Award
• SAAAPA Presidents Award
• SAAAPA Constituent Organization Award
• SAAAPA AOR/HOD Travel Grants
• PA Foundation/Specialty Scholarships
• APAP Presidents Scholarship Award
• Peter Nyquist Student Writing Competition
• APAP Student Writing Scholarship Awards
• AAPA Public Education Achievement Award

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SAAAPA MeetingsOpen the Doors of Opportunity
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Capitol Constituent Organization Workshop (CCOW)

• Held in Washington DC each fall
• Students have the opportunity to learn about and
  discuss important PA issues as well as the PA
  legislative process
• Students can visit State Senators and
  Representatives on Capitol Hill with their
  Constituent Chapter

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AAPA Annual Conference

• Integral to learning about the PA profession
• Participation in the AOR/HOD
• Student involvement with the PA Foundation and
  their activities.
• Ability to take part in workshops/courses
  designed for students
• Participation in the National Medical Challenge
  Bowl
• Network with colleagues

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Regional Meetings and Students? Absolutely!

• Participate in the student track that provides
  topics of interest to PA students
• Play in the Regional Medical Challenge Bowl
• Network for possible opportunities
• Meet the leadership of the AAPA and SAAAPA

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Suggestions from current faculty

• Create a student society website

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New since last year

• Mentor programs
• AOR
• HOD

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New since last year

• Student leadership positions
• PAF student representatives
• Programs Committee
• Communications Committee
• Student Society Mentoring Program Coordinator
• Student Representative to the PA History
  Organization
• NPCW liaison to AMSA

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Make a Difference!Get Your Students Involved!