2022 Student Presentations

Join AAPA and a panel of established PAs working in primary care, emergency medicine, and orthopaedic surgery for a moderated discussion focused on the ins and outs of the three most popular PA specialties. During the discussion, panelists will accept questions from the audience and share how they landed a job in their chosen specialty, what a typical day at work looks like for them, and their advice for the next generation. Additionally, AAPA staff will briefly highlight AAPA’s new Areas of Practice Guide and explain how the Guide can help you decide what specialty is right for you and gracefully transition between specialties at any point in your career.

Moderator: Andrea Lowe, MBA, MHA, PA-C, Director, Health Equity Partnerships and DE&I Initiatives, AAPA and PA Foundation

Panelists: Matt Mancini, PA-C; Janelle Bludorn, PA-C; Brian Downie, PA-C, MS, DFAAPA

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

There is one thing we can all agree on – the world of healthcare has rapidly changed over the course of the last few years. From the evolution of telehealth to the invasion of COVID-19, the expansion of private practice, and the growth in autonomy of the PA profession, as clinicians, it is imperative to ensure that you always have your finger on the pulse of change. Join us for a discussion on how to mitigate risk and protect your assets in both your everyday, in-person routine and via cyber interactions.

Presenter: William Sullivan, Executive Vice President of CM&F Group, Inc.

Location: Convention Center, Exhibit Hall Presenter Stage, Level 1, Hall CDE

“PANCE at a Glance” focuses on helping students prepare for the PANCE by explaining various aspects of the exam and the exam day experience. Students will go through an engaging and informative overview of exam content and preparation tips along with everything students want to know about how to navigate their testing day at a PearsonVUE testing center. Students should come away with a strong foundation to build their plan for success heading into the PANCE. The NCCPA, as the organization responsible for developing and administering the PANCE, is proud to provide this informational session for all students entering the PA profession.

Presenter: Jeff Boswell, Student Outreach Ambassador, NCCPA

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

The student loan interest and payment holiday is now set to end on May 1, 2022. While the federal payment pause brought some much-needed relief to those with federal student loan debt, it’s time to start planning your next step to prepare you for Spring 2022. Laurel Road will share best practices for Federal Loan repayment, refinancing your student loans, and how to strategize with the CARES Act coming to an end.

This session will cover:

• CARES Act Interest and Payment Holiday Coming to an End
• Should I refinance or explore federal repayment options?
• What is student loan refinancing, and am I eligible?
• Could I save by refinancing?
• Will refinancing affect my credit?
• Are there any costs or fees associated with refinancing?

Presenter: Nikki Bruno, Senior Manager, Partnerships, Laurel Road

Location: Convention Center, Exhibit Hall Presenter Stage, Level 1, Hall CDE

According to experts, the three little words “I don’t know” comprise the most intimidatingly difficult phrase for anyone to utter. However, there is much that medical learners and new clinicians don’t yet know. Being able to convey that in an intentional manner can open the opportunity for meaningful learning whether in the classroom or clinical setting. Geared towards PA students and new graduates, this session will employ storytelling, pearls from adult learning theory, and communication frameworks to empower attendees to overcome the struggle and harness the power of saying “I don’t know.”

Presenter: Janelle Bludorn, PA-C

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

This presentation will cover challenges that can affect mental health during PA training and propose a variety of approaches to addressing mental health during PA school. These strategies can help lay the foundation for continuing to incorporate and prioritize wellness in clinical practice. Open discussion and Q&A will follow the presentation.

Presenters: Stephanie Neary, MPA, MMS, PA-C; Chris Roman, DMS, PA-C

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

You’ve probably heard the advice to make a budget and stick to it – but what does that really mean for a PA student or new grad? How do you know how much money you need, and how do you stay on track with your budget? This session will walk through the different aspects that go into making a budget and how to stay on track. Participants will be encouraged to download and use the PA Money Sense Interactive Budget Guide, which is a free member benefit for AAPA members. The budget guide is a customizable spreadsheet to help PA students manage their student loans during PA school. It can help calculate how much money to accept in federal student loans and how to allocate that money between student loan disbursements. It is completely customizable for any PA program and helps navigate finances in PA school so students can graduate with less debt and less stress.

Presenter: Virginia Morgan, MBA, PA-C

Location: Convention Center, Exhibit Hall Presenter Stage, Level 1, Hall CDE

Clinical rotations are an essential PA education experience that, at times, can be challenging to navigate. This session will provide the PA student with an overview of helpful tips and tricks to maximize the clinical phase of their education. Learn what the most successful students do: how to study during clinicals, ways to seek and act on feedback, and ultimately how to make the most of your rotation experiences – and enjoy it!

Presenter: Cody Sasek, PhD, PA-C, Program Director, Butler University DMS Bridge Program

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

During this session, you will learn how the PA Brand has evolved, the data supporting the unique PA Brand Positioning Statement, and your role as a PA Brand Ambassador

As PA students and new grads entering clinical practice, you have an exclusive opportunity to be a part of the new PA brand, which will officially be launched at AAPA2022. This session will present you with the profession’s origin story and lead you through a journey to fully recognize and own the value of the PA profession in delivering high-quality, patient-centered, team-based healthcare. You will learn about the resources and toolkits available to empower and support you in your daily endeavors, to help build greater awareness and understanding of the profession’s brand. You are an important part of this movement, and we invite you to join us to learn more about and how you can embrace PAs Go Beyond.

Presenters: Donna Nogay, Senior VP, Marketing & Membership; Karen Morgan, Senior VP, Communications, Governance, & Leadership Development

Location: Convention Center, Exhibit Hall Presenter Stage, Level 1, Hall CDE

Join early career PAs as they share their leadership journey and identify opportunities for current and future PA leaders to engage on behalf of the PA profession — from student society leadership positions and Student Board Committee work, to state chapter opportunities and holding a national leadership position. Student Academy President-elect (and recent graduate) Natalie Crump, PA-C will act as the panel moderator, and will be joined by AAPA Student Board Graduate Advisor Kaci Hardsock, MS, PA-C; Governance Commission member and delegate Brendan Lucas, PA-C; and Second Vice-Speaker of AAPA’s House of Delegates Peggy Walsh, MS, PA-C. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. PA students, pre-PAs, and early career PAs are all welcome to attend this panel discussion.

Moderator: Natalie Crump, PA-C

Panelists: Kaci Hardsock, MS, PA-C; Brendan Lucas, PA-C; Peggy Walsh, MS, PA-C

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

This is a practical seminar designed to provide an outline of the job search process, as well as strategies and techniques to help the new graduate PA. This presentation will discuss specific tools and examples to land that first job!

Presenter: Kaci Hardsock, MS, PA-C

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142

Join First Vice Speaker of AAPA’s House of Delegates and PA educator Leslie Clayton, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA to learn more about current PA professional issues, why it is important that PA students be aware of the state of the PA profession, and how to become a lifelong advocate for the profession. Students will walk away knowing why they should begin their advocacy journey now, as students, and how they can get involved in PA advocacy.

Presenter: Leslie Clayton, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, First Vice Speaker of AAPA’s House of Delegates

Location: Convention Center, Level 1, Room 140-142