Military PAs Celebrate Accomplishments, Share Lessons in Leadership, and Build Community at AAPA 2024

AAPA’s annual conference has great opportunities for military PAs

July 15, 2024

By Adhana McCarthy, Peter Gyuratz, Christina Petersen, A. Marie Rowe, Lee Paschen, Ellie Uecker, James Jones, and Amelia Duran-Stanton

“Remain curious and empower others” was the message from one of the senior military leaders as a part of the Uniformed Services Symposium (USS) at AAPA 2024.

AAPA provides an unparalleled opportunity for military physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) at all stages of their careers to get inspired, think bigger, deepen relationships, and develop professionally. Most military PAs attend their first AAPA conference several years into their practice. However, AAPA 2024 in Houston featured the largest early-career military PA attendance in recent years. This year, early-career military PAs looked forward to CME topics, a trip to the NASA Space Center, and a Texas barbecue. What they received was much more: inspiration, mentorship, social therapy, and a sense of community.

The First Active Duty Military PA to Earn a Star Lifts Others Up
During an AAPA 2024 Main Stage Event, AAPA President Folusho Ogunfiditimi recognized Brig. Gen. Bill Soliz for being the first active-duty military PA to become a general officer. He serves as Commanding General for Medical Readiness for the Pacific and is responsible for multiple military bases in Washington state, Alaska, Hawaii, and South Korea.

“Having him recognized at the national level was such a significant event for me. It made an impact to be able to see how far we’ve been able to come,” said Captain Christina Petersen.

Soliz also took time to conduct the promotion ceremony for 1^st Lt. Andrea “Andie” de Luna, who graduated from the only PA program in Puerto Rico. This intergenerational support from the highest-ranking Active Duty PA to the Army’s newest PA provided an opportunity for all PAs to reflect on the significance and trajectory of the PA profession.

Uniformed Services Symposium
AAPA’s USS gathered a panel of senior leaders from Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Health Service, Coast Guard, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to talk about lessons in leadership. These PAs answered a combination of audience and moderator-led questions about career skills needed at the executive level. “Communication will make or break you,” one leader said. “Ensure that everybody hears the same thing.” Another talked about how important it is not only to know yourself, but to know how others see you.

Additionally, the USS hosted a session on the history and current use of Whole Blood Transfusions in Military Environments, during which presenters talked about the history of whole blood use in military settings and the importance of implementing a walking blood bank.

Lt. Col. Brian Gomez organized a USS session on updates in Military Medicine for PAs. During the session, leaders from across the spectrum of emergency care highlighted the current training opportunities as well as practical application of Tactical Combat Casualty Care.

Col. Amelia Duran-Stanton planned and facilitated the leadership panel from all military services, the VA, and Public Health Services. She also provided a career management workshop, a general session presentation on building relationships utilizing virtual platforms, and presented her DoD and civilian team’s research on preeclampsia during the Research in Action events. Major Garrett Latham and the military PAs provided workshops on orthopaedic procedures.

The 11th PA Consultant to the Army Surgeon General, Col. James Jones, was also present at USS. He serves as director of the Medical Capabilities Development Integration Directorate at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. “Army PAs play a vital role in training combat medics, thereby enhancing the ability to clear the battlefield, maximize return to duty rates, and overcome contested logistics,” Jones said.

Be All You Can Be – Army Recruiting
During AAPA 2024, the Army Medical Department sent recruiters to talk about opportunities for military PAs. Army PAs who were serving as clinicians, clinical directors, commanders of military units, as well as senior leaders in strategic positions spent time at the recruiting booth to share their experiences with attendees. A military PA can work in many settings from outpatient clinics to austere environments.

Multiple opportunities exist for military PAs to get doctoral level training in emergency medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, epidemiology, and education. A new fellowship in psychiatry even started in 2024. Major Lakeisha Logan spent some time at the recruiting booth to talk about the opportunity she had to train with civilian industry. Major Logan serves as a fellow with the National Registry for Emergency Medical Technicians.

Representation in the House of Delegates
The Society of Army PAs (SAPA) is the civilian organization that represents and advocates for active duty Army PAs in the Army Reserves, National Guard as well as former Army PAs, Federally Employed PAs and Civilian PAs. They spent three days in the AAPA House of Delegates listening and debating. They also hosted a booth educating PAs about the benefit of military service and current membership offerings to include their upcoming CME conference in San Antonio in August.

Veterans Caucus Memorial Ceremony and Federal Services Memorial Reception

During the memorial ceremony, all branches of the military service get together to celebrate and honor those PA veterans lost within our profession. This year’s ceremony featured a partnership with Operation Song ®, an organization that empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and their families to tell stories through songwriting. Several songs were shared including an original song a father wrote for his son with a Nashville-based songwriter. The event culminated with an auction to support PA students attending the Topics in the Tropics CME Conference in December 2024.

Lt. j.g. Elle Uecker said, “It was a nice surprise to meet so many senior officers who were excited to meet us junior officers as well. AAPA has everything: learning, networking, free swag, socializing, and medicine. What more could you want?”

Overall, AAPA 2024 in Houston, provided a venue for military PAs to highlight their role in medicine, celebrate successes, and share their knowledge to their civilian counterparts. It was also an opportunity to make a difference in being involved in the progression of the PA profession. Military PAs are looking forward to the AAPA 2025 in Denver, Colorado, to continue the momentum of excellence in collaborations.

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