1. AAPA, SAAAPA, and Students
This presentation was created to help students understand the structure of the American Academy of Physician Assistants or AAPA, components of the Student Academy, and how PA students are key players in both of these organizations.
There have been a lot of changes to the structure and organization of the Student Academy, or SAAAPA, and hopefully this helps improve understanding of those changes.
Lastly, this presentation will update what happened at the Assembly of Representatives, or AOR, and what specific areas SAAAPA needs your help with this year.

2. AAPA Organization Overview
Executive
AAPA Board of Directors
Philanthropic
PA Foundation
Judicial/Legislative
House of Delegates
State Chapters
Specialty Organizations
Caucuses
Special Interest Groups
Student Academy
Volunteer Engagement
Covers all issues pertinent to PAs through Volunteer projects and groups
The AAPA is divided into five general areas, and has staff of PAs and many non-PAs who keep the organization running.
The executive branch of the organization is lead by the Board of Directors, where the Student Academy has one student member representing the interests of students on the board.
The philanthropic arm is the PA Foundation, and is responsible for fundraising to support grants and student scholarships.
The judicial or policy making branch of the AAPA is known as the House of Delegates or HOD. The HOD is made up of representatives from state chapters, specialty organizations, and a delegation of Student Academy members.
The AAPA also has a number of volunteer opportunities for important issues to the PA profession. These drive a lot of the progress that has been made.
Lastly, the Student Academy exists to represent the unique and specific interests of PA students as they prepare to join the profession.
Just as a note of clarification, as a PA student, you are a student member of the AAPA, not of SAAAPA. SAAAPA is made up of student societies from each respective PA program.

3. 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.
Mission: The Student Academy is to foster personal, professional, and educational development of physician assistant students.
To fulfill the mission SAAAPA has many resources available to help students learn more about their profession and to become active in the organization.

4. Student Academy Organization
Executive
SAAAPA Leaders
Philanthropic
PA Foundation
Caring for Communities
Program-Based Grants
Judicial/Legislative
Assembly of Representatives (AOR)
Student Society Representatives
Awards
Volunteer Groups
Fulfills the agenda set forth by the SAAAPA AOR Resolutions
The structure of the Student Academy is very similar to that of the AAPA. Our executive branch is led by the SAAAPA Board of Directors, who are elected by AOR representatives at the annual AAPA conference.
The philanthropic programs of SAAAPA are also overseen by the PA Foundation, and include the Caring for Communities program, and program-based grants. Through Caring for Communities, the PA Foundation selects one organization in the city of the annual conference, and donates funds to support outreach efforts in the community. Student societies have a tradition of donation that has supported numerous organizations over the years. Last year, thousands of dollars were donated by students to Bread for the City, a local non-profit organization that provides meals to the underserved in the D.C. community.
The Student Academy also gives out a number of awards to individual students, outstanding student societies, and key PA student champions.
Lastly, SAAAPA also has its own volunteer groups that fulfill the agenda for the year that is determined by the resolutions that are passed at the AOR session during the annual conference.

5. 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.
There are eleven elected student board members, two graduate advisors, and one staff advisor from the AAPA.
The board of directors is elected at the AOR session each year, and work on coordinating efforts at the national level to promote local action by individual student societies and PA students.
There are also two appointed student positions, serving as liaisons to the PA Foundation and the PA Education Association (PAEA).

6. 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.

7. 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.
Mission: The Student Academy is to foster personal, professional, and educational development of physician assistant students.
To fulfill the mission SAAAPA has many resources available to help students learn more about their profession and to become active in the organization.

8. AOR Resolution Submission
SAAAPA Elections
Elected Positions
President
President Elect
Chief Delegate
Director of Outreach
Director of Student Communications
Volunteer Group Chairs
Regional Director - West
Regional Director - South Central
Regional Director – North Central
Regional Director – Southeast
Regional Director – Northeast
Regional Director – Mid Atlantic
AOR Resolution Submission
At this year’s AOR, a number of resolutions were passed that significantly changed the leadership structure of the Student Academy.
President oversees the work of the Student Academy and serves on the AAPA board of directors as a student representative.
President-Elect serves as the spokesperson for the organization, and coordinates action and activity of the Student Academy as a whole. The president-elect will serve a second year as President.
Chief Delegate oversees the selection and preparation of the student delegation to the HOD.
Director of Outreach coordinates outreach activities particularly focused on local service, interprofessional collaboration, leadership development, and diversity and health disparities.
Director of Student Communications coordinates the internal and external communication modalities including the student microsite and all social media outlets.
Regional Directors work with AOR reps in their respective regions to maintain open means of communication from the national to student society levels, and coordinates projects at the regional and student society levels.
Volunteer groups are chaired by SAAAPA leaders, based on interest, experience, and willingness to serve in this leadership capacity.
There are ten positions elected at the AOR session each year. All positions have a one year term, with the exception of president-elect, who serves for two years, and serves as Student Academy president during the second term-year.
Liaisons to PAEA and the PA Foundation are appointed by the elections group with recommendation from the AOR and also serve a two-year term.
AOR resolutions drive the formation of volunteer groups and chairs for these groups are selected from interested and willing student members, or SAAAPA leaders.
President position is second year of president-elect position.

9. Student Academy Leaders 2014-2015

10. Student Academy Leaders 2014-2015
President: Melissa Ricker, East Carolina University,
President-Elect: Elizabeth Prevou, George Washington University,
Chief Delegate: Hayley Chestnut, MCPHS-Boston,
Director of Outreach: Jennifer Price, Union College,
Director of Student Communications: Bethany Rohrs, Salus University,
Advisors
AAPA Graduate Advisor: Rachel Carlson,
PAEA Graduate Advisor: Cody Sasek,
SAAAPA Staff Advisor: Caitlin Harrison,,
Appointed Position
PA Foundation Student Representative: Hannah Sitter, South College-Tennessee,
Student leaders are always open to contact, and are excited to hear from PA students. Don’t hesitate to contact any leaders with comments, questions, or advice!

11. Student Academy Leaders 2014-2015
Regional Director – Mid-Atlantic: Virginia Tran, Philadelphia University, Representing: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
Regional Director – North Central: Wyatt Baxter, Southern Illinois University, Representing: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Regional Director – Northeast: Mandy Foote, MCPHS-Boston, Representing: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont
Regional Director – South Central: Josh Ellis, Wichita State University, Representing: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Regional Director – Southeast: Nicole Fajardo, Elon University, Representing: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Regional Director – West: Richard Bruce, University of Southern California, Representing: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Contact information of Regional Directors as well as the regional state distribution. The Regional Directors are an excellent communication tool for reaching the board with questions, suggestions, opportunities to share, and dissemination of information.

12. 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.
The AOR is the legislative body of the Student Academy, and is made up of one AOR representative from each PA program student society.
You must be elected or appointed within your student society, and must be an AAPA student member in order to participate in this capacity.
Your job is to bring forward pertinent issues in the form of resolutions, and participate in debate and discussions representing the interests of your respective PA program.
AOR representatives vote on a resolution at AOR at the AAPA annual conference.

13. 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.
The AOR reps are responsible for talking with students from their PA program and having a understanding of how (what direction) the students would like to be represented.
At the actual AOR, the representatives debate the pros and cons of issues with their student constituents in mind, as the AOR is their venue to address concerns and shape the Student Academy.
Additionally they elect the SAAAPA Board of Directors and help select the regional chairs
Besides these responsibilities at the annual conference AOR sessions, this person also serves as the conduit of information from SAAAPA back to the student society.
It’s important to recognize this responsibility in considering running for this position.
AOR reps are also expected to participate in quarterly conference calls led by their respective Regional Director, to learn important updates and information about what’s happening on the national level, and bring this back to the student society.
PA student participating in AOR at the AAPA annual conference.

14. 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 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

15. 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.
Historically, the Student Academy has been more of a “top-down” organization.
Part of the thought in changing the structure of the Student Academy stemmed from a desire to change that mentality and instead develop a more “bottom-up” organization, powered and fueled by the collective energy, motivation,, and action at the local level.

16. 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:
The Student Academy has operated using a committee-based structure to coordinate the efforts for the leadership year.
The AAPA has adopted a new structure, made up of volunteer groups, and thus, the Student Academy is also adopting this same system to remain consistent.
Participation on work groups or task forces is open to PA students, but you must be a student member of the AAPA in order to be eligible.

17. Student Academy 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.

18. 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
The National Service Project takes on a new identity each year, but is a project that can be implemented by students on a national level and is created by this group
For all of these work groups, applications will continue from now until groups are filled, and work will continue through May 2014.

19. Student Academy 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.

20. 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
Student Leadership Task Force:
This group studies trends in student and graduate PA leadership, and designs leadership training for students.
Communications Task Force
This groups sole purpose is to enhance the communication between the student academy and student members
Interprofessional Collaboration TF
This groups embraces and works to collaborate the work between professional.
Website/Social Media Task Force
Student Mentor program Task Force

21. 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.
HOD organization mimics the House of Representatives in the US Government.
Students interested in the HOD can go through the application process in the fall.
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.
Students also have the opportunity to get involved with the policy and legislative process at the AAPA level in the House of Delegates, or HOD.
Delegates are based on the number of student members within AAPA. Therefore, the more student members = more student delegates.
Currently 19 student delegate positions are filled by students from different student societies, one of which is always the SAAAPA Chief Delegate (a board member).
The other 18 delegates are selected through an application process, and are assigned to an HOD Reference Committee, and will represent the collective interests of AAPA student members.
There are other volunteer opportunities in the HOD even if you are not selected as a student delegate (such as reference committee or tellers). Please contact the Student Academy for more information.
Student delegates participate on the vote for all of the resolutions that are presented to the HOD. Additionally, students sit on the reference committees discussing the resolutions and learning more about the issues during these in-depth conversations.
Participation in the HOD allows students to become very familiar with issues the profession is facing prior to becoming a full-fledged PA. Remember that you are building your stepping stones for tomorrow with your involvement as a student in SAAAPA because you are creating your foundation for involvement with AAPA and the PA profession through your experiences.
HOD proceedings at AAPA’s annual conference.
Student delegates will go through a training process led by the Student Academy Chief Delegate.

22. 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

23. Student Society Governance
President
Outreach Chair
State Chapter Student Representative
AOR Representative
Vice President
Green Chair
Alternate AOR Representative
Secretary/Treasurer
Historian
In addition to reorganizing the structure of the Student Academy on a national level, we are also working on policy to change the structure of student societies to create a more effective and efficient governance.
Student societies may keep whatever positions viewed as necessary to the functioning within their individual PA program.
However, only four positions must be officially registered with SAAAPA to be an officially recognized student society, and include:
President
Outreach Chairperson
State Chapter Student Representative
AOR Representative
Other positions are optional, and can be included as deemed necessary per individual student society needs.

24. 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.

25. STUDENT MICROSITE! Explore, share, and contribute!

26. 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

27. For more information… www.aapa.org/saaapa students@aapa.org Facebook:
Twitter:
For questions or more information, checkout the website, send an , or join the Student Members of the AAPA group on facebook for updates and information.