JAAPA Podcast – PA Week Discussion with the President of AAPA

Date: October 4, 2024
Guest: Jason Prevellege, President of AAPA
Theme: Celebrating PA Week, PA advocacy, building bridges in healthcare, and advancing the physician associate (PA) profession

Episode Overview

This special PA Week episode of the JAAPA Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Jason Prevellege, President of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA). The discussion touches on Jason’s personal journey into the PA profession, his advocacy work, insights from his recent JAPA article, and strategies for addressing current healthcare challenges. The episode centers on the importance of collaborative practice, modernizing PA laws, and concrete ways PAs and allies can advance the profession.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating the PA Profession (00:04–02:00)

• Hosts share impressive PA workforce statistics:
  • 87% increase in board-certified PAs (2013–2023)
  • 31% projected employment increase by 2030
  • PAs see over 10.8 million patients weekly (560+ million/year)
  • 43% engaged in telemedicine
  • High public trust: 91% believe PAs provide safe/effective care
• Acknowledgement of the critical role PAs play in expanding access and ensuring quality care amidst workforce shortages

Host 1 (01:50): "Please take a moment to celebrate yourselves this week because we deserve it... We see you and we appreciate you."

2. Introducing Jason Prevellege: PA Journey & Leadership (02:00–07:40)

• Jason shares his unexpected path: intended to be a kindergarten teacher, became inspired to pursue medicine while working in an inpatient detox facility, and found the PA profession through mentorship.
• Key influences from PA faculty and colleagues; initial reluctance about leadership; gradual involvement leading to two terms as Connecticut Academy president and eventually AAPA president.
• Importance of mentorship, resilience after electoral setbacks, and growing into leadership roles.
• Jason’s PA Week plans: participating in fundraisers (e.g., golf tournament for PA student scholarships and the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp), coaching youth hockey, and attending national conferences.

Jason Prevellege (05:38): "Be careful what favors you do for people... That was really what began my involvement."

Jason Prevellege (07:22): "I'm surrounded by a magnificent board... I'm really enjoying my time with them and helping to direct the Academy."

3. Team-Based Practice & Building Bridges with Physicians (07:45–10:12)

• Discussion of Jason’s JAPA article "Building Bridges with Physicians," highlighting the value of team-based models over rigid supervision.
• Cites evidence from a Health Affairs Scholar survey: 2/3 of physicians report working with PAs positively affects practice efficiency.
• Stresses need to "modernize" PA practice laws to reflect current healthcare realities.
• Notable pushback against AMA’s efforts to maintain restrictive hierarchies.

Jason Prevellege (09:12): "Every healthcare provider must be able to do what they're educated and trained to do. That's what team-based care is really all about. The old ways have to cease to exist."

4. PAs Responding to Healthcare Crises (10:12–11:58)

• Addresses provider shortages, burnout, and rising chronic diseases.
• Emphasizes PAs’ expanding presence, significant growth, and role in rural and underserved areas.
• PAs as solution-oriented professionals supporting the overburdened health system.

Jason Prevellege (10:52): "PAS just care. These are areas of focus for our academy and our members, and we're well positioned to make impact..."

5. Strengthening Advocacy & Community Partnerships (11:58–13:31)

• Advocacy not just at organizational or legislative levels, but in daily relationships with patients, peers, and community.
• The importance of organic, grassroots relationship building: PAs should seek allies locally; connections grow advocacy power and lead to organizational change.
• AAPA leadership engages with national partners; students and practicing PAs play key micro-level roles.

Jason Prevellege (12:10): "We need to encourage PAs to find allies and partners within their own communities... grow a network of people who gladly stand up to support PAs."

6. Combating Misinformation; Legislative Advocacy (13:31–16:07)

• Reference to a Journal of Medical Regulation study: fewer practice barriers = better patient access, no increase in malpractice.
• The challenge of re-educating lawmakers amid campaigns against PA autonomy, notably from the AMA.
• AAPA’s responses: Open letters, surveys (8,000+ signatures, 4,900 survey participants), public condemnation of misinformation, emphasis on patient-centered narratives.

Jason Prevellege (15:10): "Making our collective voice loud and clear in moments like these is really the best way that we can combat that negative narrative..."

7. Modern Advocacy & Bridging Gaps (16:07–19:00)

• Advocacy is multi-pronged: relationship building, effective communication of research, increased PA-driven scholarship.
• Urges staying consistently engaged—through summits, education, publishing, and direct legislative interaction.
• Notes a groundswell of interest among PAs and students in advocacy.

Jason Prevellege (16:58): "If we can communicate it effectively, it gets us closer to bridging those gaps in PA practice laws at both state and national levels."

8. Grassroots Advocacy in Action: Case Examples & Lessons (19:00–20:45)

• Highlights the success of the Tennessee Academy’s persistent lobbying days, growing from 10 participants to over 300—resulting in media coverage and lawmaker engagement.
• Stresses patience and persistence: cumulative efforts generate eventual change, even when progress feels slow.

Jason Prevellege (19:49): "Advocacy efforts like these take time. We can't expect everything to play out perfectly the first time and it requires patience."

9. Getting Involved: Resources & Action Steps (20:45–22:27)

• Practical tips for PAs to engage in advocacy based on time/availability:
  • Become a member of AAPA and state/specialty organizations
  • Engage via emails/newsletters, attend events in person/virtually, participate in calls to action
  • Small acts (registering to vote, contacting legislators, social media posts) to larger commitments (lobby days, attending conferences)
• Offers a "menu" of advocacy activities adjustable to individual schedules and capacities.

Jason Prevellege (21:28): "There's so many ways to contribute to the advocacy efforts. Even if you can only do one thing, it's still a value."

10. Equipping Allies & Building Collaborative Support (22:27–24:25)

• Encouragement to non-PAs and ally healthcare professionals: Stay informed, engaged, and build supportive communities.
• Community engagement through conversations, local organizations, and daily excellence in practice as key brand-builders for the PA profession.

Jason Prevellege (23:46): "The best way to advocate, to just be the best PA that you can possibly be, build relationships with patients, physicians, other healthcare providers..."

11. Memorable Moments: Why Jason is Glad to Be a PA (24:25–25:09)

• Jason expresses everyday gratitude working in emergency medicine—impact through big and small patient interactions.
• Advocacy (both clinical and wider-reaching) as a fulfilling role.

Jason Prevellege (24:38): "Sometimes it's a great save and a critical patient, but many times it's just doing the small things for someone... Just so rewarding to be able to go out, advocate for our profession and our patients and make a difference..."

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Be careful what favors you do for people. Because that was really what began my involvement."
  — Jason Prevellege (05:38)

• "Every healthcare provider must be able to do what they're educated and trained to do. That's what team-based care is really all about."
  — Jason Prevellege (09:12)

• "PAS just care... we're well positioned to make impact on those areas and many others..."
  — Jason Prevellege (10:52)

• "Our CEO, Lisa Gables, does a fantastic job of making new contacts, building new business efforts, and ensuring that we have partnerships..."
  — Jason Prevellege (12:45)

• "Making our collective voice loud and clear in moments like these is really the best way that we can combat that negative narrative..."
  — Jason Prevellege (15:10)

• "Advocacy efforts like these take time... But it's a cumulative effort over time that does build a success eventually."
  — Jason Prevellege (19:49)

• "There's so many ways to contribute to the advocacy efforts. Even if you can only do one thing, it's still a value."
  — Jason Prevellege (21:28)

• "The best way to advocate, to just be the best PA that you can possibly be, build relationships with patients, physicians, other healthcare providers..."
  — Jason Prevellege (23:46)

Conclusion

This episode powerfully celebrates the PA profession’s growth, resilience, and advocacy—interwoven with Jason Prevellege’s personal and professional story. Listeners are encouraged to take pride in the profession, strengthen their advocacy locally and nationally, and work collaboratively with allies across the healthcare spectrum. The episode underscores that relationship-building, persistent advocacy, and daily excellence are the engines that drive the PA profession forward.

Happy PA Week to all those in the field and their supporters!