Student helps set policies for physician assistant profession


Ngan Lam is a student at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s inaugural Master in Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. She graduates in December of 2017. Lam recently attended as a student delegate at the Annual American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference, where she got to vote on policies and regulations that govern best practices of the PA profession. This is her account of what she describes as a “historic” event for the PA profession.

Ngan Lam is a Physician Assistant student at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Ngan Lam is a physician assistant student at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

I had no idea what I was signing up for when I first asked my program directors for permission to participate as a student delegate to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) House of Delegates (HOD). Then I was selected to serve as part of the Student Academy delegation at the group’s annual conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 15-19.

The HOD has the sole authority on behalf of AAPA to enact policies establishing the collective values, philosophies and principles of the PA profession. The HOD consists of 56 chapters representing 50 states, including Washington, D.C., and five federal services as well as 26 officially recognized specialty organizations, eight caucuses comprised of individuals sharing a common goal or interests related to health care access or delivery, the Student Academy and the current and immediate past House officers.

Lam at the American Academy of Physician Assistants' conference in Las Vegas.

Lam at the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ conference in Las Vegas.

Delegates have a voice in making recommendations to the AAPA Board of Directors, submitting formal resolutions through the procedures outlined by the House officers, participating in open reference committee hearings, volunteering as a member of a reference committee and researching and reporting on the resolutions and testimony that is received.

I was one of 25 students selected from across the nation, including two from Florida, to represent the current 18,000 PA students and the 9,000 incoming PA students nationwide.

This year’s conference marked the 50th anniversary of the PA profession, and we made history on the House floor when we unanimously passed the Optimal Team Practice. This policy supports the removal of state laws and regulations that require PAs to have or report a supervisory or collaborating relationship with a physician in order to practice. This would allow us to practice with fewer restrictions and enhance our ability to work particularly in rural and underserved areas and reduce administrative burdens on physicians. This is an important step toward ensuring the future of our profession, and with national support from the AAPA, each state PA chapter can now pursue the changes to state laws and regulations to make this possible.

I was thrilled to take part of this monumental event within the PA profession. Reflecting on my time as a delegate, it was both educational and rewarding. This was most certainly one of the most memorable aspects of my graduate career. I had the opportunity to see the AAPA legislative body in action and play a direct role in establishing policies that shape the PA profession that I will soon be joining. I hope my experiences at the HOD will help inspire young leaders to get involved and advocate for the health of their future patients. My legislative experience doesn’t end here. I hope to continue on and become a delegate for the Florida Academy of PAs upon my graduation.

– Ngan Lam
MPAS Class of 2017