Each year, MAPA Leaders head to AAPA headquarters in our nation’s Capital to support AAPA federal advocacy campaigns. It is also a great opportunity to share our successes and learn from other Academies across the country. MAPA also has an LAS Scholarship to fund students to attend to ensure the future leadership of our Academy.
AAPA Leadership and Advocacy Summit
September 19 – 20, 2025
Report from Hayden Middleton, MAPA President
Hello MAPA Members!
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the AAPA Leadership & Advocacy Summit (LAS) in Washington DC, alongside Minnesota PA and PA student leaders. This annual event is a unique opportunity to strengthen our leadership skills, connect with colleagues nationwide, and advocate for our profession on Capitol Hill.
We spent time meeting with legislators, sharing how PAs expand access to care and the barriers that still limit our ability to practice fully. The message was clear: our voices matter, and real stories from Minnesota PAs make a difference, and we must continue to tell these stories to both our national and state legislators.
Beyond advocacy, LAS offered valuable sessions on association leadership, emerging policy issues, and strategies to mentor the next generation of PAs. A key takeaway for MAPA is the importance of building leadership pipelines, engaging students, and continuing our strong advocacy efforts here at home, which remain our board’s top priorities.
Looking ahead, MAPA will be focused on:
● Re-introducing PA title change to the Minnesota legislature during the 2026 session to
update our name to Physician Associate to better reflect the work we do for our Minnesota
patients.
● Supporting student and early-career PA involvement as they are instrumental to advancing
the PA profession and are already doing an amazing job leading within the Minnesota
Academy.
● Raising visibility of PAs across Minnesota so that everyone knows that PAs Go Beyond!
● Reminder – PA Week is almost here! Keep an eye on our social channels for celebrations, and thanks for the amazing work you do every day.
Together, we are shaping the future of PA practice in Minnesota, and I am ready to bring back what we learned in DC to continue to make our profession stronger.
2025 LAS Report from MAPA Student Delegation – Amanda Gallagher & Sid Bauer
Last week we both attended AAPA’s Leadership andAdvocacy Summit (LAS) in Washington D.C.. This was an amazing opportunity that we were both provided through scholarships. The first day of LAS was focused on advocacy. After learning about the practice restrictions PAs face, like not being able to treat federal employees when they have a work injury, not being able to to order cardio/pulm rehab despite being able to oversee it, and not being able to order diabetic shoes, we went to Capitol Hill to advocate for common sense bills that will allow PAs to do these things within their scope.
The next day we learned more about leadership and how PA students can be leaders within their programs, states, and even on the national level. It was great that there were so many students like us who are actively involved in advancing the PA profession forward. Many of these students were their school’s representatives of their own state chapter, like us, but many of them are just students who are passionate about the work PAs do and want to help shape their future in this profession.
We highly recommend getting involved early and developing leadership and advocacy skills not only for yourself, but for you patients and communities. We are the future!
