The Leadership and Development Committee was honored to welcome AAPA President-Elect, Dr. David Bunnell, to their meeting on April 27. In addition to serving as the President-Elect of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), Dr. Bunnell is a PhD trained PA and an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Medical Science program at the University of Maryland. His clinical experience ranges from cardiology, to cardiothoracic surgery and critical care. He will take over as President of AAPA in July 2026.
Dr. Bunnell engaged the group in a lively discussion about finding your passion and unique leadership style as a PA. The discussion even touched on questions such as “how do I survive imposter syndrome?” and “can a healthcare organization survive without PAs?”
Young PAs in their first two years of practice are of special interest to Dr. Bunnell. He understands the daunting jump from PA-S to becoming an experienced PA-C. “There’s about a two year period where we don’t know what to do with you,” he said. However, he encouraged PAs to, “own this space to help young career PAs to become experts.” He said that one way young PAs can bridge this gap is by identifying their professional passion.
Dr. Bunnell discussed his own path to leadership. While he has years of emergency medicine experience, he discovered his passion in surgery. He joined the Association of PAs in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (APACVS) as a way to become a leader in his field. Dr. Bunnell says that joining a relevant professional organization is key to overcoming imposter syndrome, telling participants, “We need you to do what YOU are great at.” Once established within the organization, Dr. Bunnell encouraged PAs to run for the leadership board.
To young PAs looking to establish themselves within their healthcare organization, Dr. Bunnell advised that they be prepared to, “keep shifting,” in order to keep up with the endless needs of healthcare organizations. Making connections with professional staff such as clinic managers and organization executives can also help PAs stand out. Lastly, PA’s should seek out leaders they admire and ask them a simple question, “How can I help?”
The discussion came to a close with one final piece of advice from Dr. Bunnell: never forget that PAs are essential. He encouraged all PAs to enter every room knowing that they are just as indispensable as any other healthcare worker and to use that confidence to establish their leadership style. “You are essential. PAs are essential. Make it part of your professional identity.”
The MAPA Leadership and Development Committee hosted this conversation with Dr. Bunnell as part of their monthly leadership training sessions. The MAPA Leadership and Development Committee is dedicated to cultivating Minnesota PA leaders at every stage of their career. At each meeting, the committee sits down with PA leaders from Minnesota and beyond to discuss their career journey. Leaders discuss the decisions that mattered most, the resources that shaped them, and the lessons they wished they had learned sooner. While this committee is open to everyone, most sessions are geared toward PA students and early-career PAs (0-5 years). If you are a Minnesota PA looking to connect with other leaders and add leadership training to your resume, email Matt Weiseman at matthew.weiseman@fairview.org.