Check out MAPA’s Aleathea Anderson on Substack
April 27, 2026
MAPA Board member Aleathea Anderson writes about health policy, rural health, and the real life systems issues shaping care in our communities.
MAPA Board member Aleathea Anderson writes about health policy, rural health, and the real life systems issues shaping care in our communities.
AAPA is heading to New Orleans in May, and MAPA members are out in force.
Congratulations to our 11 MAPA Members selected to present at this year’s event! Read on to see who you can look for in the Big Easy.
Mike Breunig, PA-C, Ed.D.
Associate Program Director, Mayo PA Program
PA in Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound: Tips, Tricks, and Practical Advice. Introduction to Point-of-Care Ultrasound Workshop
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is an increasingly important skillset for all clinicians. It’s important for PAs to stay up-to-date on evolving practices and work to include them in their clinical practice. POCUS allows for rapid and accurate bedside assessment of our patients to make informed care decisions.
Andy Herber, PA-C
Hospital Medicine PA and Chair of NPPA Education at Mayo Clinic
Lab Rats to the Rescue: A Quick Review of Laboratory Medicine. Andy began his career with an undergraduate degree in clinical laboratory medicine, spending several years working in the lab before transitioning to become a physician assistant. With over 20 years of experience practicing in hospital medicine, he has developed a passion for teaching at the intersection of laboratory science and clinical care. Known for his enthusiastic, case-based style, Andy brings sessions to life with pop culture references and a generous dose of dad jokes.
Justine Herndon, MS, PA-C
PA in Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, and Educator, Mayo Clinic PA Program
Get Me Off Steroids! Navigating a Difficult Taper Practice
Did you know that 1% of adults will be on chronic glucocorticoids at some time? Depending on how long someone is on glucocorticoids, they could be at risk for adrenal insufficiency or glucocorticoid withdrawal. I’m excited to share this presentation with AAPA attendees, as this is a common consult we get in endocrinology; however, as I’m sure many of you are aware of, wait times can be long to get into endocrine. This presentation will give you tips/tricks for navigating steroid tapers when patients are struggling to get down on that steroid dose!
Elise Roxas, PA-S2
Mayo College of Medicine and Science PA Program
Poster Presentation: Boosting Hepatitis B Vaccination Rates Among Healthcare Workers
I am presenting about an intervention conducted in hopes to decrease the amount of overdue hepatitis B vaccination rates in healthcare workers, who are a high-risk group for contracting hepatitis B.
Lindsey Wallace, DScPAS, PA-C
Critical Care Medicine (medical ICU) PA and NP/PA Critical Care Fellowship Program Director
Critical Care Tips and Tricks, and Toxidromes
Critical care can be a daunting topic for some, but we created these lectures with the goal in mind to help clinicians take home helpful tips to change or enhance their practice.
Hayden Middleton, DMSc, PA-C
Family Medicine with special interest in Dermatology/Dermoscopy
Introduction to Dermoscopy Workshop
I’m passionate about dermoscopy because it enables earlier detection of skin cancers and improves diagnostic accuracy. I’m especially motivated to help more non-dermatology clinicians feel confident using this tool. Overall, dermoscopy empowers clinicians to make more confident, evidence-based decisions while helping reduce unnecessary biopsies and specialty referrals. I hope to see you in New Orleans for our beginner dermoscopy workshop!
Danielle O’Laughlin, PA-C, MS
Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic
Team Lead of the Primary Care Gynecology Clinic
Clinical Skills Co-Director, Mayo Clinic PA Program
Acute Breast Disorders
Acute Breast Disorders is a presentation applicable to the care of all women across multiple specialities. This lecture covers various benign and malignant breast conditions from etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and patient education to help improve patient care.
Katarina Astrup, MSPAS, PA-C
Psychiatry PA at Minnesota Clinic for Health and Wellness
Early Career Success Roundtable: Avoiding Burnout & Personal Finance and Loan Repayment
I’m looking forward to presenting on burnout prevention and personal finance because early career success isn’t just about clinical skills, it’s about sustainability. As a PA who experienced burnout early in my career while carrying six-figure student loan debt, I’ve seen how closely financial stress impacts overall well-being. Learning how to manage money and pursue financial independence gave me more options and flexibility. Through my work and podcast, I’m passionate about helping other PAs build careers that align with their lives and support their well-being.
Ashleigh Cutt, PA-C, Family Medicine PA at HealthPartners
Matt Weiseman, PA-C, Family Medicine at MHealth Fairview
Clinic Chameleon: The Magic of Family Medicine Flexibility.
Ashliegh says, “I’m thrilled to attend AAPA for the first time and present with my colleague Matt Weiseman, PA-C. Having worked in primary Care for over 10 years, I have seen many providers leverage unique skills within their practice to “sub specialize”, enhancing clinician experience and well-being. We’re excited to share some of these opportunities with students and in doing so invite them to join us in family medicine!”
Nina Langley, PA-S2 Mayo College of Medicine and Science PA Program
Poster Presentation: Glioblastoma: Why Social Determinants of Health Matter
This presentation will provide a foundational overview of Glioblastoma (GBM), including an emphasis on the 2021 WHO classification of Gliomas. It will also highlight a GBM case, illustrating the complexity of care in GBM management and the influence of Social Determinants of Health on patient outcomes.
The MAPA Student Relations Committee is on a mission to break down barriers for prospective, first-generation PA students, one cup of coffee at a time.
On April 10, the Student Relations Committee hosted its first Pre-PA Coffee Hour at Dovetail Cafe in Duluth with 12 undergraduate students from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the College of St. Scholastica. Six PA Students from the College of St. Scholastica led the event, fielding questions about PA School applications and talking strategy for the Centralized Application Services for Physician Assistants, also known as CASPA.
“The pre-PA journey can be incredibly challenging and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. As a class, we are all passionate about supporting the next cycle of students and helping them navigate the pre-PA life,” explained Matti Griffor, PA-S1.
MAPA Student members Matti Griffor, Shane Sanza, Alysia Monjeau, Maya Ziemba, Evan Daley, and Carter Carpentier all participated in the event and shared their experiences in both didactic and clinical training. Their advice to students? Find your community and take advantage of opportunities for mentorship.
According to the AAPA’s 2021 Student Survey, 23% of PA students were the first generation in their family to attend college. This suggests that these students likely do not have built-in connections, such as a parent working in the medical field, to assist them with the PA School application process.
“This event was a space for these students to feel seen and heard throughout this process,” said Griffor.
The Student Relations committee will host at least six more Pre-PA Coffee Hours throughout the year. Three coffee hours will be identity-focused with meet-ups geared towards undergraduate students in the Hmong, Somali and Latinx communities. More information about upcoming coffee hours will be available via the MAPA Student Hub.
If you are a PA student or a PA professional interested in getting involved with The MAPA Student Relations Committee, fill out a Committee Interest form and help us support the next generation of PA Students.
On March 3rd, PAs and PA student joined with our lobbying team in an effort to garner support with State Representatives and State Senators on our priority legislation, SF 1084/HF 88, regarding changing the name from Physician Assistants to Physician Associates. Attendees were treated to a briefing from State Representative Liz Reyer as well as our advocacy team, earning 1 CME. The group was able to secure endorsements from a number of new authors. They finished the day with a debrief and Happy Hour at the Gnome in St. Paul. Thanks to all who attended.
Current members will receive an invitation to our members-only section of the website soon via email.
If you are registered for PA Day on the Hill, be sure to visit our advocacy page for up-to-the-minute briefing materials. You should have received confirmation of your schedule by Friday, February 27th. If not, just reach out to us at mapa@libertysquaregroup.com