- Star Grassroots Advocates
- PAEA’s Government Relations team conducted a virtual advocacy training session with PA students at Drexel University on August 14. During the training, students learned about the Association’s key policy priorities as well as opportunities to advocate on behalf of PA education and the profession. Thank you to the Drexel University PA Program for keeping the future generation of PAs engaged in this important work!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- To help PA programs determine new methods and best practices for ensuring diversity among students following the Supreme Court decision that effectively ended race-conscious admission, PAEA hosted a webinar on August 15. As part of the webinar, PAEA’s Government Relations team provided background information on the decision as well as PAEA’s efforts thus far to support members following the decision.
- To increase member knowledge on federal policy issues impacting PA programs and students, PAEA’s Government Relations team launched a three-part educational Networker series on August 25 entitled, “PA Education Policy 101.” The first installment of the series examines student loans and loan repayment programs and future stories will cover investments in equity, diversity, and inclusion, and resources for clinical site development. Check out the first article of the series here.
- Health Care News in Washington
- Congress adjourned for August recess and will return from recess after Labor Day.
- On August 21, the 2024 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service Loan Repayment Program application cycle officially opened and will remain open until December 7. If you are a PA student in the last year of your program, you may be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance of up to $120,000 in return for providing at least three years of service at an NHSC-approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area. For more information, visit the Health Resources and Services Administration site.
- Opportunities for Action
- It is critical that constituents advocate for strengthened health workforce investments to address provider shortages and their impact on the quality of care delivered to all communities. Please urge Congress to support increased funding for all Title VII health workforce development programs for fiscal year 2024 today.
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