What is the primary goal of the AAPA?

The primary goal of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) is to represent the professional interests of practicing PA graduates and students. This encompasses advocating for the PA profession, ensuring that PAs have a voice in legislative and regulatory matters, and promoting the value of PAs in the healthcare system. By focusing on the professional development, education, and representation of PAs, the AAPA aims to enhance the practice of medicine and improve patient care.

Training medical students is not a primary function of the AAPA since it specifically represents PAs and students in PA programs rather than those in medical school. Providing healthcare in rural areas is an important factor in the overall healthcare landscape but is not a direct goal of the AAPA; rather it may be an area of focus for individual PAs or initiatives. Conducting research in medicine also falls outside the main objectives of the AAPA; while research is vital for advancing healthcare, the AAPA's role is to focus on the advocacy and professional development of PAs, rather than primarily conducting research.