STRENGTHENING the role of pas in louisiana
| President's Message Dear Louisiana PA Colleagues, The 2023 LAPA Annual State CME Conference is being held in Baton Rouge at the Renascence Hotel from 9/27/23 to 9/29/23. I wanted to reach out to encourage your attendance if possible. Below is the conference agenda for your review as well as the recent proclamation by Governor John Bel Edwards to make PA week official in Louisiana. Please share with any of your PA friends and colleagues around the state. There are single day conference options available for LAPA members for those who are unable to attend all 3 days. There is also a discount for LAPA members. You do not have to be a LAPA member to attend conference, however I do recommend that you join to help support our profession as we continue to make Louisiana a better place to work and live as a PA. Patient Plus is participating as a sponsor for our conference for the first time this year. I am the current Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistant (LAPA) President of the Board of Directors and Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee. I have served as an elected official on the LAPA Board of Directors in various roles for the past 6 years. I was originally elected President in 2020 and was re-elected to serve as president for the 2023-2024 current calendar year. Each year LAPA represents the interests of the PAs in the state of Louisiana at both the Legislative Session at the Capitol as well as matters that affect PA Practice Rules and Regulations which are governed by the state board of medical examiners (LSBME). We advocate on behalf of all PA’s that work in Louisiana to the State Representatives, Senators, and all legislators. Our goal is to educate and inform how PAs are trained, board certified, and how we function as a vital part of the everyday health care system in Louisiana. PAs are essential in expanding access to healthcare which is a major issue currently in Louisiana. Our efforts are focused on minimizing the administrate burden of the hiring process as well as eliminating over restrictive regulations that create practice barriers and make it more difficult for PA’s to be competitive in the job market in Louisiana. There are roughly 1,500 practicing PAs in the state of LA. We have just over 400 PA’s as active LAPA members. Currently LAPA has hired former US District Attorney, Walt Green and have been working with local lobbyist for years to assist in proposing legislative changes in Louisiana that improve our ability to practice. We have made a lot of progress over the last 10 years. For our profession in Louisiana to remain competitive with surrounding states and to continue our practice at the top of our license, we must increase our membership. Membership is the lifeblood of any organization and will allow us to continue to represent the PA Profession in all arenas in which decisions are made effecting our daily practice. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I am passionate about our profession and believe that together we can move Louisiana forward along with our neighboring states. Please visit the link below to learn more about the benefits of membership with LAPA and to sign up for conference. 2023 LAPA CME Conference Information https://ourlapa.org/2023-conference Your friend and colleague, Steven Presley, PA-C, LAPA President |
Our story
In December of 1977, a group of seven military physician assistants from Fort Polk, Louisiana, and one civilian PA trying to obtain privileges from the State Board of Medical Examiners held their first organizational meeting with the hopes of forming the Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants. By March of 1978, the LAPA had formed, and in October of that year, the LAPA had incorporated. Those early meetings were attended by about a dozen PAs who saw the future of our profession in Louisiana. Over the years the organization grew, laws were challenged, and rules were rewritten. PAs were allowed to start practicing outside of the military, government, or public service arenas, and the numbers gradually grew. In 2004, the state legislature passed Louisiana's PA prescriptive authority act, and there are now over 1,500 licensed PAs in Louisiana with those numbers growing every month. Our annual CME conference draws 150 to 200 registrants who come to enjoy the good weather, superb educational events, and the eclectic nightlife of the French Quarter. The LAPA now has over 600 members, and the Academy continues to work with and for the PAs of Louisiana.
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Our VisionThe vision of the Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants is to promote and provide excellent quality medical services to all citizens of the state through growth and utilization of physician assistants as an integral part of the Physician-Physician Assistant Team. | Our MissionThe mission of the Louisiana Academy of Physician Assistants, in association with the American Academy of Physician Assistants, is to promote physician assistants in their professional pursuit of excellence and to strengthen their role in health care delivery through public education, continuing medical education, physician education, member services, physician assistant student involvement, and legislative efforts. | Join UsYou can join LAPA through our secure online registration on this website located on the main page. Alternatively, you can download a printable version and mail it to LAPA. This is a PDF file, and you will need Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to print the form. The reader is free and can be downloaded from the Adobe Web site. Once your application has been accepted, you will be emailed a link to access the Member's Only section of this site. |
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Become involved with LAPA.
Membership Benefits
- Public Education: The Academy actively promotes the concept of the PA as an important part of the health care team and works to increase the profession's visibility.
- Leadership Opportunities: LAPA members are invited to play an active role in the future of the PA profession by becoming active in one of the committees and/or running for office.
- Student Support: LAPA has always taken an interest in the future of the PA profession by encouraging and facilitating student membership. Students can attend the CME conferences at a reduced rate.
- CME Conferences: LAPA is known for its high quality CME conference which is held each year in September. Respected professionals and health policy makers present information on cutting edge medical topics, procedures and issues. Members attend the CME conferences at a reduced rate.
- Networking: The Academy's conferences, committees, and newsletters all provide excellent opportunities for PAs from different regions to meet professionally and socially.
- Newsletter: The LAPA newsletter is the primary source of information to physician assistants in Louisiana. The newsletter provides up-to-date information on LAPA activities, legislative on goings, and CME updates.
- PA Jobs: The LAPA website provides a resource, as does our link to on this website, to look for jobs and or advertise listings for PAs for jobs located within the state.
Membership Descriptions
- Fellow Members: A LAPA Fellow Member is an ARC-PA-accredited PA program graduate or NCCPA-certified Physician Assistant who is also a Fellow Member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Rights to vote and hold office in the LAPA are restricted to LAPA Fellow Members in good standing.
- Associate Members: Associate Members shall include those physician assistants who are eligible for AAPA Fellow Membership, but chose not to join the AAPA. Also those physician assistants who have been granted the title of physician assistant under the auspices of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners are eligible for Associate Membership. Associate Members can not vote or hold office.
- Dual Members: Dual Members shall include those physician assistants who are Fellow Members of the AAPA and another constituent chapter recognized by the AAPA. Dual Members cannot vote or hold office.
- Affiliate Members: Affiliate Members shall consist of physicians (supervising and non-supervising), administrators and faculty members of any AAPA/LAPA recognized Physician Assistant Training Program. The LAPA will also accept, as affiliate members, any interested health care individual subject to the Board of Directors approval. Affiliate Members cannot vote or hold office.
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PA/MD Team: The PA will receive LAPA Fellow status only if they are an AAPA Fellow. If not, they will receive Associate member status which does not include voting privileges. The MD will receive an Affiliate Member status.
Military Members: A Military Member is a current AAPA member (Fellow) with current or previous military service.
PA Student Members: PA students enrolled in any ARC-PA approved PA training program are eligible for student membership in LAPA.
- Pre-PA Student Members: This membership option is for undergraduate students interested in the PA profession.
- Honorary Members: People of distinction who have rendered outstanding or notable service to the LAPA or are those who have retired from the profession.
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