PAEA continuously advocates to advance PA education and the profession, prioritizing critical issues such as clinical site access, student financial assistance, diversity, and Title VII investments.
Advocacy Agenda
Our advocacy agenda is based on our Association’s mission — advancing excellence in PA education through leadership, scholarship, equity and inclusion — and our vision of Health for All. These values drive our work with key stakeholders and intersect with the services that PAEA provides for our programs, faculty, applicants, students, and other entities interested in improving the health of the nation.
Learn more about what’s on our advocacy agenda for this Congress.
Statements & Testimony
A core component of PAEA’s work to advance the policy priorities of PA education is the submission of letters, statements, and testimony to key stakeholders.
Key Advocacy Issues
Our Government Relations Team has created several one-page resources and FAQs to help you stay up-to-date with the latest issues affecting PA education, including the clinical site shortage.
Grassroots Action Network
This is a comprehensive resource for advocates seeking to learn about and take action on emerging issues, contact elected officials, and advance the mission of PA education.
Resources
Advocacy Curriculum
PAEA’s Advocacy Curriculum is a comprehensive new resource that supports PA faculty in teaching students how to improve their leadership skills and become successful advocates for PA education and the profession.
Download a Map of Capitol Hill
Map Your Visit with the D.C. Metro System
- Security: Be on time! Be sure to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your appointment to allow sufficient time to pass through security and find your way to the location for your meeting. During peak periods, security lines may continue out of the building, and it may take 5-10 minutes to clear security. Please be prepared to remove your coat, belt, watch, and shoes if required. You must also empty your pockets of any change.
- Office location: There are wall maps located throughout the Capitol complex. Don’t hesitate to ask someone for directions if you need help.
- Arriving at the office: Please have business cards available to give to the staff assistant who greets you. Keep introductions to a minimum when you sit down with the staffer. Don’t be alarmed if the staffer you meet with is different from the one you expected – substitutions are frequent due to scheduling demands.
- Be flexible. The topics you want to discuss may or may not be priority issues to a particular member. Let the staffer’s interests guide the conversation. Staffers have varying levels of knowledge about PAs and how they fit in as primary care clinicians, so you may be able to educate them.
- Show them the data. Staffers are hungry for research.
- Bring concrete suggestions.
- Don’t be intimidated. You are a constituent, and your member of Congress wants to know what your concerns are. Constituent visits to the Hill are typically scheduled for 10-15 minutes. Although this may not be enough time to cover everything you would like to discuss, remember that you are building a relationship with your member’s staff, and you will have other opportunities to visit and contact them in the future. If you don’t know the answer to a question, you can provide the answer in a follow-up email.
- Be sure to visit all of your representatives, regardless of their party affiliation. Your representatives are interested in hearing from you and knowing your views.
- It’s your visit. This is your time to share your knowledge as a PA educator. PAEA’s director of government relations is there to support you and provide follow-up, but is not a constituent. It’s your job to deliver the message.
- Remember to leave any materials you brought for the staffer.
- Don’t forget to send a thank-you note or email after your meeting. Be sure to follow up with any information you have promised.
- Let the Government Relations team know if there is any follow-up for Government Relations, Research, or any other PAEA department.