Our Michigan Academy of Physician Associates (MAPA) delegates had a productive visit to the 2024 American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) House of Delegates (HOD) meeting, which took place in Houston, Texas, during the annual AAPA Conference. Continue Reading
Advocacy
Stay informed about issues impacting PAs

As the only organization solely dedicated to representing Michigan PAs, MAPA is your strongest ally in ensuring that your voice is heard at every level of decision-making.
Our committee actively builds and nurtures relationships with key healthcare stakeholders, engages with legislators, state agencies, licensing bodies, and the Governor to influence critical issues affecting your profession. We’re committed to empowering Michigan PAs by safeguarding your practice rights and promoting the value you bring to healthcare in our state.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Yasmine Affes
Tyler Amores
Alison Badger
Julia Burkhardt
Cristina Bustamante
Rebecca Cronin
Samantha Danek
Brian Gallagher
Antonio Giannelli
Courtney Hige
Patrick Handlin
Ashley Malliett
Dennis Marien
Jodi McCollum
Hannah Middleton
Marc Moote
Michelle Petropoulos
Sarah Luna Salman
Sarah Scantamburlo
Garrett Smigelski
Ron Stavale
Michael White
An anonymous survey of first year PA students was completed at a recent MAPA Professional Issues talk at Lawrence Technical University. Here are the questions, responses and comments. Continue Reading
The Detroit Mercy PA program is dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. This commitment aligns with our mission to ensure no student is denied access to education based on gender, race, religion, national origin, or economic status. Continue Reading
Attending the Michigan Academy of Physician Associates (MAPA) summit in Lansing was a profoundly impactful experience, both professionally and personally. As a Physician Assistant student with a background in psychology and a deep-seated passion for mental health, the opportunity to advocate for the Continue Reading
t has been about five years since I last attended a full AAPA Conference, and AAPA 2024 in Houston did not disappoint. There were a few challenges, such as the tornado that displaced one million Houstonians the day before the conference began, leading to some lodging issues for a few attendees, Continue Reading
The good news is that Michigan patients love their PA! 92% in fact think Michigan PA practice laws should be updated. Now, here is a little history lesson from my 41 years of experience as a Michigan PA. Continue Reading
A new Harris Poll commissioned by AAPA finds that Michigan patients wait on average 3.4 weeks for a needed medical appointment and nearly 1 in 3 (31%) give the current healthcare system a failing grade, which is higher than the national average of 26%. Continue Reading
Healthcare professionals from around the state are arguing there is serious need to improve healthcare by updating a law they consider outdated. Continue Reading
The Senate Health Policy Committee received testimony on Wednesday, March 21st for Senate Bill 279 to allow for NPs to practice independently. Continue Reading
The provider education and training matrix was updated in March 2024 to better reflect the continuing education (CE) for Nurse Practitioners. Continue Reading
This week, the House Behavioral Health Subcommittee met to vote in support of House Bill 5114 to add PAs to Michigan’s Mental Health Code. Supporting testimony was provided by Michigan leaders in behavioral health and psychiatric medicine. Continue Reading
MAPA Executive Director Thadd Gormas submitted a memorandum of support for updates to rules impacting Michigan PAs this month. Continue Reading