SAAAPA - Leadership Opportunities

National Summit of Clinicians for Healthcare Justice

Join the Summit October 23-25, 2008 in Washington, D.C. Frontline clinicians are a viatl voice for health justice and true health systems reform. Join with other clinicians in a national celebration of clinical leadership and discussion of far-reaching options for future solutions to the health care crisis. For additional information visit www.allclinicians.org.

Medication Cards for the Elderly
Each year, numerous adverse events occur because patients lack knowledge about how and why they take their medications. Many geriatric patients are on complex medication regimens with limited instruction and understanding. By spending focused time creating medication cards, reviewing medication instructions, and answering questions, you will be doing your part to improve patient adherence and address the needs of those who may lack health literacy skills.

For this project, the Public Relations Committee recommends PAs host an event for geriatric groups or individuals to help them create two medication cards: one for their wallet and one to keep at home. This event can take place in your clinic, community center, library, assisted living facilities, retirement centers, or other appropriate venues. To help facilitate this project, the AAPA can provide you with wallet-sized medication cards. Please contact Shannon Faherty at sfaherty@aapa.org to obtain these cards.

Need Funding for your Project?

Remember that the PA Foundation offers grants which student societies can apply for to receive assistance with the funding of their project. You can find out more about the PA Foundation's programs at http://www.aapa.org/paf and just click on the Programs tab on the left for detailed information and applications.

Get Involved with Health Literacy

The AAPA Public Relations Committee (PRC) is inviting PA students to help in the “Quality Care Through Health Literacy” program. For its inaugural year, this campaign entails PAs reading to elementary school children in schools, libraries, bookstores, or other appropriate venues in order to promote a love of books and reading to these children. The AAPA Board has approved funds through a small grants program to help constituent organizations (COs) implement this program locally. While student organizations are not able to apply for these grants, they are able to volunteer and be involved with an event that is sponsored by their local CO (find your state chapter at the following link https://members.aapa.org/extra/constituents/chapter-menu.cfm ). The PRC would like to encourage students to proactively seek the help of their local CO to take advantage of available funding for organizing a health literacy event. For more information, click here http://www.aapa.org/cor/bookgrant.html or contact AAPA at aapa@aapa.org or 703/836-2272.

If you are interested in volunteering for state chapter leadership opportunities (board, committees, task forces), consider participating in the Constituent Organization Leader Recruitment (COLOR) program. Fill out this on-line application and AAPA staff will help you make your first connection with the state chapter.

If you have questions about the program please contact Kodi Blue Erb, 703/836-2272, ext 3127, kerb@aapa.org.

AAPA offers a PA Development Toolbox for members. This tool allows for self-assessment of one's leadership abilities and provides applications for one to work on.