10/05/2026

Happy PA Week, Ohio!

Today marks the first day of PA Week, our annual celebration of the PA profession from October 6–12!

More than 60 years since the establishment of the first PA program at Duke University in 1965, our profession has grown in remarkable ways, while remaining grounded in the same commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate patient care. PA Week gives us an opportunity to reflect on our profession’s rich history, celebrate the impact PAs are making today, and look ahead toward the future.

At the heart of our profession are more than 7,200 PAs serving patients and communities across Ohio. As OAPA President, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank all of you for the knowledge, compassion, dedication, and leadership you bring to your patients and communities every day. Whether you are caring for patients in a busy hospital, serving your community in primary care, practicing in a specialty setting, educating the next generation of PAs, or contributing to our profession in countless other ways, your work makes a meaningful difference.

This PA Week it is also important that we celebrate our PA students and pre-PAs who will carry our profession forward. Ohio is home to 17 PA programs, and I want to thank all our students for trusting Ohio educators in your academic journey. To our pre-PA students, thank you for your interest in this great profession and for taking the time to learn from the talented PAs and PA students throughout our state. You represent the future of the profession, and we are excited to welcome you into it.

OAPA is celebrating PA Week in a number of ways:

• PA Proclamation: An official proclamation from Governor DeWine has been released to recognize the contributions of PAs across Ohio.
• PA Profiles: One PA from each of OAPA’s seven regions will be highlighted in web articles and on social media, showcasing the many ways PAs serve their patients, communities, and profession.
• Membership Drive: PAs, PA students, and pre-PA students are being invited to connect with OAPA and become part of our efforts to strengthen and advance the profession, with a 30% discounted membership available using promo code PAWEEKSAVE30
• PA Program Appreciation: We are celebrating Ohio’s 17 PA programs, their students, and educators with a special surprise shipped to each program as a small token of our appreciation for helping shape the future of our profession.
• Newspaper Op-Eds: We have submitted articles to major Ohio newspapers seeking to better inform the public about the PA profession.
• Mental Health Awareness: In recognition of World Mental Health Day on October 10, we will share an article highlighting the importance of mental health and the well-being of those who care for others.

We also want to hear from you! Share how you are celebrating PA Week on social media. Post pictures of yourself, your colleagues, your teams, or your classmates, and be sure to tag OAPA so we can spread the incredible work being done by PAs across Ohio.

To conclude, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our OAPA board members, committee chairs, volunteer leaders, and all of our members who give their time, expertise, and energy to advance our profession. Your commitment strengthens OAPA and gives our organization the ability to move our profession forward.

And, ultimately, thank you for all that you do for your patients, your communities, your colleagues, and our profession. I am proud to represent you and grateful for the work you do each day to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Madeline A. Meyers, PA-C, DMSc, FAPACVS
OAPA President