Events

On March 13, 2007 eighteen PAs and PA students came to Salem to discuss healthcare and the PA/MD team concept with legislators. This exciting event was designed to help educate legislators about the important role of the PA/MD team as well as the healthcare issues facing Oregon.

OSPA had breakfast goodies and an educational display table staffed by volunteer PAs from around the state, Kristi Beyer (OSPA’s Operations Manager), and Nick Senzee from the AAPA. Legislators, members of their staff and the public stopped by to discuss the role of the physician assistant, the utilization of PAs, and the PA programs in the State of Oregon.

In addition to the educational display table, appointments had been made for PAs to visit their Senators and Representatives. OSPA facilitated the appointments in conjunction with Marshall Coba, OSPA lobbyist, and provided talking points about the bills. The large turn out by OSPA member PAs and the effort put forth by the attendees was clearly a major factor in OSPA’s successful passage of our bills during this legislative session.

Thank you to the following individuals who made themselves available for this successful event—some for the entire day, some for only an hour or two: Scott Beyer, Francine Boullosa, Nancy Campbell, Renee Christenson, Mariana Cooper, Sharon DeHart, Carly Hammer, Kevin Hicks, Sunshine John, Ben Johnson, Krisi Kamstra, Pat Kenney-Moore, Amanda Markell, Jud Moore, Robert Petersen, Roberto Reynoso, Jessica Ross, Mark Tabor and Edwin Weih. The participation of physician assistants ranging from student to retiree helped to reinforce the vitality of our profession, and the time committed for this activity by each attendee is greatly appreciated by OSPA. Our hope is that next year on PA day at the Capital you too can make yourself available to improve healthcare in Oregon.