Why I’m Inspired by the Spirit of the PA Profession

Why I'm Inspired by the Spirit of the PA Profession

In honor of PA Week, AAPA President Todd Pickard reflects on the heart of the PA profession and the PA leaders transforming healthcare every day

October 9, 2025

By Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA
President and Chair of the Board, American Academy of Physician Associates

Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, at AAPA's House of Delegates

Every October, as we celebrate PA Week, I'm reminded of what makes this profession extraordinary. It isn't just the depth of our training or the breadth of what we do, it's the commitment we bring to our patients, practice, and community.

Since its inception, the PA profession has been rooted in a spirit of service and innovation. In the 1960s, Dr. Eugene Stead at Duke University recognized a growing national shortage of healthcare providers and envisioned a new model of care built on teamwork, trust, and a shared purpose. He saw a way to extend the reach of medicine through the experience and skill of returning military medics. His vision gave rise to the first PA program at Duke University which graduated in 1967.

Those early pioneers didn't wait for change; they created it. They brought discipline, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to patients. Nearly six decades later, that same pioneering spirit continues to define who we are as PAs.

Pickard presenting on behalf of MD Anderson Cancer Center

Over the past 27 years as a PA, I've had the privilege of witnessing that spirit up close in clinics, classrooms, boardrooms, in the halls of Congress and statehouses, and on the floor of our own House of Delegates. Time and again, I have been reminded that PAs are problem solvers. We see a challenge and ask, What can I do to make this better?

As an oncology PA, I've seen PAs deliver care that goes beyond medicine as they take the time to sit with families, to listen, to translate uncertainty into understanding. I've seen them never losing sight of the human being behind the diagnosis. That commitment to empathy is what first drew me to this profession, and it's what continues to move me every day.

I've seen new PA graduates notice gaps in patient follow-up and build a better process. I've seen seasoned clinicians mentor a student, passing on their knowledge and wisdom. I've seen PAs rewrite institutional policies, expand care in communities that had none, and serve as advocates for patients who might otherwise go unheard.

Pickard advocating for PAs outside of the U.S. Capitolwith his fellow PAs during AAPA's Leadership and Advocacy Summit

But I've also seen leadership and advocacy take center stage in our profession. As a long-time member and former Speaker of AAPA's House of Delegates, I've watched thousands of PAs dedicate countless hours to developing thoughtful policy and confronting some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.

I've seen PAs on Capitol Hill and in statehouses educate lawmakers, build coalitions, and drive change. I've seen them shape the future of healthcare by fighting for legislation the improves access to care and strengthens our healthcare system. Their courage, creativity, and commitment remind me daily how lucky I am to be part of this community.

Pickard (left) with current Vice President and Speaker of the House of Delegates, Leslie Clayton (middle), and Director/First Vice Speaker of the House, Peggy Walsh Sheryka (right)

When I began my career in 1997, PAs were still carving out our place in medicine. In Texas, we couldn't yet prescribe or order independently. Today, across the country PAs are leading care teams, shaping institutional policies, and leading across every setting and in every specialty. There are now more than 190,000 practicing PAs delivering nearly 590 million patient interactions each year, and over the next decade our profession is expected to sustain faster growth than nearly every other profession both in and out of healthcare.

Yet even as the profession grows, what impresses me most is that our core values never change. PAs remain grounded in compassion, teamwork, and a shared belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality care. I am continually moved by the passion and purpose each PA brings to this work.

It's an honor to be a part of this profession. As we celebrate PA Week, I encourage every PA, student, and colleague to embrace the leader you already are. Lead in the exam room by listening deeply. Lead in your workplace by improving systems. Lead in your community by advocating for patients and for one another.

That's the spirit I'm celebrating this PA Week. It's the same spirit that inspired me 30 years ago to become a PA, and it's what inspires me still.

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