Summary of NCCPA Board Actions and Issues
The NCCPA Board of Directors met on Friday, November 9, 2007 in Durham, North Carolina. The following summary describes the actions taken and issues addressed at that meeting.
Appointment of New Members Announced
The NCCPA Board of Directors was pleased to announce that Richard Turnage, MD, had been appointed by the American College of Surgeons to replace Robert Martindale, MD, who resigned earlier in the year amid an overloaded schedule. The NCCPA Board also welcomed Victoria Kaprielian, MD, appointee of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Dr. Kaprielian attended the weekend meetings as an observer with outgoing AAMC appointee Dr. Emil Petrusa. Her term will begin officially on January 1, 2008.
The NCCPA Board of Directors is also pleased to announce that we have received notification of the appointment of Frederick Blum, MD, from the American College of Emergency Physicians and John Coombs, MD, from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Drs. Blum and Coombs’ terms will begin on January 1, 2008.
Election of 2008 Executive Committee Members
Annually, the Board of Directors elects individuals to serve on its Executive Committee and as Board officers. The individuals elected to serve in 2008 with Lee Smith, MD, JD, Chairman, and Randy D. Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, Immediate Past Chairman are:
- Ruth Ballweg, MPA, PA-C – Chair Elect
- Donald J. Sefick, DO, MBA – Treasurer
- Ed Dunn, MBA, SPHR – Secretary
- Ed Lopez, PA-C – Member-at-Large
Election of New PA and Public Directors-at-Large
Nominating Committee Chairman Bill Kohlhepp, MHA, PA-C, delivered a brief presentation on the policies and procedures used to solicit, recommend and elect individuals to serve as PA and public directors at large. The Board applauded the competitive field of candidates who applied and subsequently elected James Cannon, PA-C, to serve as a PA director-at-large and Larry Simonsmeier, JD, to serve as a public director-at-large. Mr. Cannon and Dr. Simonsmeier will begin four-year terms on January 1, 2008.
Continued Discussions on the Competencies for the PA Profession
The NCCPA Board of Directors received an update on the efforts of its Competencies Advisory Committee, including the idea for an annual, profession-wide Competencies Campaign, which surfaced during robust cross organizational dialogue with AAPA, PAEA, and ARC-PA during the committee’s August meeting. In response to this opportunity, the Board requested that the NCCPA Foundation participate in the Competencies Campaign on NCCPA’s behalf.
Continued Discussions on the Genomics Project
The Board welcomed Dr. Alan Guttmacher, Deputy Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, who delivered a presentation on the multitude of opportunities to improve clinical care and patient outcomes by implementing the scientific advances in genomic medicine. He noted that the NHGRI has been impressed with the PA profession and its national leadership organizations, which have collegially taken up the genomics cause in the interest of bridging the gap between scientific advances and clinical practice. After Dr. Guttmacher’s presentation, the Board received an update about the PA profession’s efforts to take a leadership role in incorporating genomic medicine into clinical care.
Recognized as the 2007 Georgia Oglethorpe Award Winner
NCCPA is the first organization with a health care focus and the first not-for-profit organization to receive this distinguished recognition. The Board welcomed Georgia Oglethorpe’s Executive Director Victoria Taylor who delivered a presentation on the rigorous application process and criteria used to recognize award recipients. NCCPA President Janet Lathrop then announced that to commemorate its receipt of the Oglethorpe Award, the organization would be donating an exact replica of the award to the Physician Assistant History Center in Durham, NC.
Other Issues & Decisions
- Board members participated in an informational update on revisions to NCCPA’s disciplinary policy that allow for staff level decision-making in cases stemming from regulatory actions.
- Board members participated in an informational update on NCCPA’s financial and accounting practices prior to approving the 2008 annual budget for the organization.
- The Board received a report from the NCCPA Foundation regarding its current projects. Subsequently, the NCCPA Board elected Dorothy (Disty) Pearson, PA-C, to serve a three-year term on the NCCPA Foundation Board beginning January 1, 2008.
- Board members engaged in a brief discussion regarding the year-long vacancy in the Department of Defense seat. The issue will be discussed again in the future.
- The Board recognized the outstanding service of outgoing Board members: Joe Lagana, EdD, public director-at-large; John Ogle, MD, American Academy of Pediatrics appointee; and Emil Petrusa, PhD, Association of American Medical Colleges appointee.
- The Board accepted for filing all Board and committee meeting minutes and committee reports since the August 2007 meeting.
Next Meeting
The Board and its committees will convene February 22-24, 2008 at Lake Las Vegas, Nevada for its annual strategic planning retreat.
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