NCCPA Announces 2024 PA Week Theme: ‘We Make a Difference’

Celebrate National PA Week, Oct. 6-12

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Oct. 03, 2024 – The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is celebrating National Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) Week by recognizing the role PAs play in health care and unveiling its 2024 theme, “We Make a Difference.”

This annual celebration, observed from Oct. 6-12, highlights the contributions of PAs across the country. There are nearly 180,000 Board Certified PAs in the U.S., who are highly trained health providers who practice medicine, diagnose illnesses and prescribe treatment.

“National PA Week is a time to reflect on the profound impact PAs have on their patients every day,” said NCCPA President and CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D., PA-C, ICE-CCP, FACHE. “What makes this profession truly unique is the ability of PAs to adapt and excel in various medical settings, whether in primary care, surgery or specialty fields.”

PAs see an estimated 10.8 million patients weekly across the U.S., according to the NCCPA 2023 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs by Specialty.

Morton-Rias noted PAs adaptability is a testament to rigorous educational standards and a commitment to certification, recertification and lifelong learning.

“This dedication to staying current with advances in medicine, coupled with PAs interpersonal and communication skills, ensure PAs deliver the highest quality care to those who rely on them,” she said.

PA Week is also an opportunity to promote public awareness of the profession’s vital role in health care delivery. In honor of PA Week, NCCPA is encouraging the public, PAs, students and health care professionals to join the celebration on social media using hashtags like #PAWeek2024, #WeMakeADifference and #PAsDoThat.

“We hope this message fosters a sense of pride and community among all those in the PA profession,” Morton-Rias said. “PAs work tirelessly to make an incredible difference in the lives of so many.”

For more information on PA Week or to learn more about the PA profession, visit www.nccpa.net.

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About the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA):

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the only certifying organization for more than 178,700 PAs in the U.S. The PA-C credential is awarded by NCCPA to PAs who fulfill certification, certification maintenance and recertification requirements. NCCPA also administers the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) program for experienced, Board Certified PAs practicing in ten specialties. For more information, visit https://www.nccpa.net.