Public Relations & Education Committee

Purpose

To develop, implement and maintain statewide and local public relations and education programs to increase awareness and acceptance of the Physician Assistant profession both to the general public and other legislative and medical professions.

Committee Goals

  1. To continue to support and re-evaluate current campaigns and events and make such changes as necessary to carry out the purpose of the Public Relations & Education Committee.
  2. Develop, implement, maintain, and evaluate on a reasonable and timely basis, various statewide and local campaigns to present the Physician Assistant profession to both the general public and medical professions.       These campaigns shall be outlined and submitted to the PSPA Board of Directors for review and approval, at least on an annual basis or more frequently as decided by the Chair and the Board of Directors.

Committee Composition

  1. The Committee shall consist of a chairperson appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.
  2. The committee shall consist of PSPA members appointed by the chairperson.
  3. A Director-at-Large, assigned by the President, will serve as the board advisor to the committee.
  4. The President is an ex-officio member of the committee.

Committee Chair Job Description

  1. Be a PSPA member in good standing.
  2. Appoint/recruit committee members.
  3. Appoint one member of the committee to serve as the vice-chair. The vice-chair’s responsibility will be to assist the chair with all the functions of the committee, as well as be prepared to take over the committee in the unlikely event that the chairperson is unable to complete the functions of the committee.
  4. Submit a written, quarterly committee report to the Board at least 2 weeks prior to each Board of Directors Meeting.
  5. Monitor and update public relations and education section on website on a regular basis.
  6. Estimated time per month needed to fulfill duties of the position is 6-8 hours per month in addition to the Board of Directors’ meetings.
  7. Attend at least three (3) Board of Directors’ Meetings per year.
  8. Make policy recommendations to the Board of Directors when appropriate.
  9. Submit at least one article per issue of the PSPA News.
  10. Submit a proposed budget to the treasurer in March of each year.
  11. Submit a yearly committee report for the PSPA membership.
  12. Oversee all expenses by the committee.
  13. Participate in the development of the PSPA Action Plan.

Committee Member Job Description

  1. Be a PSPA member in good standing.
  2. Participate in committee activities, complete assigned tasks, and communicate regularly (at least quarterly) to chairperson by verbal, written or electronic means.
  3. Maintain a list of media resources for Pennsylvania and update annually, as directed by Chairperson. Contact AAPA for the updated list.
  4. Be knowledgeable of the various campaigns and events endorsed by the PSPA PR&E Committee.
  5. Recruit volunteers from the region to participate in the various PR&E campaigns and events and provide general support and information to these volunteers.
  6. Estimated time necessary to fulfill the duties of this position is 1 -2 hours per month.
  7. Expenses for committee business are reimbursable if approved by the committee chairperson.

Committee Guidelines

  1. Shall abide by all PSPA and AAPA bylaws and policies.
  2. Must have Board approval to enter into any legal or financial agreement on behalf of the Society.
  3. Any member of the committee representing the Society to an outside group may not act on behalf of the Society without the approval of the Board of Directors.

Committee Procedures

  1. Follow and implement the public education campaign.
  2. Annually update the public education campaign and submit a plan to the board of directors for approval.
  3. Be knowledgeable of the various campaigns and events endorsed by the PSPA PR&E Committee.
  4. Establish annual philanthropic effort.
  5. Help increase awareness for PA Day/Week.
  6. Work with other standing and special committees of the PSPA when appropriate regarding public and professional education.
  7. Budget, disburse and account for those funds allocated to the committee for the administrative function of the committee.
  8. Promote and manage the PSPA “SMART Talks” series for Pennsylvania PA programs.

Resignations

A 2-month notice of resignation is requested of the chairperson. It is also recommended that the outgoing chairperson supply the names of two physician assistants that could step into the position, if possible. The resigning chairperson should submit all files and copies of the correspondence regarding the committee’s activities to the new chairperson or to the Board Advisor for the committee.

Approved 1/13/01; Reviewed/Revised 9/30/08; 7/25/15; 10/18/16

Contact the chair

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