In the summer of 2008, the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants established the Employment Sub-Committee under the Public Relations and Education Committee to explore the significance of AAPA’s salary survey which ranks Pennsylvania as 50th in the country.
The committee devised a plan to offer grants to PAs and PA students who are interested in researching employment issues involving physician assistants in Pennsylvania. The PSPA will provide up to $2,000 per fiscal year in varying amounts not to exceed $1,000 for each individual project.
Applications will be accepted from any physician assistant, PA educator or physician assistant student within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Applicants must be PSPA members in good standing. Previous grant awardees are welcomed to apply but priority will be given to first-time applicants. Grants are not given for computers, electronic devices, honoraria or salaries.
Program objectives
Research projects should be aimed at investigating the disparity of physician assistant salary in Pennsylvania. Information to be gathered may include, but is not limited to:
- Validity of the current AAPA statistics
- How the salaries of physician and other health care providers compares to the national average
- Difference in salaries based on the regions of Pennsylvania
- Training of PA students in resume writing, contract negotiations, interview skills, etc.
- Differences in states that hold higher salary statistics