EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

Professional Development Forum – Wednesday: 1:15 pm – 4:15 pm

(formerly the Leadership Forum) The Forum is open to all attendees.

PA Leaders-Progressing from Clinical Practice to Leadership
Speaker: Krisi Gindlesperger, MBA, MPAS, PA-C

You’re invited to join us at the Professional Development Forum Sponsored by the PSPA Leadership and Mentorship Committee. The goal of this session is to provide an opportunity for non-clinical discussion for PAs who are looking to grow in their career. This session is the final session in the PSPA Leadership Academy and Leadership Academy Graduates will be recognized. There will be opportunities for networking with Leaders in the PSPA, Education and Academic Institutions during the session.

 Preceptor Faculty Forum – Friday: 2:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Teaching Clinical Humanism to Physician Assistants Students
Speaker: Jonathan Weinkle, MD, FAAP, FACP

Effective communication and respectful, humanistic treatment of patients are considered core clinical competencies of the health professions (ACGME, 2013) and “patient-centered care” is a favorite advertising buzzword. Despite this professed importance, poor communication and disrespectful, dehumanizing treatment are a main source of patient complaints and a major cause of both harm and waste. The forum will draw on presenter’s experience of teaching these skills to Chatham University PA students and integrate them into a Problem-Based Learning curriculum.

Student Forum for First and Second Year Students – Friday: 2:15 pm – 4:30 pm

If you are currently a PA student, you do not want to miss this event! With separate tracks for first year and second year students (we know you have different needs!), everyone can gain valuable information for their future in the PA profession. These sessions will give participants a chance to learn from some of the best practicing PAs and “pick their brains” on a variety of topics. Whether you’re preparing to go out on rotations or preparing to take your boards and practice “real medicine,” there’s something for everyone!

CONFERENCE EVENTS

SAPPHIRES AND WINE WELCOME PARTY and SILENT AUCTION

Celebrating 45 YEARS OF THE PSPA
Thursday: 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Come celebrate with your friends and the PSPA. Join us for sapphires, wine tastings, food pairings and of course dancing. We have 45 years of professional accomplishments to celebrate (and the many more to come!). Outbid your friends to win some great auction items with the proceeds going to the PSPA PAC to help advance our profession in the Commonwealth. See you at the party Thursday night at 7!

Have a great donation for the party? Contact Cara Bennett (carakbennett@gmail.com) or Marcy Herzog (marcyherzog@gmail.com).

19th Annual PSPA Fun Run and Walk

Supports the annual charity –  Grady’s Decision
Friday: 7:00 am

Get moving and have some fun at the conference or at home with the addition of our Virtual Fun Run and Walk. The event will be held Friday morning at 7 am. Runners and walkers will meet in the convention center lobby by registration. Virtual runners and walkers can run at the same time at home and send us a selfie of yourself in the event t-shirt. The first 40 participants (both onsite and virtual)  to register will receive a commemorative t-shirt. The entry fee is $15 for onsite attendees and $25 for virtual runners as the t-shirt will be mailed to you prior to the event.  Registration is available online or on the registration form. Virtual runners and walkers need to register by October 9th if you want to receive your t-shirt in time for the event.

Student Medical Challenge Bowl Delayed to 2021

The annual tradition of the Student Medical Challenge Bowl will be delayed to 2021 as many PA programs have tightened up their university calendar and student travel for the upcoming fall semester and attendee limits with social distancing due to COVID-19.  These changes reduce the number of teams available to host an engaging and successful challenge bowl.

 Virtual Poster Presentation

Practicing PAs, students, and PA Faculty are invited to participate in a virtual poster presentation.  Your presentation will be included in the conference app for all attendees to review.  Primary authors must be PSPA members. If you are interested in submitting a poster presentation, more details can be found on the Call for Posters web page. Poster abstracts are due by August 15, 2020.  If you have questions or would like to submit an abstract, contact Mary Allias MPAS, PA-C at mallias1@pitt.edu.