More than 2,000 Georgia physician assistants are dedicated to ensuring patients across our state receive the personal attention they need from their medical care providers. As part of physician-directed teams, PAs offer increased patient accommodation. They make healthcare more accessible and take time to answer patients' questions and educate them on health issues. Since 1975, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants has been dedicated to ensuring the professional achievement of Georgia's PAs by providing active representation, continuing medical education and opportunities for personal growth.
Make plans to participate in the Get Fit with GAPA Fun Run. This event will be held in Savannah on June 9 at the Skidaway Island State Park. Whether you live in the Savannah area or across the State, we hope you and your family will consider joining your PA colleagues to show your commitment to fitness. Don’t forget to “prescribe” this event for your patients, too, using your “Rx for Fitness” prescription pads!
Show your colleagues why you love the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) and you could win a FREE registration to GAPA’s Summer 2012 CME Conference at the Sandestin® Golf and Beach Resort in Sandestin, FL.
HOW TO ENTER: Simply post a photo or video with the headline: “I love GAPA” on GAPA’s Facebook page and then encourage your colleagues to “like” and comment on your post! Don’t delay, because this opportunity ends May 31, 2012. Have fun and be creative! Show why GAPA’s 2012 Summer Conference on the white sandy shores of Florida’s Gulf Coast is meant for you!
The Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) is encouraging all Georgians to “Get Fit with GAPA”. Fight the obesity epidemic with tools and opportunities that promote healthy eating programs and fun outdoor activities to help burn calories and build muscles! Watch this report from CBS Atlanta News!
Do you know a colleague who goes beyond the call of duty? Would you like to show them how much they mean to you, your practice and profession? GAPA is accepting nominations for the GAPA Annual Awards through May 15. Nominations are open for: • PA Of The Year • Distinguished Service Award • Humanitarian Of The Year • Rural PA of the Year • Physician/PA Partnership Award • Physician of the Year The GAPA Awards help demonstrate the impact Physician Assistants have in their communities and in improving the lives of people in impoverished areas here in Georgia and other parts of the world. Please consider taking the time to shine the GAPA spotlight on your deserving colleagues. Click here for a nomination form and to see the awards criteria. For a list of past recipients, please click here.
The members of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) extend our sympathy to the family of Paul Taylor, PA-C, of Atlanta, who died April 30, 2012 following a cycling accident. Paul was a graduate of Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly Medical College of Georgia) and worked as a physician assistant in neonatology and a champion of women's health at Grady Health System for over twenty years. He was also an instructor with Emory University School
“Find a PA” is GAPA’s latest tool to help you connect with new patients and expand your practice. If you have recently joined GAPA or renewed your membership for 2011, you are already listed in our “Find a PA” database. This service benefits you as a GAPA member and also benefits Georgia health care consumers, helping them locate medical services and PA providers near them. We encourage you to check your membership listing at gapa.net (in the Members Only section) to make sure your information is complete and up-to-date!
In addition to receiving this free service, a number of GAPA members have indicated they would like to include additional information in their listings, so GAPA is now offering the following upgrades:
PEACHTREE CITY, GA—The Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association (GATA) named Dan Vacala of Savannah, GA as the recipient of the Jerry Rhea Athletic Trainer of the Year Award at their annual meeting Jan 13, 2012. The honor is based primarily on his work as a healthcare professional in the Savannah, Ga area and he was nominated by fellow athletic trainer Joseph Wilson.
The Georgia Sports Symposium will be held March 3, 2012, at the Ritz Carlton/Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee, GA. This event will provide education and resources on sports injury prevention to healthcare providers including Physician Assistants and Athletic Trainers. Please click here to download a registration form and more information about the event.
December 17, 2011, Anniston, Alabama - Captain Jeffrey W Chambers PA-C, ATC, from the United States Air Force Alabama Air National Guard 187th Fighter Wing CERFP Medical Element, recently completed training offered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), in Anniston, Ala. The CDP is operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and is the only federally chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training facility in the nation.
As pre-filed for the 2012 Georgia legislative session, House Bill 673, sponsored by Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), seeks to enact "Georgia's Return to Play Act of 2012." The legislation would require the State Board of Education to develop and distribute mandatory guidelines to local school boards to inform and educate coaches, student-athletes, and their parents or guardians of the nature and risk of concussions, including criteria for removal from and return to play and risks of not reporting the injury and continuing to play.
On October 6, 2011, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) participated in a proclamation signing ceremony for PA Week 2011 (Oct 6 - 12). Governor Nathan Deal greeted GAPA leaders including Mary Vacala, Lori Gaylor, Jim Gordon, and several students and faculty from the Mercer and Emory PA programs.
Effective October 1, 2011, every hard copy prescription drug order for any Schedule II controlled substance written in this state by a practitioner must be written on security paper. If you have questions, please contact the Pharmacy Board at 478-207-2440.
Click here to download a PDF of a memorandum to Georgia Pharmacists from the Georgia Board of Pharmacy (dated 9/16/11) describing the new law: O.C.G.A. § 26-4-80.1. Use of security paper for hard copy prescription drug orders.
The mission of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants (GAPA) is to promote high quality, cost-effective, accessible health care as part of a physician-directed physician assistant/physician team. More than 2000 physician assistants (PAs) across the state of Georgia are dedicated to ensuring that patients receive the personal attention they need from their medical care providers. PAs have made a significant impact in the delivery of health care and will continue to change
In an effort to lower our environmental impact and preserve our natural resources, GAPA has elected to Go Green! Please look for our Green logo to learn more about GAPA's Green Initiatives.
PAC Donations
Donate today and strengthen the PA´s voice in key legislative processes. Click here for more information.