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Denizens of Alexandria, Virginia's Mill Street, have grown accustomed to seeing Michael Powe drive by with his conversation-starting license plate, "PAY A PA!"

The American Academy of Physician Associates' (AAPA's) vice president of reimbursement and professional advocacy, who is retiring after 30 years of service with the organization, has built his career on ensuring physician associates (PAs) receive the recognition, respect, and reimbursement they deserve. He's also worked tirelessly to shape policies to allow PAs to practice at the top of their licenses.

At the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) 2024 Conference & Expo in Houston, Lisa M. Gables, CPA, chief executive officer of the AAPA, announced Powe's retirement before the first Main Stage event, calling his impact on the PA profession "nothing short of extraordinary."

"Michael has been a committed and unwavering advocate for this profession," she said. "In his current role, he was responsible for addressing issues surrounding healthcare policy, private third-party payment concerns, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and the various state and federal regulatory agencies. So much of this work is behind the scenes, but we guarantee that each and every PA in this room has benefitted from the lasting impact Michael has made over the last three decades."

Answering the Call to Advocacy

After graduating from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Powe worked on Capitol Hill for a Senator seated on the Small Business Committee. A few years later, he saw an advertisement for a position looking for someone with experience in both insurance and politics. It was with the AAPA — and he quickly applied for the position and landed it. He said it was there that he learned how to become an effective advocate.

"There's an educational process to advocacy. There are so many issues involved with politics at the state or federal level. You need to understand how to dig through the noise so you can articulate to legislators what's important about an issue in a concise and useful manner," he said.

PAs, especially, must understand that making connections with their representatives is key because, so often, other, louder voices fill the room. "You need to share your personal story, how you do your business, and how it helps patients — otherwise, your message can get lost," said Powe.

When asked what issues he thinks that PAs should focus on most in the future, Powe quickly mentioned professional burnout.

The work hours are long, the administrative burden is high, and in terms of documentation, the other issues involved with taking care of patients, are growing. "There are key issues surrounding how to streamline what we expect from healthcare providers — and PA voices should be involved in crafting policies to make it a little bit easier, a little more efficient, and to free up restraints on healthcare providers so they can focus on patients."

Training the Next Generation of Advocates

At AAPA 2024, Gables also announced that the AAPA had created an advocacy scholarship in Powe's honor. She said that she couldn't think of a more fitting tribute for the man who has done so much for the profession.

"The Michael Powe Leadership and Advocacy Scholarship was created to honor Powe's unparalleled 32-year career and his relentless dedication to advancing the PA profession," said Gables.

"Though much of his work has been behind the scenes, each and every PA has benefitted from the lasting impact Michael has made over the last three decades. This scholarship will empower future PA leaders who exemplify Michael's passion for advocacy and his unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare."

Each year, five PA students who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to advocacy work on behalf of the PA profession are awarded the scholarship, which covers all costs associated with attendance at AAPA's annual Leadership and Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC.

The summit aims to equip PAs with the knowledge and tools necessary to become effective advocates in their communities and across the greater healthcare industry. Applicants should have a proven track record of academic excellence, as well as participation in initiatives that drive positive change for the profession, leadership, collaboration skills, and a clear vision for their future advocacy efforts.

Powe said it was humbling to learn of the scholarship in his name. But he said helping the next generation of PAs to become their own best advocate is vital to the future success of the profession.

"I hope there will be no lack of students who have a desire to apply for this — and understand that this presents a point of entry that can help them get more involved in policy and advocacy very early in their careers," he said.

"As I said at AAPA, I think the future for PAs is as bright as the past. As PA students become leaders in both the clinical and the political world, they can help develop the priorities, policies, and decisions that will keep this profession moving even further ahead in the future."

Kayt Sukel is a healthcare and science writer based outside Houston.