HA-2200.4.1
An officially recognized specialty physician assistant organization shall be defined as a group of physician assistants that joins together in an association that represents a practice specialty and that meets the criteria for recognition.
Specialty organizations provide valuable information and insight about their specialty to AAPA membership and leadership. Specialty organizations are not chartered, but remain an integral part of the complex framework that assures AAPA the maximum amount of knowledge and understanding of all issues involving PAs in that specialty. Specialty organizations strengthen the PA profession through their liaisons with their medical and professional counterparts. These relationships allow specialty organizations to partner with AAPA to effectively address challenges such as reimbursement, clinical practice, and regulation.
[Adopted 2000, amended 2004, reaffirmed 2009]
HA-2200.4.2
A specialty organization may choose to apply to be officially recognized by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. The American Academy of Physician Assistants recognizes the following specialties: 1) those holding the name of a board listed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS); 2) those specialties under the boards of internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry named as eligible for general or subspecialty certificates; and 3) those specialties under the Board of Preventive Medicine named as eligible for general certificates. Only one organization per specialty will be recognized.
[Adopted 1997, amended 1998, reaffirmed 2003 and 2008]
HA-2200.4.3
The Constituent Relations Work Group shall review the completed application and will present a resolution to the House of Delegates.
To be considered for recognition, the specialty organization shall:
1. Submit the appropriate AAPA application to the Constituent Relations Work Group.
2. Have a minimum of 5 members.
3. Submit the bylaws of the organization for review by the Constituent Relations Work Group.
[Adopted 1997, reaffirmed 2002, amended 2007 and 2008]
HA-2200.4.4
Specialty PA organization members are encouraged to be AAPA fellow members. Only those specialty organization members who are fellow members in good standing of AAPA may participate in issues relating to AAPA such as voting for AAPA delegates, submitting resolutions, or representing the specialty PA organization in the AAPA governance structure.
[Adopted 1997, amended 2000, reaffirmed 2005 and 2010]
HA-2200.4.5
All officers of an officially recognized specialty PA organization are required to be and remain members in good standing of AAPA, with a majority of officers being fellow members. Only those specialty PA organization officers who are fellow members in good standing of AAPA may participate in issues relating to AAPA such as voting for AAPA delegates, submitting resolutions, or representing the specialty organization in the governance structure.
[Adopted 1997, reaffirmed 2005, amended 2000 and 2010]
HA-2200.4.7
The House of Delegates may withdraw the official recognition of a specialty PA organization in the event of any action by the specialty PA organization that is in conflict with AAPA’s vision or mission. Delegates from the specialty organizations that have had their recognition withdrawn will not be seated at the House of Delegates.
[Adopted 1997, amended 2000 and 2005, reaffirmed 2010]
HA-2200.4.8
At the start of the annual meeting of the House of Delegates, the Constituent Relations Work Group will present a credentials report regarding the status of all specialty organizations.
[Adopted 2005 and reaffirmed 2010]
HA-2200.4.9
The appropriate work group shall review the recognition of each specialty PA organization on a five-year cycle and make recommendations to the House for its consideration.
[Adopted 2005 and reaffirmed 2010]