2026 AAPA Annual Awards
The annual AAPA Awards include Individual Excellence Awards, for which individuals can apply, along with the Eugene A. Stead Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, for which one must be nominated.
Applications for the 2026 AAPA Awards are now open and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 6, 2026. Award recommendations will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Individual Excellence Awards
Across the country, PAs go beyond—expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. That’s why the annual AAPA Awards recognize PAs’ and PA students’ contributions to their patients, their communities, and their profession.
PA of the Year Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award honors a PA who, within the course of a one-year period, embodies excellence in clinical practice, leadership, advocacy, research, and/or service; demonstrates the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare to all; and has made far-reaching impact on the advancement of the PA profession.
PA Student of the Year Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award honors a PA student who furthers the image of PAs and PA students; gives self-sacrificing time and effort in service to community; demonstrates leadership and professionalism; and exemplifies the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible and quality healthcare and/or health education.
Military Service Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award recognizes a veteran or active-duty PA, or a PA working in or retired from the federal service sector, who demonstrates exemplary healthcare service and exemplifies the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare to current members of the military, veterans, or a medically underserved community.
Diversity Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award recognizes a PA or PA group that serves as a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the PA profession and/or the patient population or community that they serve.
Humanitarian Service Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award recognizes a PA or group of PAs that has completed altruistic service to their community by expanding access to care for vulnerable and underserved populations, and/or populations in crisis. This service demonstrates clear, lasting dedication to human rights and advancing accessible care, and may have been completed anywhere inside or outside the United States.
AAPA/PAEA Preceptor of the Year Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
Presented in partnership with the PA Education Association (PAEA), this award honors a preceptor who demonstrates exemplary service in the clinical education of PA students as a mentor, role model, and instructor; and furthers the image of PAs by exemplifying the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare.
Publishing Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award is granted to a PA who published, during the prior calendar year, a new clinical or research article that presents original, scientifically rigorous ideas substantiated by robust methodology that contribute to the advancement of the PA profession.
Outstanding Student Society
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award recognizes one student society for outstanding service to the profession in the areas of public education and advocacy; public service and outreach; promotion of diversity; and professional involvement.
Eugene A. Stead Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award
Eligibility | Application Requirements
This award honors a person with a lifetime of achievement who has had a broad and significant impact on the PA profession as a whole, is well recognized and revered by all PAs, and who embodies the Statement of Values of the PA Profession section of the “Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the PA Profession.”
- 2024 – Richard Dehn, MPA, PA-C, DFAAPA
- 2023 – Josanne K. Pagel, M.Div., MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, EBS
- 2020 – Paul Lombardo, MPS-HAS, PA-C Emeritus, DFAAPA
- 2019 – Ted J. Ruback, MS, PA-C Emeritus
- 2017 – Epifanio Elizondo, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA
- 2015 – Randy D. Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA
- 2013 – Ron L. Nelson, PA-C, DFAAPA
- 2012 – Ruth Ballweg, MPA, PA-C, DFAAPA
- 2011 – James Francis Cawley, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA
- 2009 – Harvey Estes, MD
Frequently Asked Questions
Don’t see your question here? Reach out to [email protected].
More details about the AAPA Awards are available in the AAPA Awards Manual.
Each award has its own unique eligibility criteria. Please see the detailed eligibility guidelines for each award above or in the AAPA Awards Manual.
No. Anyone recommended for the PA of the Year Award, PA Student of the Year Award, Diversity Award, Military Service Award, Humanitarian Service Award, Preceptor of the Year Award, or Publishing Award will need to complete a full application themselves in order to be considered. When you recommend someone for an award, they will be notified and given instructions on how to apply.
The Eugene A. Stead Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award is the exception. That is an award for which one must be nominated, and the nominee should not fill out an application.
No. Each applicant may only submit the number of documents and letters permitted by the application form. Only documents submitted via the application form will be accepted.
Each application form has a “save and return” feature so that you can continue working on the application at your convenience. If you choose to use this feature, you will be asked to create an account in order to return to your application. However, when the form is submitted, all application materials must be included or the application will be considered incomplete.
Please address letters of recommendation to AAPA Awards Committee Members.
The Awards Committee is comprised of volunteer AAPA members who must apply to serve on the committee. The AAPA staff advisor does not participate in the evaluation of award applicants.
Applicants will be notified by early April 2026. Public announcement of the award recipients is planned for May 2025.
Past Recipients
Read about the accomplishments of Individual Excellence Award recipients from the current and previous years’ AAPA annual awards.