Justice Gray, a physician associate in psychiatry, encourages her young patients and kids everywhere to accept themselves just as they are through her picture book, “What is Normal Anyway? Because the Best Kind of Normal is Being You.”

Since its creation, the Joyce Nichols Memorial Scholarship has awarded financial support to nearly 40 PA students across the country, each one carrying forward a piece of her legacy through their studies, clinical practice, and dedication to their patients and communities.

In January 2026, Mount St. Mary’s University will welcome its inaugural class to a new PA program. The program will emphasize service within underserved and under-resourced communities and offer tools for students to sustain long-term professional resilience and prevent burnout.

Ivy Spadone, DMSc, PA-C, AAHIVS, found her calling by caring for the HIV-positive patient population in Nevada. Over 26 years, she has developed a care philosophy centered on open-mindedness and human-centered medicine—guiding principles that she aims to impart on her students in her most recent academia role.

In the early 2000s, eight-year-old William Lara was diagnosed with a tumor in his lower back. He grew up in Mesquite, Nevada, where healthcare access was a challenge. Lara had to travel about an hour away for surgery and follow-up care. Now, having recently graduated from PA school, he has a long-term goal of returning to Mesquite to open a much-needed family practice to care for the underserved.

Captain Bechara Rahbani, a physician associate with the U.S. Air Force, fulfilled a long-held dream when he was chosen for a 10-day medical mission in Nuevo Progreso, Guatemala. Rahbani provided much-needed care at the local hospital and in the villages and taught his specialized skills to Guatemalan providers.

Sabrina Leonard was inspired to join the healthcare field after a traumatic event impacted her family. Now, as a PA student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Leonard has made time for advocacy efforts that are important to her. She hopes to encourage other PAs to use their voices to make an impact in the PA profession and their communities.

As a physician associate in psychiatry, Carlos Amaya is bridging gaps in mental health care for his patients by building language skills and more. Amaya also draws on his pharmacy background to improve medication access, and, as a preceptor, regularly introduces PA students to the field of psychiatry.

AAPA has released the second annual Health Equity Report to give AAPA members and the PA community a look into how AAPA worked to advance health equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in 2024.  

PAs of Color is the 2025 recipient of the Diversity Award. Also known as ThePAC, PAs of Color is a nonprofit organization serving as a pipeline to the PA profession for underrepresented in medicine (URiM) individuals, from pre-matriculation to PA professional practice.

Asha Byrd, PA-C, first saw the importance of building a rapport with patients through her volunteer work at medical facilities like the Northeastern Tribal Health System in Oklahoma. Now as a physician associate in primary care, she continues to prioritize connection—along with creating safe spaces and addressing barriers—when caring for undeserved patients at the holistic-minded Sacramento Native American Health Center.

Rashadah Jordan, PA-C, DMS-C, PSY-CAQ, has mentored prospective PA students since 2019 and knows the value of having someone that can offer encouragement and understands the process. Jordan is currently mentoring two students in AAPA’s PAthways program, including recent graduate Tamera Robinson.

In the aftermath of the tragic Los Angeles wildfires, volunteers like PA Lili Barajas jumped into action to aid in relief efforts. Barajas is no stranger to giving back and is dedicated to serving underserved communities and increasing representation in healthcare.

The Joyce Nichols Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Physician Associate Foundation (PAF), is open to Black or African American PA students who demonstrate passion for the PA profession, commitment to serving their communities and future patients, and exceptional leadership potential. Read more about the five students who received the scholarship in 2024 and how it has helped shape their journeys.

Today, Laurel Health Advisors announced its contract, awarded by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), to conduct a groundbreaking study evaluating how physician associates/assistants (PAs) contribute to improving healthcare accessibility and equity across the United States.