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AAPA Launches Vital Rounds Microlearning Platform to Address Pressing Clinical Topics, Boost Healthcare Workforce Readiness 

Series focuses on conditions with the highest burden and opportunity for patient impact 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (September 24, 2025) – The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) has released a collection of 10, four-part video series hosted by physician associate/assistant (PA) subject matter experts. Designed to provide physician associates/assistants (PAs) and other healthcare providers with fast, evidence-based education on today’s most pressing clinical and professional topics, Vital Rounds delivers short, high-impact video segments that fit into busy clinical schedules. 

Each series focuses on conditions with the highest burden and opportunity for patient impact – conditions that are often treated by nearly 190,000 PAs nationwide. 

“The conditions highlighted in the first Vital Rounds microlearning series collectively affect tens of millions of patients across the U.S. and are consistently among the top contributors to morbidity, mortality, and rising healthcare costs,” said AAPA Chief Medical Officer Jennifer M. Kolb, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA. “We developed the series to address timely and relevant areas across patient care and to enhance healthcare provider knowledge, strengthen decision-making, and boost workforce readiness in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.”

 The collection includes the following series: 

  • The PA Advantage in the Future of Healthcare: This series explores how Physician Associates are transforming the healthcare workforce. Highlighting their adaptability, leadership, and growing impact, the series outlines why modernizing policies and investing in PAs today is key to building resilient, patient-centered teams for the future.
  • Advancing COPD Care: This series explores the role of type 2 inflammation in COPD, guiding clinicians through the latest understanding of disease mechanisms, diagnosing, personalized treatment, and exacerbation prevention, emphasizing how deeper clinical insight can lead to better outcomes for patients with eosinophilic COPD.
  • A PA’s Guide to Colorectal Cancer Screening: This series provides a comprehensive overview of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, emphasizing its importance in early detection and prevention. We review the importance of colorectal cancer screening, updated guidelines, and various testing options, with an emphasis on shared decision-making, overcoming screening barriers, and improving early detection and outcomes.
  • A Practical Look at CKM Syndrome: This series offers a practical, clinically grounded look at Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) syndrome, exploring its progression, screening guidelines, treatment options, and patient-centered care strategies.
  • COVID-19 – Beyond the Pandemic: This series provides practical, evidence-based guidance on managing COVID-19 in the post-pandemic era. The series focuses on timely diagnosis, intervention, and patient-centered care.
  • Essential Strategies for Alzheimer’s Care: This series provides physician associates with practical, evidence-based strategies to improve care for patients across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum in a primary care setting — from early screening for cognitive impairment and accurate diagnosis to staging, treatment, and ongoing support.
  • Identifying and Treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This series on obstructive sleep apnea covers its risk factors, prevalence, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The goal is to equip clinicians with tools to better identify and manage this common yet underdiagnosed condition.
  • Managing Tardive Dyskinesia: This series explores Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), emphasizing early detection, differentiation from drug-induced parkinsonism, and treatment with VMAT2 inhibitors. The series highlights the PA’s role in patient education, communication, and improving outcomes.
  • Navigating Alzheimer’s: This series explores the role of patient navigation in Alzheimer’s care — highlighting barriers, the benefits of structured navigation programs, and how PAs can lead at every step of the journey. Viewers will gain practical strategies for diagnosis, care planning, and caregiver support that improve outcomes and quality of life.
  • Understanding COPD and Empowering Patients: This series explores the diagnosis, management, and treatment escalation of COPD, with a focus on empowering Physician Associates to provide guideline-based, personalized care. The series delivers practical insights on patient communication, exacerbation prevention, and therapeutic decision-making. 

Vital Rounds was supported by Bayer, GSK, Eisai, Exact Sciences, Lilly, Neurocrine Biosciences, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Regeneron. Access to the videos is available for all clinicians on AAPA.org.  All content was written and developed by AAPA and series’ hosts.  

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Media Contact: Jenni Roberson, 703.380.2764  

About the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)
AAPA is the national professional organization for all physician associates/assistants (PAs). PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. Trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals, PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice. Learn more about the profession at aapa.org and engage through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. 

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