Welcome to the website of FAPA, the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants! FAPA is one of the preeminent PA Academies in the United States and our website is full of all the information you need to answer your questions regarding PA practice and licensing in Florida, information on CME opportunities and many other areas of interest to PAs. Our website was recently renovated just before the start of 2008 to add more features and to help keep our visitors more informed than ever.
 
FAPA is committed to providing our members, and all PAs, with the most up to date information regarding PA practice in Florida, the United States and around the world. The goal of FAPA, as found in our mission statement, is to ensure that the citizens of Florida receive the highest quality, affordable health care possible by promoting the physician led, Physician / Physician Assistant team approach. This team approach has proven to be very successful over the past 40+ years that PAs have been in practice.
 
The Florida Academy of Physician Assistants’ website is user friendly and interactive. Please take a few moments and browse our site.
 
The website is designed mainly to provide information about the PA profession here in Florida. However, we have added many direct links including those to your Florida Legislators, the AAPA and its’ Legislative Action Center and the most up-to-date information on any pressing legislative or reimbursement concerns affecting Florida PAs. Be sure to review the calendar in the Events and Happenings section so you can plan to attend our conferences and meetings. Our Annual Recertification Review and Symposium is our hallmark, premier conference and one not to be missed. Whether you live and work in Florida, or you're from out of state, this is definitely the warm, sunny place to be in February each year. Also, our Annual Summer Symposium in August is always an exceptional event. You can register online for both of these conferences through our new CVent registration system, on the most secure site the industry has to offer.
 
Certainly, some of our most popular sections are the FAQs and "Moving To Florida" article, which are being updated frequently. We have tried to answer and explain what every licensed PA needs to know about the specific and unique challenges regarding PA licensure and practicing as a PA in Florida. Because we do things a little different down here, a well informed PA will be able to have their questions answered, the appropriate forms down loaded, completed and timely sent to the Board of Medicine.
 

Included in some other features of our website (by creating a MyFAPA Account), you can:

• Apply for or Renew Membership

• Network with PAs throughout the state

• Find lists of PA mentors, preceptors or speakers in the state

• Register for or view information about one of our CME accredited PA Conferences

• Download important state documents related to PA Practice

• Access current and past issues of our newsletter, the PAper

• Donate to the FAPA Foundation and Political Action Committee

• Join the FAPA 100 Club

• View Links to PA, state physician organization, and medically related sites

• Keep up with Current Important News through our Current News, News Briefs and Student Relations pages

• And MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

Additionally, as President, I have added a site called “President’s Corner” where I intend to update the weekly activities of the President and Board as well as comment about the events going on relevant to PAs in our state.  This is yet another means to communicate better with the members of our Academy.
 
FAPA is the only voice for Florida PAs. This organization of dedicated, volunteer PAs works very hard at keeping everyone informed on current legislative, reimbursement and any other pressing issues that may affect your practice. If you are not a FAPA member, now is the time to join. 2008 is definitely going to be another critical year legislatively for the PA profession, as well as for the Physician/PA Team Concept in Florida, and you do not want to miss out on what is happening.
 
Enjoy your online visit with us, and feel free to please contact any of us and send your comments and suggestions. Thank you.

Eric S. Smith PA-C

Eric S. Smith, MMS, PA-C
President