From the Desk of the ADPA CEO: The Next Chapter for Our Profession Begins at the 2025 ADPA CME Conference

Peter Yen, DMSc, MSHA, PA-C, LSSGB

CEO, ADPA

After more than 24 years as a Physician Associate, I’ve watched our profession grow from the inside out—through decades of expansion, challenges, and transformation. I’ve stood in exam rooms, classrooms, and boardrooms long enough to know this truth: the PA profession is once again at an inflection point.The question before us isn’t whether we are capable—it’s whether we will advance fast enough to adapt to the dynamic, complex healthcare environment that surrounds us. The 2025 ADPA CME Conference, themed “Advancing PA Leadership,” exists to ensure we do.

Why This Conference Matters Now

·       For Educators:

You’re shaping the next generation of PA leaders. This year’s sessions are designed to help you integrate leadership development and systems thinking into the classroom. You’ll hear from academic pioneers who’ve transformed education models to prepare graduates not only to practice, but to lead.Leadership development is now recognized as a core competency in PA education, directly tied to team performance and patient outcomes.¹

·       For Executives and Administrators:

Leadership today requires fluency in policy, finance, and human capital—not just clinical care. ADPA 2025 brings together PAs who now serve as hospital vice presidents, medical directors, and program architects. Their stories reveal how to turn influence into measurable institutional outcomes.Research confirms that PAs in leadership roles improve interdisciplinary collaboration, reduce turnover, and enhance operational efficiency.²

·       For Entrepreneurs and Innovators:

Our healthcare system is hungry for disruption, and PAs are uniquely equipped to deliver it. Learn from colleagues who have built successful clinical enterprises, advisory firms, and new delivery models that bridge access gaps. Your next idea deserves a seat at this table.Entrepreneurial thinking within healthcare is increasingly recognized as essential to sustainability and innovation.³

·       For Clinical Leaders:

If you manage teams or lead from the bedside, this conference sharpens the skills that matter most—communication, adaptability, and resilience. You’ll gain frameworks to elevate team culture and performance, grounded in the lived experiences of frontline PA leaders.Adaptive leadership among clinicians directly correlates with lower burnout and improved care quality.⁴

What Sets ADPA 2025 Apart

·       Mission-Focused Theme: Every session centers on advancing PA leadership—a movement toward greater voice, autonomy, and vision across all sectors (AAPA CME Calendar, 2025).

·       Powerhouse Speakers: Nationally recognized PA leaders, educators, and executives share their blueprints for real-world change (ADPA, 2025).

·       Accessible and Impactful: Held virtually on October 26, 2025, this event is designed for maximum engagement without travel barriers.

·       Tailored Tracks: Focused content for educators, executives, entrepreneurs, and clinicians ensures every attendee gains directly relevant value.

A Profession at the Crossroads

Having spent nearly a quarter century in this field, I can tell you this: progress never waits. Healthcare is evolving at a pace that rewards those who adapt and sidelines those who hesitate. The ADPA 2025 CME Conference is where we decide which path our profession will take—forward, with purpose and unity, or behind, waiting for direction.We’ve earned the right to lead. Now we must seize it.

Join Us

To every PA reading this—educator, executive, innovator, or clinician—your leadership matters. Invest one day in the future of your profession. Join us for ADPA 2025: Advancing PA Leadership, and be part of the generation that defines what comes next.Register today at www.padoc.org. Let’s move from practice to power—together.

Peter Yen, DMSc, PA-C

Chief Executive OfficerAcademy of Doctoral PAs (ADPA)www.padoc.org

References

1.     1. Coplan B, McCall TC, Smith N, Gellert VL, Essary AC. Leadership Development in Physician Assistant Education: Preparing for the Future of Healthcare. J Physician Assist Educ. 2020;31(3):152-158.

2.     2. Morgan P, Smith VA, Berkowitz TSZ, et al. Impact of Physician Assistant Care on Outcomes and Resource Use in the Inpatient Setting. J Hosp Med. 2019;14(8):486-492.

3.     3. Dyer E, Houghton C, Lawton R. Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovation in Healthcare. BMJ Leader. 2021;5(3):151-156.

4.     4. West M, Armit K, Loewenthal L, Eckert R, West T, Lee A. Leadership and Leadership Development in Healthcare: The Evidence Base. Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management; 2015.