PSPA History 1972 - 2000

By pspa

  • First Hahnemann class

    Hahnemann Medical College starts their first PA program class.

  • First Hershey Class

    Hershey PA Program graduates first class

  • Hahnemann graduates first PA class

    7 graduates

  • PSPA Founded

  • First CME Conference

    Held in Harrisburg, PA

  • First Joint PSPA/PSSA joint CME conference

    Held in Pittsburgh

  • First Kings College class

    First PA class graduates from Kings College PA Program

  • Membership = 150

  • Gannon University PA program starts

  • First General Election Held

    President: Joseph Verano
    Vice President: William Hunt
    Secretary: Ronald Fisher
    Treasurer: Craig Ilk
    Board of Directors: David Bissonette, Christine Legler, John Ross, Henry Stoll

  • First PSPA Newsletter

  • Membership = 180

  • Osteopathic Enabling Act

    Osteopathic Enabling Act 261 is passed

  • 2nd PSPA CME Conference

    Held in Danville. 80 Attendees.

  • 3rd PSPA CME Conference

    Held in Philadelphia

  • Membership = 214

  • First Gannon College class

    Gannon College graduates first PA Program class

  • Saint Francis University starts its first PA class.

  • Act 79 Signed

    Governor Shapp signs Act 79 into law permitting the State Board of Education and Licensure to control the practice of PAs in Pennsylvania.

  • General Election Held

    President: Ron Fisher
    Vice President: Sherry Stollburg
    Secretary: Christine Legler
    Treasurer: David Bisonette
    Student Board Members: Patricia Bury, Linda Jackson

  • Advisory Committee to State Board of Medicine created

    William Hunt, Ron Fisher, Nate Alston, John Moyer, MD, Rugh Henderson, MD, Joseph Sienkiewicz, MD

  • Membership = 272

  • First Allegheny Community College class

    Allegheny Community College PA Program graduates their first class

  • New Board Elected

    William Hunt, Michael Habeck, Kathy Stackhouse, Stephen Wilson

  • Membership = 421

  • Saint Francis graduates its first PA class

  • Sixth annual PSPA Conference

    Held in Seven Springs.

  • Dues Increase

    $40 per year

  • General Election held

    President: William Hunt
    Vice President: Nate Alston
    Secretary: Christine Legler
    Treasurer: David Bisonette

  • PSPA becomes 501C6 tax exempt organization

  • Membership = 335

  • 1982-1984 board elected

    Michael Habeck, Allen Kyle, Edward Varzaly, Stephen Wilson.
    Student directors: Edward Kantor, Dennis Merkle.

  • PSPA Past President Voted AAPA President

    Ron Fisher past PSPA President becomes president-elect for AAPA.

  • AG renders decision about PA orders

    Pennsylvania Attorney General renders a decision that nothing prohibits a licensed nurse to execute medical orders given by a physician assistant.

  • 7th Annual PSPA Conference

    Held at Buck Hill Falls in the Poconos

  • Membership = 374

  • New officers elected

    President: David Bissonette
    Vice President: Stephen Wilson
    Secretary: Michael Habeck
    Treasurer: Susan Pentheny

  • Dues increase

    Dues increase to $80 per year for Fellow members.

  • PSPA 8th Annual Conference

    Held in Hershey. 117 PAs from 7 different states attended this 18 lecture, 25 hour CME level 1 conference.

  • Membership = 335

  • 1984-1986 Board in place

    Nate Alston, Allen Kyle, Ronald Mezick, Barrett Shilo

  • State Board of Medicine says no vein harvesting by PAs

    State Board of Medicine decides that PAs cannot harvest veins for coronary bypass procedures.

  • 9th Annual CME Conference

    Held in Hershey, PA. 102 PAs attended and 27 CME level 1 credit lectures were offered.

  • Membership survey completed

    71% work in medical settings
    29% work in surgical settings
    62% provide hospital care and 30% were house officers
    75% in medical setting perform primary care
    22% practice in underserved areas
    49% of salaries were in $22,000 - $31,000 range
    18% reported salaries higher than $31,000

  • Membership = 291

  • 1985-1987 Officers begin

    President: David Bissonette
    Vice President: Cheryl Green
    Secretary: Michael Habeck
    Treasurer: Susan Pentheny
    Student Directors: Laura Cole, Sandra Lis

  • Decision about vein harvesting reversed

    State Board of Medicine reverses its decision than PAs cannot harvest veins for coronary bypass procures after consideration of opinions from CT surgeons, PMS, PSPA, and cardiovascular department heads.

  • John Milliron engaged as PSPA lobbyist

  • 10th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at Harrisburg Marriott. 102 PAs attended and 27 hours of CME level1 lectures were provided.

  • PSPA Vice President position eliminated

    There will no longer be a PSPA Vice President. Instead officers will include the Past President and President Elect.

  • Medical Practice Act of 1985 Passes State House and Senate

    1. Medical Board may promulgate PA prescribing and dispensing regulations.
    2. Requires to governor to appoint PAs, NPs, and nurse midwives to four year terms on the medical board on a rotating basis.
    3. PAs employed by institutions may not be responsible to more than three physicians.
    4. With the approval of the Commissioner, the medical board may use consultants as it deems appropriate.

  • Membership = 331

  • PSPA becomes member of Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council

    Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council accepts PSPA as a member.

  • New directors elected for 1986-1988

    Michael Collins, Allen Kyle, Ronald Mezick, Susan Johnston
    Student directors: Sandra Lis, Helena Salkowski

  • PSPA Board votes to incease dues

    Dues will increase over 2 years.

  • 11th Annual PSPA Conference

    Held at Harrisburg Marriott. There were 76 participants and 25 hours of Category 1 CME were offered.

  • Membership = 298

  • Officers for 1987 - 1988 begin

    President: Stephen Wilson
    Past President: David Bissonette
    Secretary: Michael Habeck
    Treasurer: Richard Hubbell
    Student Directors: Terry Carmoney, Miachael O'Brien

  • Pennsylvania Blue Cross outlines steps for Medicare reimbursement services

  • 12th Annual PSPA Conference

    Held at Harrisburg Marriott. 106 PA's attended.

  • President Reagan signs law for PA services in rural areas.

    President Reagan signs a law approving medicare coverage for PA services in rural health manpower shortage areas. Will take effect 1/1/1989.

  • Membership = 332

  • New Board Elected

    President elect: Cheryl Green
    Directors at Large: Michael Collins, Susan Johnston, Esther Klinger, Ronald Mezick
    Student Directors: Rosa Gatling Williams, Howard Adler

  • Student Achievement Awards Program started

    PSPA starts a student achievement awards program for PA students who demonstrate standards and conduct which promote good will, recognition, and professional development of the physician assistant profession. First year winners: Richard Molinski (Gannon University), Kathleen Ehrhardt (St. Francis College), James Moreland (Hahnemann University), Charles Haney (Kings College), and David Grazio (Kings College)

  • PSPA Spring Conference

    Held in Philadelphia. 45 PA's attended.

  • 2nd PSPA Annual Leadership Conference

    Topics included public speaking, time management, legislative networks, society structure, and long range planning.

  • 13th Annual PSPA Conference

    Held in Gettysburg.

  • PSPA Bylaws Amended to include Section 14 Article 8 conforming to PA law.

    Bylaws will now read "A director of a non-profit corporation shall not be personally liable for monetary damages for any action or failure to take action unless he/she fails to perform the duties or office or there is willful misconduct." Without this, PSPA would pay $4000 per year in liability coverage.

  • 1989 PSPA Officers

    President: Cheryl Green
    Past President: Stephen Wilson
    Secretary: Linda Ruhl
    Treasurer: Richard Hubbell

  • Membership = 379

  • PA services in designated rural health areas now covered.

    PA services rendered in designated rural health manpower shortage areas are now covered by Medicare B at 85% of the amount allowed by physicians with mandatory assignment.

  • Edward Walker named AAPA Humanitarian of the Year

    Edward Walker, PA-C of Danville is given the Searle National Humanitarian PA of the Year Award at the AAPA conference in Washington DC.

  • 14th Annual PSPA Conference

    Held in Gettysburg.

  • PSPA News wins award

    PSPA News wins the AAPA/Lederle Chapter Newsletter Award for 1989

  • Membership = 396

  • 1990-1992 Board begins

    President: Cheryl Green
    President Elect: William Duryea
    Directors at Large: Michael Collins, Esther Klinger, Ronald Mezick, Bernard Stuetz
    Student Directors: Leah Boslet, Thomas Pasquarello

  • First PSPA Executive Secretary Begins

    Kathleen Bisonnette, PA-C becomes the first Executive Secretary for PSPA.

  • 1990 Student Achievement Award Winners Named

    Sherrie Cutrie (Gannon College)
    Kenneth Korber (Hahnemann University)
    Thomas Pasquarello (St. Francis College)
    Davide Steffan (King's College)

  • 15th Annual PSPS CME Conference

    Held in Lancaster, PA from October 25-28. 22 category I CME credits were offered.

  • Membership = 453

  • PA's assemble in Harrisburg for "PA Focus"

    21 PAs including 8 students organized by Stephen Wilson, PA-C assembled to educate legislators about the physician assistant profession in the context of legislative review of proposed regulations governing utilization of physician assistants in Pennsylvania.

  • New Student Directors Begin

    Carol Grove (St. Francis College), Christ Walker (St. Francis College)

  • Duquesne Unniversity accepts first PA class

  • 16th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at the Marriott Hotel in Harrisburg.

  • Membership = 560

  • Section 25.172 of the Pennsylvania Code Chapter 25 is reversed.

    This formerly prohibited osteopathic physician supervised PAs from writing "order, progress notes, or discharge summaries for patients in hospitals". Additionally, an osteopathic physician is no longer required to be on the premises for PAs to see patients. They now need to only be available by phone.

  • PA utilization regulation approved by State Medical Board

    1. Limitation of dispensing medications to 3 day supplies.
    2. A 12 hour period in which the PA must report activity to the supervising physician.
    3. 3 day period i which counter signature is required on a mecication regimen.
    4. Patients must be seen by the physician ever 3rd visit or at least once per year.

  • PSPA Members elected to AAPA Board of Directors

    Esther Klinger and Stephen Wilson are elected Directors-at-large.

  • New Board of Directors for 1991-1993

    President: William Duryea
    President Elect: Ronald Mezick
    Directors at Large: Esther Klinger, William Mazzocco, Maripat Wehman, Bernard Stuetz
    Student Director: Carol Grove

  • 17th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at Yorktowne Hotel in York from 10/29/1992 - 11/1/1992. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Allan Noonan, MD addressed the conference about the supply and distribution of healthcare providers in Pennsylvania.

  • Blue Shield requires "Personal Supervision" for PA provided services.

    Pennsylvania Blue Shield policy requires that "personal supervision" occur when services are provided by a physician assistant. This means the physician must be in the immediate vicinity when the service is provided.

  • Membership = 610

  • Nathaniel Alston nominated to State Board of Medicine

    Governor Casey nominates Nathaniel Alston, PA-C to the State Board of Medicine for a 4 year term.

  • New PSPA Executive Secretary

    Susan DeSantis, PA-C takes over at PSPA's Executive Secretary

  • New Physician Assistant regulations enacted

    PAs may relay medical regimens to other health care practitioners. This must appear in the work agreement though. The work agreement may specify the the ability to prescribe and dispense drugs.

  • 18th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    There were 135 registrants at this conference the Marriott Hotel in Harrisburg. 21 Level I CME credits were provided.

  • Membership = 826

  • Jefferson University PA program founded

  • St. Francis University graduates it's first class

    37 students graduate with their Masters degree.

  • Minority affairs council added to PSPA

    The Minority Affairs Council is added to the PSPA as a new committee. The objective is to increase the minority presence in the PA community through mentoring, scholarships, recruiting, and increasing community awareness of minority issues and concerns.

  • 1994 Board of Directors

    President Elect: Michael Habeck
    Directors at Large: Mark DeSantis, Maripat Wehman, Esther Klinger, William Mazzocco

  • Ron Fisher PA-C nominated to Osteopathic Board

    Ron Fisher, PA-C is nominated by Governor Casey to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

  • 1994 Student Achievement Award Winners

    Robin Harrison (Duquesne University)
    Courtney Griffith (Gannon University)
    Rikki Steele (Kings College)
    Erica Bloom, James Buck (Hahnemann University)

  • Awards Committee formed

    PSPA Board of Directors votes to establish an Awards Committee

  • 19th Annual PSPS CME Conference

    Held in State College

  • Act 157 becomes Law

    Relating to new graduates not yet certified:
    1. PAs must be a graduate of a board approved program.
    2. PAs must practice under direct supervision
    3. The PA may note prescribe or dispense medication.
    4. The term "Graduate PA" will be used.
    5. Authority to practice expires upon failure of the certifying exam.

  • Membership = 826

  • 1994-1995 Board of Directors

    President: Ron Mezick
    President Elect: Michael Habeck
    Treasurer: Chris Lindberg
    Secretary: Roxanne Wloczewski
    Directors at Large: Mark DeSantis, Maripat Wehman, Esther Klingler, William Mazzocco
    Student Directors: Michael Kuzman, Erin O'Neall

  • 20th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at the Tamiment Resort in the Poconos.

  • First Annual PSPA Awards

    Outstanding PA of the Year: Karen Sweeney
    Humanitarian PA of the Year: Evelyn Gilbert
    Life Service Award: David Bissonette, Kathy Bissonette

  • 1995 Student Achievement Awards

    Mark Watson (St. Francis College)
    Joseph Merritt (Duquesne University)
    Julie Witzigman (Gannon University)
    Amy Gutman (Kings College)
    Heidi Baldwin (Hahnemann University)

  • Chatham University starts PA program

  • Jefferson University PA prgram receives initial accredidation

  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine establishes PA program

  • Mark DeSantis wins AAPA Glaxo/Wellcome Fellowship

  • Membership = 926

    Fellows 539
    Affiliates 12
    Associates 37
    Students 337

  • 1995-1996 Board of Directors

    President: Michael Habeck
    Immediate Past President: Ron Mezick
    Secretary: Roxanne Wloczewski
    Treasurer: Chris Lindberg
    Student Directors: Johanna Cronas, Jennifer Wolfe

  • Membership = 1120

  • Arcadia University establishes PA program

  • Pennsylvania College of Technology establishes PA program

  • Northeast Region Meeting and Leadership Conference

    Held in Philadelphia. This was a non-CME conference.. One track was designed for formal leadership positions and the other for Northeast Region leaders.

  • Nathaniel Alston wins AAPA Outstanding PA of the Year Award

  • 21st Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held in William Westin Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh.

  • House Bill 2091 Signed into Law

    Allows PAs and NPs to conduct examinations required for issuance of driver's licenses and school bus driver endorsement.

  • PSPA wins AAPA awards for Chapter Excellence and Public Education

  • 1997 Demographic Survey

    62% of Pensylvania PAs hold a bachelor's degree
    56% are women
    40% practice in communities of 50,000 or less
    52% practice in primary care
    Mean annual income = $57,698
    86% are salaried
    63% take no call

  • Jefferson University graduates first PA class

  • Chatham University graduates first PA class

  • DeSales University establishes PA program

  • 1996-1997 Board of Directors

    President: Michael Habeck
    President Elect: Mark DeSantis
    Secretary: Roxanne Wloczewski
    Treasurer: Chris Lindberg
    Directors at Large: Esther Klinger, Maripat Wehman, Karen Sweeney, Lane Bower

  • Membership = 926

  • Pensylvania is now home to 12 PA programs

  • Ken Harbert, PA-C wins AAPA National Humanitarian PA of the Year Award

  • DeSales Univeristy starts its first PA class

  • 1997 - 1998 Board of Directors

    President: Mark DeSantis
    Immediate Past President: Michael Habeck
    Secretary: Kersten Schwartz
    Treasurer: Chris Lindberg
    Student Directors: Leslie Milteer, Greg Lacek

  • 22nd Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Harrisburg. There were 209 attendees including 56 students.

  • John Milliron honored for 12 years of service as PSPA lobbyist

  • YWCA of Greater Harrisburg receives $1,200 from PSPA members

  • 1997 PSPA Awards

    PA of the Year: Libby Brown, PA-C
    Humanitarian Award: Diane Romanowsky, PA-C

  • 1997 Student Achievement Awards

    Julie Hesch (Gannon University)
    Paula Holmes (PCT)
    Leslie Milteer (St. Francis College)
    Michelle Burke (King's College)
    Monica Turbay (Duquesne University)
    Barbara Black (Beaver College)
    Jen Kelley (Allegheny University)
    Kathleen O'Neil (Chatham College)

  • Membership = 1205

  • 1998 AAPA Delegates

    1998 PSPA Delegate to AAPA: Lane Bower, Michael Habeck, Bill Reynolds, Mark DeSantis, Rob Mezick
    Alternates: Bernie Stuetz, Susan DeSantis

  • Seton Hill University starts its first PA class

  • Marywood university starts PA program

  • 1998-1999 Board of Directors

    President: Mark DeSantis
    President Elect: Lane Bower
    Secretary: Kersten Rovee
    Treasurer: Chris Lindberg
    Directors at Large: Karen Sweeney, Walter Eisenhauer, William Reynolds, Patrick Ivory
    Student Directors: Shawn Wright, Michelle Haas

  • 23rd Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at Arams Mark Hotel in Philadelphia. Highest number of registrants ever (510) including 250 students. 29 Category I CME credits were offered.

  • 1998 PSPA Award Winners

    PA of the Year: Thomas Lemley
    PA Humanitarian of the Year: Johanna Berrigan
    Student Achievement Awards: Julia Barnes (Gannon), Tug Cologne (Allegheny), Libby Earnharth (Chatham), Deb Goodwin (Kings), Samuel Neuschwander (St. Francis), Richard Rockwell (PCT), Jessica Spates (Duquesne), Brad Tolly (Lock Haven)

  • Membership = 1320

  • PA Demographics in Pennsylvania

    Male = 37.9%
    Female = 62.1%

  • Gannon University PA program transitions to Masters Degree

  • DeSales University graduates its first PA class

  • 24th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at the William Penn Hotel In Pittsburgh.

  • PSPA raises $3,400 for Make-A-Wish Foundation

  • PSPA Annual Awards

    PA of the Year: Mark Hertweck
    Life Achievement Award: Stephen Wilson, PA-C

  • Student Achievement Awards

    Student Achievement Awards: Michelle Safarik (Allentown), Meagan Renninger (Beaver College), Joseph Martin (Chatham College), Stephanie Martin (Duquesne), Jill Stefanucci (Gannon), Jennifer Weidner (Kings), Kristin Noonan (Lock Haven), Joann Grabowski (Marywood), John Ranonis Jr. (PCOM), Marybess Skaletsky (PCT), Chad Burch (St. Francis), Thomas Berger (Philadelphia), Aislynn Wilson (Seton Hill), Christina Sowards (Hahnemann)

  • First PSPA Student Challenge Bowl

    First Place: Allentown PA Program
    Second Place: Pennsylvania College of Technology
    Third Place: Philadelphia University

  • Seton Hill University graduates first PA class

  • Jefferson University transitions to Masters Degree PA program

  • Marywood University graduates first PA class

  • Membership = 1547

  • Salary and Demographics Survey

    Males = 40.4%
    Females = 59.6%
    Practicing in primary care = 55%
    Annual income = $60,527

  • PSPA Elections for 2000-2001

    President Elect: Bill Reynolds
    Directors at Large: Linda Sekhon, Donna Warren
    Student Directors: Andrew Seise, Shalee Johnson

  • 25th Annual PSPA CME Conference

    Held at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers. Offered 25 Category 1 CME credits plus 8 hands-on workshops. Every PSPA president attends.

  • First Silent Auction Event

    The first silent auction is held at the annual conference. Over 50 items raised $4,200.

  • PSPA Donates $1,785 to American Red Cross

  • PSPA Annual Awards

    Outstanding PA of the Year: Sherry Stolberg
    Humanitarian of the Year: Marsha Lewis, PA-C

  • 2nd Annual Challenge Bowl

    1st Place: Allentown College
    2nd Place: Philadelphia University
    3rd Place: MCP Hahnemann

  • Student Acheivement Award Winners

    Jennifer Tohill (Allentown), Donna Jennings (Beaver), Maria Abraham (Chatham), Keshe Steighner (Duquesne), Nicole Miheli (Gannon), Melanie Haddick (Kings), Kathryn Kelty (Lock Haven), Kristin Duffy (Marywood), Carrie Fanelli (Hahnemann), Andwer Seise (PCT), Linda Grove (PCOM), Michelle Anderson (Philadephia), Janice Alicandro (St. Francis), Cheryl Miller (Seton Hill)