As NCAPA celebrates its 50th anniversary, Focus on Fifty continues to look back at the people, programs, and experiences that have shaped the Academy over the past five decades.
In this edition, Joshua Smith reflects on more than 20 years of involvement with NCAPA and the evolution of the Academy’s educational programming. From developing high-quality continuing medical education to building traditions and relationships that bring attendees back year after year, Josh has had a front-row seat to an important part of NCAPA’s history.
A Career of Involvement with NCAPA
Josh graduated from the Wake Forest PA program in 2004 and began his career in family practice in Salisbury, North Carolina. Two years later, he joined Duke University, where he has spent the past 20 years practicing in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery.
His relationship with NCAPA began even before his professional career was fully underway.
“I became a student director on the NCAPA in 2004 and really I’ve not left the Academy since.”
That involvement has taken many forms. Josh has served on the NCAPA Board of Directors, represented North Carolina as an alternate delegate, delegate, and chief delegate to the AAPA House of Delegates, and served as NCAPA President in 2019.
One of the most consistent threads throughout those years, however, has been his involvement in NCAPA’s educational programming.
Strengthening NCAPA Education
Josh served on what was formerly known as the Conference Planning Committee and later became the Continuing Education Committee. He has also spent much of his career helping administer NCAPA’s Summer Conference through what is now the Conference Management Panel.
As NCAPA’s approach to conference planning evolved, different groups took responsibility for specific aspects of the educational experience. Josh chaired the Professional Development Review Panel for several years, helping establish a process designed to strengthen the quality and rigor of the CME presented to attendees.
“That panel is designed to help really improve the rigor and to curate the CME that we give our attendees so that we make sure that we’re giving only the best and the most accurate and up-to-date information.”
It is an evolution Josh remains particularly proud of.
“We’re really proud of the educational content and the quality of the presentations that we give at the conference.”
Both NCAPA’s Winter and Summer Conferences are intentionally developed to cover a broad range of medical systems while also addressing the social and professional aspects of being a PA. Together, those elements have helped create the comprehensive educational experience NCAPA members have come to expect.
More Than a Conference
For Josh, though, the success of NCAPA’s conferences cannot be measured only by educational sessions or CME credits.
Much of what makes Summer Conference special happens because of the people who return year after year.
“One of the reasons why this conference is so successful is because we have an amazing set of guests and attendees.”
Over the decades, Summer Conference has become a tradition not only for PAs, but for many of their families. Josh recalls seeing attendees bring their children to the beach year after year, making NCAPA part of their own family traditions.
“For many of these people their children grew up coming to the beach every year and they’ve been part of the festivities that we’ve had and it’s a major part of their lives.”
Those relationships have also shaped Josh’s own experience with the Academy.
“I’ve met so many people that are now my friends that I look forward to seeing every year when I come back.”
It is that combination of education, tradition, and community that has helped Summer Conference endure and evolve throughout NCAPA’s history.
Celebrating the People Behind 50 Years
Josh’s more than two decades with NCAPA offer a glimpse into how the Academy has grown: members volunteer, take on new roles, develop new ideas, and eventually pass those responsibilities to the next generation of leaders.
Programs change and educational offerings evolve, but the commitment to bringing PAs together to learn, connect, and strengthen their profession remains.
As NCAPA celebrates its 50th anniversary, Josh sees the milestone as an opportunity to recognize everyone who has been part of that journey.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Academy of PAs and we’re happy to have this opportunity to celebrate it with all of our friends that have come with us along the way.”
Written by Thomas Wellenhofer
NC Academy of PAs Marketing & Communications Coordinator
