The 2019 NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat

by Caroline Griswold, NCAPA Program Coordinator

The 2019 NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat was held at the Stead Center on Saturday, November 16. 58 students and 11 guests attended, representing all 11 NC PA programs. The day, which was emceed by Student Affairs Committee Chair Molly Calabria, PA-C, began with a medical bingo icebreaker from NCAPA President Joshua Smith, PA-C. The winner of medical bingo took home the coveted golden cup.

There were four speakers at the retreat. First, Kitty Kovacs, PA-C from the North Carolina Medical Board spoke to students about licensure and the NC Opioid Epidemic. As new electronic prescribing standards take effect in January 2020, these topics were particularly timely. Kitty also fielded a number of questions from the audience. Second, Joshua Smith, PA-C presented information on Optimal Team Practice in North Carolina. Finally, Emily Adams and Morgan Dailey, PA-S, spoke about legislative advocacy for the PA profession.

As a seasoned advocate, Emily was able to provide first-hand knowledge about the dos and don’ts of meeting with lawmakers. Morgan provided additional information from the perspective of a PA student. Morgan is a Public Health and PA Studies dual major from Campbell University who has been completing her non-clinical MPH rotation with NCAPA. She is passionate about student advocacy for the PA profession and shared details of her personal experiences in advocacy and encouraged other students to become involved. She certainly helped many students catch the “advocacy bug” that day.

The retreat also included two panels. The first panel titled “Program to Practice: What I Wish I Knew as a New PA” focused on the transition from PA student to working PA. Panelists included Mia McDonald, PA-C, Alexa Carda, PA-C, Kenneth Graham, PA-C, and Ryan O’Hara, PA-C. These early career PAs reflected on their time as PA students and gave advice about navigating the end of PA school. The second panel titled “Hiring PAs: What Employers are Looking For” addressed topics more related to PA practice and leadership. The panelists included Michelle McMoon, PA-C, from Duke, Emily Epling, PA-C, from Novant Health, and Chris Norman, PA-C, from Vidant. The PA leaders discussed what to expect during interviews, self-advocacy in a professional setting, and advice for pursuing leadership roles.

Thank you to all who attended and we can’t wait for the 2020 NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat next fall!