Ann Davis, MS, PA-C, retired in February 2019 after a distinguished career of more than 20 years at the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). During her career, Ms. Davis was well-known for her legislative and advocacy initiatives to support the PA profession throughout the United States. As the AAPA Vice President of Constituent Organization Outreach and Advocacy, Ms. Davis educated state and national health-related groups on the utilization and regulation of PAs, provided guidance on best practice models for the PA profession, monitored trends in health law and policy development, and drafted legislation to improve state laws.
Ms. Davis received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the Child Health Associate Program at the University of Colorado. She has been a certified PA since 1978.
Davis’ own experience with children made her a pioneer in providing care to the underserved in her early years as a PA. As the first PA in Flagstaff, Arizona, Davis practiced with Flagstaff Pediatrics. This position included coordinating the county’s Well Child Program and providing care for the students at the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Student Dormitory. Prior to joining the AAPA in 1994, Ms. Davis also practiced as a PA in Grass Valley, California, at the Sacramento Children’s Medical Clinic and worked as a PA Instructor at the Child Health Associate Program, Department of Pediatrics University of Colorado Health Science.
After joining the AAPA, one of Ms. Davis’ primary responsibilities was to ensure that the State and Federal Constituent Chapters, Specialty Organizations, Special Interest Groups and Caucuses worked closely with AAPA to advance the profession. Constituent Organizations were provided with organizational structure, meeting space at the annual AAPA conferences, and cross-organizational communication throughout the year. Ms. Davis was instrumental in advancing these PA groups and caucuses by providing them firm foundations and awareness throughout the PA community.
During her tenure at AAPA, two of Ms. Davis’ toughest and most rewarding accomplishments were the 1992 passage of PA enabling legislation in New Jersey and the passing of prescriptive authority in 1998. She also worked diligently on the Mississippi passage of PA enabling legislation in 2000. The combined effort by the AAPA House of Delegates, the AAPA Board of Directors, and other PA stake holders, in addition to a sizable fundraising effort throughout the years, made this effort an extremely gratifying success for Ms. Davis. She worked vigorously with Michael Powe (AAPA Staff), Murl Dotson, PA (VA Medical Center, MS), Bill Kohlhepp, PA-C, (Quinnipiac University), US Military PAs, and many others in New Jersey and Mississippi to accomplish both of those goals.
Ms. Davis spent most of her career as an advocate for PAs encouraging them to expand the PA Scope of Practice possibilities. She stressed the importance of PAs having the ability to sign medical forms and to receive the necessary skill sets to expand their role into all the specialty areas of medicine.
Ms. Davis’ professional affiliations include: American Academy of Physician Assistants – Fellow member, California Academy of Physician Assistants – Fellow member, Administrators in Medicine – Associate member. Ms. Davis has received a significant number of honors throughout her career, honoring her many accomplishments. Some of her honors include: Honorary Membership, Montana Academy of Physician Assistants; Excellence in Teaching Award, Child Health Associate Program; Outstanding Service Award, AAPA House of Delegates; President’s Annual Leadership Award, California Academy of Physician Assistants; and Honorary Membership, Mississippi Academy of Physician Assistants.
Davis has led a very active professional life as a PA and PA Administrator. Some of her professional activities include: Member, Physician Assistant Task Force on the Impact of Managed Care; Pew Health Professions Commission; Fellow, Public Health Service; Primary Care Policy Fellowship 1991; Chairman, California Academy of Physician Assistants; Government Affairs Committee 1990-1991; Section Editor, Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants; Government Affairs section 1987-1991; Chairman, American Academy of Physician Assistants; Committee on State Legislation 1987-1989; Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee 1986-1987; Participant, American Academy of Physician Assistants Medical Tour of the People’s Republic of China 1984; and President, Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants 1984.
Acknowledgments: This biography was prepared by John Davis, PA-C, DFAAPA, with the assistance of Ann Davis, and was submitted to the Society in March 2019. Parts of Ms. Davis’ biography were reprinted from her biographical sketch located on the AAPA website. The photographs are courtesy of the AAPA.
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