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  • About The Society

    Who Are We

    Dedicated to the history and legacy of the physician assistant profession

    Collection Description

    Chronicles the development of various professional organizations

    Founding Members

    Individuals who joined us during our first year

    Mission, Vision & Values

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    PA Veterans Garden

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    PAHx History & Projects

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  • Information & Links

    Initial State Recognition of Physician Assistants

    Find out when your state started recognizing the PA profession

    Our Associates

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    Past Presidents of the National Organizations

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    National Conference

    View the locations & dates for the National Conference

    PA Glossary

    Abbreviations, acronyms & titles associated with the physician assistant profession

    Preserving History

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  • Illustrated History

    Archival Research

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    Biographies

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    Collection & Exhibits

    Our collection features artwork, artifacts and exhibitions

    Oral Histories

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    Research Library & References

    Library collections, books and serials

    Videos

    Our moving image collection includes film and video

    Photos

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    Historical Perspectives

    Essays, personal narratives and long articles on aspects of PA history

    PA Timeline

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    International PA Timeline

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    Historical Highlights

    Orgs that are saving and preserving their history

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    PA programs that have celebrated their 50th anniversaries

  • Support The Society

    How To Support Us

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    First Class Photos

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  • Contact

Jennifer “Jenna” Dorn, MPA

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Jennifer (Jenna) L. Dorn has served as the American Academy of PA’s CEO since 2011, ensuring the professional growth, personal excellence and recognition of the nation’s 123,000+ PAs. Dorn has led multibillion-dollar federal agencies, start-ups and well-established nonprofit organizations, bringing 30 years of management experience in healthcare to AAPA’s leadership team.

Under her leadership, AAPA and its 100+ state-based and specialty organizations have achieved unprecedented progress in legislative barriers to PA practice. Every state has passed PA-positive laws or regulations, and new laws and regulations at the federal level are benefiting PAs, as well. PAs have expanded authority to prescribe medication, diagnose, admit and treat patients; physician proximity requirements have been eased or eliminated; and PAs have been recognized as primary care providers, alongside physicians and NPs.

Dorn has had similarly important impact on AAPA as an organization. During her tenure, AAPA has moved from a $2.5 million annual operating deficit to a balanced budget, while increasing reserves and making important investments in technology. Simultaneously, AAPA membership has increased 32%. In addition, individual and corporate giving to the PA Foundation has increased by more than 37%, driven by a new vision focused on PA leadership in addressing critical health issues, including the opioid epidemic and college student mental health issues.

Dorn has held four Senate-confirmed leadership positions in the federal government, including assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Labor and associate deputy secretary at the Department of Transportation. In addition, she has served as senior vice president of the American National Red Cross and as the U.S. representative on the Board of the World Bank. Dorn currently serves in a volunteer capacity as a member of the Governing Board for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and as a member of the Veterans Administration’s Veterans’ Family, Caregiver and Survivor Advisory Committee.

Dorn is a graduate of Oregon State University and has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Connecticut.

Acknowledgments: This biographical sketch was prepared by the AAPA . The PA History Society was given permission to reprint it on their own website in 2018. The photograph is courtesy of the AAPA.

When using information from this biography, please provide the proper citation as described within the PA History Society Terms of Use listing the AAPA as the author of the work.

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About Us

  • Who Are We
  • Collection Description
  • Founding Members
  • Our Mission, Vision & Values
  • PAHx History & Projects
  • Newsletter

Information

  • Initial State Recognition Of PAs
  • Past Presidents
  • National Conference
  • PA Glossary
  • Preserving History
  • Helpful Links

Support Us

  • How To Support Us
  • Friends Of The Society
  • Our Associates
  • PA History Books

Contact Us

(678) 417-8682

Contactus@pahx.org

12000 Findley Road Suite 100
Johns Creek, GA 30097-1409

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