Todd Pickard, MMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, first learned about the PA profession growing up in Victoria, TX. His family physician’s office had a PA. He really liked his visits with her and felt comfortable under her care. Pickard always had a passion for helping people and thought about a career in medicine. After working as an EMT, he entered nursing school. He then reconnected with the PA profession through his clinical rotations as a nursing student and decided to pursue PA education.
After graduating from the University of Texas with an undergraduate degree in biology, Pickard was accepted to the PA program at Emory University School of Medicine and completed that program in 1997. Since that time, he has spent his entire PA career in various roles at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas where he now serves as Executive Director, Advance Practice in the Office of the Chief Medical Executive.
His clinical roles at MD Anderson have included experience in urology, head and neck medical oncology, lymphoma, and cancer prevention. He has served in a variety of leadership roles within the organization including in the Office of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Director of PA Services in the Office of Medical Affairs, and Advance Practice Provider Supervisor – in addition to membership and leadership in numerous institutional committees.
Aside from his work with MD Anderson, Pickard has maintained membership in the AAPA since 1995, has served on multiple committees and working groups, including as a member of the Board of Directors since 2016. He currently serves as Speaker of the House of Delegates and Vice President of the AAPA. He is also a current and active member of the Association of PAs in Oncology and the Texas Academy of PAs. He has served as president of both of those PA organizations. In addition, Pickard has been involved with the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Texas Medical Board.
Pickard is extensively published in both PA and physician journals on a variety of oncology and advance practice professional topics. He remains active in editorial and review activities for these publications. He has provided dozens of presentations to PAs and other audiences on these topics, both in live activities and as poster/abstracts.
Pickard has been awarded the Texas Academy’s PA-PAC Outstanding Advocate Award (2012), Presidential Service Award (2015), and the PA Advocate of the Year Award (2016). He has been recognized by the Association of PAs in Oncology for their Outstanding Professional Service Award (2012) and Lifetime Achievement Award (2020).
Pickard lives in Houston, Texas with his partner Scott and their two Huskies, Mac and Brody.
Acknowledgments: This biography was prepared by Greg Thomas with the assistance of Todd Pickard. It was submitted to the Society in April 2024. Photographs are courtesy of Mr. Pickard.
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