Established in 1968, the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) is recognized as the national voice for PAs in medical and surgical specialties. Originally the organization was incorporated as the American Association of Physician’s Assistants, and then changed its name to the American Academy of Physician’s Associates in June 1971 and again in February 1972 to the American Academy of Physician’s Assistants. The apostrophe was eventually dropped leaving the organization in 1981 making it the American Academy of Physician Assistants. In 2021, the AAPA House of Delegate voted to officially change the profession’s title to “Physician Associates”, making the AAPA the American Academy of Physician Associates. The AAPA has a federated structure of 56 constituent chapters representing the interest of PAs in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Uniformed Services. The AAPA House of Delegates (HOD) meets annually to develop policy and procedures and adopt resolutions for the organization.