President’s Message:  Summer  2008

By  Dan Buchin

My first 12 years as a PA were spent in the US Navy so I never joined a state Academy and in fact was never even asked to join by any state academy.

When I moved to Idaho in 1992, I finally decided to join.  In 1993 I became a member of IAPA.  In 1994 Trish Berglund asked me to go to the Western Region Meeting.  Since then I have been involved with IAPA in a variety of areas.

I tell you this because it is very easy to find reasons not to join the Idaho Academy working for the VA. I am not even requires I have a state license if I choose not to.

Living and working in Idaho is important to me.  I pay all of my own dues and licensing fees, for me joining IAPA and AAPA is not an option and part of being a PA. 

Being a professional means belonging to a professional association, in my opinion.

Less than ½ of the active PA’s in the state belong to IAPA and yet IAPA is dealing with issues that can potentially affect the rules and regulation of every PA working in the state.

We need your support especially when we work with the Board of Medicine and the Legislators.  So please consider joining IAPA.  For those who are members, please consider running for a position on the board or help with a committee.

If you have a question for any board member join the new list serve for members of IAPA by using iapa@discussthis.com.  You can ask questions, share your opinion or just announce what is happening in your area through this list serve.

You can also email me at danbuchin@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Dan Buchin, PA-C

President Elect

Idaho Academy of Physicians