October 7 2003–Major John Padgett, PA-C, Ph.D., a US Army Officer In Charge of an Army Civil Affairs Public Health Team in Baghdad, Iraq, plans Monday October 6th, “PA Day” on placing a banner in front of his team house. The banner sent to Major Padgett by the Veterans Caucus of the AAPA was signed by dozens of PA veterans to show their support. Major Padgett added he will then celebrate by “climbing on my Humvee and take to the streets of Baghdad with my team, one more time, to continue our mission of improving the public health conditions in Baghdad”.

Karen Fields, M.A.P.A.S., PA-C (www.kefields-pa.com)represents the heart of many PAs when she says, ?I became a PA to take an active role in patient care by accurately diagnosing, prescribing treatment, and monitoring follow up care, said Fields. ?I love the problem solving aspect of diagnosing a patient and working with my medical team to find solutions to the problems that patients bring. I naturally see other?s needs and jump into a situation to help get a job done. ?The body is amazing to me and I am constantly in awe of how marvelously it is made and works! I enjoy learning science and medicine and want to continue to grow in knowledge of medicine throughout my life. I want to know patients as individuals, genuinely caring about them as people while providing

them with outstanding medical care.?

During the mid-1960s, Physician Assistants became a new cadre of advanced medical providers rigorously trained in all specialties of medical care. The profession developed in the United States as an effort to relieve a nationwide shortage of doctors in primary care and to increase access to health care for people in under served areas. The first trainees were highly skilled military paramedics from the Viet Nam war.

Today, there are more than 44 000 Physician Pssistants in America. Internationally, the physician assistant model has been in place since 1992 in the Canadian forces, and a somewhat comparable profession exists in India. Physician Assistants serve globally in such countries as England, Japan among others.

Physician Assistants are by character compassionate advanced medical providers achieving high quality patient care, through problem solving, working interdependently and assuming responsibility for their patients, serving in all medical and surgical specialties, with extended hospital credentials and privileges.

PAs are cost effective medical providers for insurance companies, businesses, and patients, contributing to a solid financial foundation of the whole health care system operating as established medical colleagues and associates through collaborative care agreements with doctors, hospitals, practices, and clinics.

Physician Assistants believe when each medical team member is honored and celebrated the whole medical team benefits with patients receiving the best available medical care making the whole health cares system fundamentally sound.