Increasing racial diversity, equity and inclusion in the PA profession.

ABOUT REPRESENT!

What is REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit® ?

Theme: “When They See Us” 

REPRESENT!  NCCPA Summit focuses on increasing racial diversity, equity and inclusion within the PA profession. The inaugural event took place in September 2022 and will continue every two years, with the next summit planned for September 16th-17th, 2024 in Atlanta, GA.

The Summit is intended for clinically practicing PAs, PA faculty, PA students, leaders of PA organization, physicians, and employers. Invited guests are selected by the REPRESENT! Summit Steering Committee, a group of PAs representing the major PA organizations: AAPA, ARC-PA, NCCPA, PAEA, African Heritage PA Caucus, LGBTQ+ PA Caucus, nccPA Health Foundation, PAs for Latino Health, and other academic DEI leaders.

Through interactive discussions, guided activities, panels, and poster exhibitions, REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit helps attendees learn and implement strategies to:

  1. Develop and sustain DEI efforts within PA organizations, workplaces that employ PAs and/or PA programs.
  2. Promote inclusivity within PA educational and professional communities.
  3. Diversify the PA workforce and address health equity gaps.

Check out our photo gallery from the 2024 REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit

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Attendees can view the full gallery and download images from REPRESENT! using the link below.

REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit Photo Gallery

2024 REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit Keynote Speaker: David A. Acosta, MD

David A. Acosta, MD
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

As chief diversity and inclusion officer, David A. Acosta, MD, provides strategic vision and leadership for the AAMC’s diversity and inclusion activities across the medical education community, and leads the association’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion unit.  Dr. Acosta, a family medicine physician, joined the AAMC from the University of California (UC), Davis School of Medicine (SOM) where he served as senior associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion and associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for UC Davis Health System.

He previously served as the inaugural chief diversity officer at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, where he established the Center for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and was the founder of the UW SOM Center for Cultural Proficiency in Medical Education. He was a clinical professor in the Departments of Family Medicine at both UC Davis SOM and UW SOM, and served as clinical faculty for the UW MEDEX Northwest PA program.

Meet one of the Speakers: Theresa M. Robinson, BA, MA, ABD

Theresa Robinson  is an ATD certified Master Trainer, professional speaker, advisor, coach, and author. One of seven anti-racism educators of 2020 featured in Forbes, Theresa is a “disruptive inclusionist” in the anti-racism and DEI space, focusing on the uncomfortable conversations and the self-work necessary for growth and change.

She is also the founder and president of Master Trainer TMR & Associates, a DEI, Anti-Racism, and Well-Being training firm. Averaging 50+ speaking engagements annually since 2005, Theresa has partnered with over 125 clients in 23 countries. Her client list includes corporate executives from a wide range of Fortune 500 companies including Microsoft, Nationwide, Deloitte, Mars, Allstate, Disney, KPMG, General Electric, Cisco, John Deere, Marriott, Nordstrom, Procter & Gamble, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil, Walmart, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

With a style that is direct and relational, Theresa delivers transformational learning experiences to equip leaders with the awareness, competency, confidence, and desire to sustainably model everyday habits of Anti-Racism, Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being. She also equips organizations with the foundation to effectively assess and implement more inclusive and equitable policies, practices, and processes. She calls this…doing the “HEART” Work.

Theresa has an MA; ABD in African-American Literature and Shakespeare from Cornell University and a BA in English from Howard University. She is also the author of four books.

Check out our photo gallery from the 2022 REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit

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Attendees can also view and download images from REPRESENT!

REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit Photo Gallery

REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit FAQs

Why was the REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit created?

The REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit was created to facilitate a conversation among clinically practicing PAs, PA faculty, leaders of PA organizations, PA students, physicians, employers, and other relevant stakeholders regarding DEI in the PA profession. The intent of the Summit is to foster change by equipping all attendees with actionable steps, resources, and best practices to address PA DEI challenges within their workplaces, PA programs and/ or organizations.

NCCPA is the certifying body. Why are they hosting the Summit?

While NCCPA’s primary focus is providing certification programs that reflect standards for clinical knowledge, clinical reasoning, other medical skills, and professional behaviors required throughout the careers of PAs. We believe that all members of the PA community share a responsibility for ensuring that the profession is diverse, equitable and inclusive for all who choose to be a PA.

Our quarterly statistical reports indicate that diversity within the profession has remained relatively consistent, despite an increasingly diverse patient population. Studies have indicated that patients generally fare better when care is provided by diverse teams, raising the need for a more diverse PA workforce.

In 2020 NCCPA also conducted weekly roundtable discussions with PAs from across the country, who highlighted the need for a larger conversation and call to action regarding DEI in the profession. We hosted the first REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit in 2022 and have held quarterly virtual discussions since then. NCCPA is proud to facilitate the discussion, and looks forward to working with other PA organizations, groups, PAs, and other relevant partners to address the issue.

Who will attend the Summit?

The Summit will be attended by invited clinically practicing PAs, PA educators, PA students, leaders of PA organizations, physicians, employers and other relevant partners.

I was not invited to attend - how were the attendees selected?

Invited guests were selected by the Summit Steering Committee, a group of PAs representing the major PA organizations: AAPA, ARC-PA, NCCPA, PAEA, African Heritage PA Caucus, LGBTQ+ PA Caucus, nccPA Health Foundation, PAs for Latino Health, and other academic DEI leaders.

Registration for other interested PAs is open now: Click here to register.

Can PA students attend the Summit?

Yes, a limited number of spaces are available for PA students to attend. The deadline for interested students to submit applications to attend will be June 1st, 2024. PA students can apply here.

Is there a cost to attend?

There is no registration fee to attend the Summit and attendees will receive complimentary meals on both days of the event. Admission to the National Center for Civil and Humans Rights is complimentary. Attendees will be responsible for their hotel, flight and ground transportation costs.

How do I reserve my spot at the REPRESENT! NCCPA Summit?

If you are interested in attending, please fill out this registration link. In the event the Summit has reached capacity, we will place you on a waitlist and email you if a spot opens.

Are there opportunities to present DEI research?

There will be a poster exhibition for attendees that have conducted relevant research (see poster submission guidelines). Posters can be submitted April 1st-July 1st and will be reviewed and approved by the Summit Steering Committee members.

Are there exhibit or sponsorship opportunities?

There are currently no exhibit opportunities or sponsorship opportunities available.