The Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants has succeeded as an organization due to the people that have volunteered their time, efforts, and money to make it happen. You can scroll down to see the highlights from each year of our existence as well as some of the legislative challenges we have faced and overcome. We are forever grateful to the men and women who made this organization what it is today.

2005

• Ann Browning – President
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Downers Grove
• New membership category introduced: prospective student
• Legislation – Supervision ratio bill and Emergency Supervision bill to be introduced.

2004  Back to Top

• Randall Wilcoxen – President
• Membership:
  • 326 Fellow
  • 201 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook
• Legislation – Amends Physical Therapy Act allowing PAs to order physical therapy referrals

2003  Back to Top

• John Morgan – President
• Membership:
  • 319 Fellow
  • 202 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook
• Legislation – Language clarification that PAs see any patient in the practice regardless if patient is patient of alternate or supervising physician; Amends vehicle code to accept PAs signatures on medical exams for a disability card; Amends Radiation Protection Act giving PAs authority to do x-rays on a limited basis with rules to be written

2002  Back to Top

• David Senf – President
• Membership:
  • 337 Fellow
  • 170 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook
• Legislation – Signature authority on medical exams for school children and bus driver

2001  Back to Top

• Marsha Meiners – President
• Membership:
  • 328 Fellow
  • 170 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook
• Legislation – SB 929 for signature authority is presented and opposed by ISMS

2000  Back to Top

• Sharon Blattner – President
• Membership:
  • 286 Fellow
  • 186 Student
• CME Spring – Bloomington; Fall- Oakbrook, SIPAC has own meeting in Southern Illinois
• Legislation – Signature authority is presented and lost; new lobbyist is hired (Jim Martin)

1999  Back to Top

• Elaine Rynders – President
• Membership:
  • 286 Fellow
  • 186 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook; SIPAC has own meeting in Southern Illinois
• Legislation – Prescriptive Authority Rules were approved; Amended Good Samaritan Act making PAs exempt from Civil Liability care; (Prescriptive Authority Rules took 3 years of work)

1998  Back to Top

• Barbara Miller – President
• Membership:
  • 231 Fellow
  • 141 Student
• CME Spring – Bloomington Fall- Oakbrook; SIPAC has own meeting in Southern Illinois
• Legislation –  Rules were negotiated for Prescriptive Authority; Created the IAPA-PAC Committee to raise funds and make contributions to campaigns

1997  Back to Top

• John Lopes – President
• Membership:
  • 206 Fellow
  • 161 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook; SIPAC has own meeting in Southern Illinois
• Legislation – Increased ratio of supervising physicians to PA 1:2; Required third-party reimbursement from payers for PAs; PAs authorization to order laboratory tests directly; Prescriptive Authority, all legend drugs, Prescriptive Authority (Schedules III-V)

1996  Back to Top

• Scott Chavez – President
• Membership:
  • 170 Fellow
  • 180 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall- Oakbrook; SIPAC has own meeting in Southern Illinois
• Legislation – Hired new lobbyist (Margaret Vaughn).  Began talks with ISMS about increasing ratios

1995  Back to Top

• Mary Lou O’Keefe – President
• Membership:
  • 110 Fellow
  • 130 Student
• CME Spring – Peoria ; Fall- Hosted North Central Meeting and Fall CME in Chicago
• Legislation – Discussions on PA reimbursement, increasing ratio and prescriptive rights

1994  Back to Top

• Barbara Clark – President
• Membership:
  • 91 Fellow
  • 88 Student
• CME Spring – Mt. Vernon; Fall- Oakbrook
• Legislation – Rules and Regulations went out for public comment

1993  Back to Top

• Steven Kuhn – President
• Membership:
  • 103 Fellow
  • 103 Student
• CME Spring – Mt. Vernon; Fall- Oakbrook
• Legislation – Supporting HB 2048, 1693, 0214 and getting involved in the Illinois Rural Health Association meeting.

1992  Back to Top

• Mary Lou O’Keefe – President
• Membership:
  • 93 Fellow
• CME 3 Conferences held
• Legislation – PA Advisory Board closer to appointment

1991  Back to Top

• Mary Lou O’Keefe – President
• Membership:
  • 79 Fellow
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Oak Brook
• Legislation – HB 2581 creates IDPH program for grants, scholarships, and loans to PA students; HB 2578 requires HMSA by the IDPH after each decennial census (IAPA supported these bills)

1990  Back to Top

• Lily Gage – President
• Membership:
  • 116 Fellow
• CME 2 Conferences held
• Membership Committee adds “student” category
• Legislation – Discussions on prescriptive authority

1989  Back to Top

• Kris Healy – President
• Membership:
  • 92 Fellow
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – No appointments to the PA Advisory Board

1988  Back to Top

• Kris Healy – President
• Membership:
  • 87 Fellow
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Chicago
• Legislation –PA Advisory Board formed

1987  Back to Top

• George Steffan – President
• Membership:
  • 79 Fellow
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – PA Practice Act signed by Governor

1986  Back to Top

• Laurie Lipsig – President
• Membership:
  • 65 Fellow
• CME Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – Sunset bill of PA Practice Act. SB 1152 not reintroduced

1985  Back to Top

• Joan Schulhoff – President
• Membership:
  • 52 Fellow
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – Sunset of the PA Practice Act in 1986

1984  Back to Top

• Joan Schulhoff – President
• Membership:
  • 52 Fellow
• CME Spring – Peoria; Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – Sunset of the PA Practice Act in 1986

1983  Back to Top

• Michael Brown – President
• Membership:
  • 40 Fellow
• CME Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – Sunset of the PA Practice Act due 1986

1982  Back to Top

• Michael Brown – President
• Membership:
  • 56 Fellow
• CME Spring – Springfield; Fall – Chicago; Champaign
• Legislation – Fought to allow non-board certified PAs to be licensed

1981  Back to Top

• Joyce Martin – President
• Membership:
  • 42 Fellow
• CME Spring – Champaign; Fall – Chicago
• Legislation – Opposition to NP Legislation that supports independent practice.  Committee wants to form a Political Action Committee

1980  Back to Top

• Jerry Burger – President
• Membership:
  • 46 Fellow
• CME planned for March and November
• Legislation – Attends ISMS Reference Committee.  Testimony was given before the Illinois Board of Medical Examiners.  A resolution was passed by ISMS (79N-1) that recognizes PAs as a highly trained health professional that may be employed by hospitals

1979  Back to Top

• Ed McCammack – President
• Membership:
  • 46 Fellow
• CME Fall – Champaign
• Legislation – Opposition was given by members for HB 2225 and SB 1225 that would drop PAs hired by teaching hospitals

1978  Back to Top

• Robin Morgenstern – President
• Membership:
  • 45 Fellow
• CME planned for Spring and Fall
• Legislation – Suggested that PAs be added to the Good Samaritan Law
• Associate and Affiliate membership categories added.

1977  Back to Top

• Edward Farrell – Serves as first President
• Membership:
  • 45 Fellow
• CME Fall – Champaign
• Legislation – Passed HB 616, regarding the use of NCCPA PAs in mental institutions and SB 350, amending the current Practice Act to clean up language
• IAPA hired lobbyist (Dick Lockhart)
• Articles of Incorporation were completed:  The IAPA starts as an organization!