28 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
From left, FSU PA Program Director Ben Smith and faculty leaders Kim Berggren, Elise Elegeert, Allison Justice and Megan Verdoni at the July 2025 FAPA Annual Conference in Tampa. They were joined there by a host of FSU PA student members of the organization.
Led by example, PA students are building advocacy, leadership skills
By Bob Thomas FSU College of Medicine
For incoming School of Physician Assistant Practice students, developing leadership and advocacy skills doesn’ t induce anxiety quite like the didactic and clinical requirements of the 27-month, around-the-calendar program.
And it shouldn’ t, even though those skills are invaluable. So much so that PA Program Director and Associate Dean Ben Smith, DMSc, PA-C, and the program require incoming students to join the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants( FAPA) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants( AAPA).
Not surprisingly, there is significant faculty and staff involvement in one or more of the PA-specific organizations; many of whom are in leadership roles, often within both the program and the organizations.
Through their daily student interactions, they are modeling the significance of those organizations.
“ When I began my career as a PA, my collaborating physician encouraged me to be a member of professional societies and participate in volunteer and leadership experiences,” said Smith, who is proud to see so many faculty and staff embracing those opportunities.
“ It’ s a personal and professional development opportunity. Yes, there’ s service to the community, service to the profession and service to patients, but faculty, staff and students develop professionally and personally, as well. That’ s an added value that comes from volunteering and choosing to take part. We see the fruits of that participation on multiple levels.”