National Physician's Assistant Week
Formed by the American Academy of Physician Assistants in 1987, this annual week takes place from October 6-12 and celebrates physician assistants nationally.
Summary: Also known as PA Week, National Physician’s Assistant Week celebrates the accomplishments and hard work of physician assistants across the country. The week takes place annually from October 6-12. October 6 was selected as the starting date for two reasons. First, Dr. Eugene Stead, who founded the profession of physician assistant at Duke Medical Center in 1965, was born on October 6th. The first class of physician assistants also graduated on October 6 in 1967.
Originally established as “National PA Day” on the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) changed it to PA Week in 2004.
What to do: There is no traditional greeting for this holiday. The AAPA created a toolkit for ways to recognize the physician assistants in your work or organization.