Inaugural Conference: ImPAct in Healthcare 2023
On October 7, 2023, the Irish Society of Physician Associates marked a historic moment as ISPA’s Past President, Alexandra Troy inaugurated the conference at RCSI. With over 80 attendees, including members, students, consultants, and esteemed HSE guests, were present to hear evidence of the impact PAs are making across the Irish health system. ISPA President Aoife Sartini-Bhreathnach said that Physician Associates are “agents of change” and are distinguishing themselves as leaders across multiple health systems. Their services demonstrate great value to the clinical and surgical teams by helping to improve access to care and decreasing wait lists across the country.
The keynote address by Professor Mary Day, National Director of Acute Care Operations for the HSE, echoed strong support for integrating PAs into the workforce, with plans to involve them in the strategic rollout of the new surgical hubs project nationwide. Vice-President for RCSI, Professor Deborah McNamara, further fuelled the excitement by discussing innovations in surgery and the evolving role of physician associates. Presentations throughout the day showcased the versatility of PAs, illustrating their impactful contributions in General Practice, Oncology, Bariatric Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Robotic Surgery.
The conference was held to coincide with “Physician Associate (PA) Week”, a tradition that started in America, but has now been adopted globally. The event concluded with the presentation of the first-ever “Service and Leadership” award to Dr. Pauline Joyce in recognition of her stellar work in research and advocacy of the PA profession in Ireland. The event served as a poignant celebration of the present and future trajectory of Physician Associates in Ireland.
A heartfelt thank you extends to our esteemed conference sponsors, Medtronic, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, whose unwavering support played a pivotal role in making the ISPA conference a resounding success. Your commitment to advancing healthcare and fostering collaboration within the physician associate community is truly commendable.
A special appreciation is also extended to RCSI Surgical Affairs, RCSI PA Studies Programme, and RCSI Communication Department. Your ongoing dedication to the success of the ISPA conference is instrumental in promoting excellence and innovation in healthcare education and practice. A special note of gratitude goes to the ten diligent members; Aaron Donnelly, Aisling Brett, Aoife Sartini-Breathnach, Helen Farrell, Alex Troy, Orla Brett, Aaron Brady RCSI PA graduates and Pauline Joyce, Lisa Alexander and Sean Robinson RCSI faculty members of the conference workgroup who volunteered their time and expertise to bring this event to fruition. Your tireless efforts and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on the success of the conference. Thank you for your invaluable contributions.
Together, with the support of our sponsors and collaborators, and the dedication of our conference workgroup, we have created a platform that not only celebrates the achievements of Physician Associates but also propels our community towards a future of continued growth and excellence.
