Dear Colleagues,
As we enter this new year, I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together and energized by the momentum we continue to build for the PA profession here in Connecticut. Your engagement, passion, and commitment have allowed ConnAPA to strengthen our voice and elevate our impact at the state and national levels. This year marked significant advancement for PAs in Connecticut, especially with Connecticut’s formal inclusion in the PA Licensure Compact. This milestone represents years of advocacy and positions our state among those leading a modernized, mobile healthcare workforce. Becoming the 18th state as part of the Compact will improve patient access, expand professional mobility, and enhance our ability to attract and retain highly qualified PAs across diverse practice settings.
ConnAPA has also worked in strong partnership with state leaders and AAPA to ensure that legislative decisions reflect the evolving needs of our profession. Over recent months, we have collaborated closely with other healthcare professional associations such as the Connecticut Nurses Association, Connecticut APRN Society, Connecticut Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, and others, to highlight the potential consequences of proposed changes to the definition of professional degree programs. This included raising awareness regarding federal graduate loan caps and the growing financial burden facing future PA students. These financial constraints risk discouraging talented individuals from entering not only PA programs, but also other healthcare programs such as nursing, PT, OT, and Social Work that are critical to patient care. Together, we have presented unified recommendations that underscore the importance of ensuring the stability of the future health care workforce and access to critical healthcare for Connecticut citizens.
Our work is far from finished. In the year ahead, ConnAPA will continue to champion legislative and regulatory reforms that strengthen PA practice, expand our opportunities, and ensure our profession remains a cornerstone of patient‑centered care in Connecticut. We will also deepen our partnerships with clinicians, educators, health systems, and policymakers to confront challenges that impact our profession both now and in the future.
Thank you for your unwavering dedication – to your patients, to your colleagues, and to the PA profession. Please reach out and let us know how ConnAPA can help support you, share your stories with us, or see how you can get involved! It is an honor to serve as your President, and I look forward to everything we will continue to accomplish together.
With gratitude,
Sheyla Marranca, PA-C
President, ConnAPA