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In like a lion, out like a lion.

For the PA profession, 2007 began with uproars over PA public awareness and specialty recognition and ended with a furor over the first PA clinical doctorate degree.

In between, the profession celebrated a milestone victory in Indiana, breathed with relief over a last-minute legislative triumph in Missouri, commemorated the 40th anniversary of the profession and bid farewell to longtime AAPA executive vice president Steve Crane.

During a year of change, ADVANCE for Physicians Assistants was one of the few constants for the PA profession.

ADVANCE has there every step of the way, bringing timely, PA-specific news in print and on the Web.

To end 2007, here's ADVANCE 's list of the top 10 PA-related stories of the year-in no particular order-plus one cheerful bonus item to help send PAs into the new year feeling all warm and fuzzy.

PA Specialty Debates
The NCCPA announced the development of PA specialty recognition at the May 2006 national PA conference in San Francisco. More than 1 1/2 years later, the profession's various factions are still debating the issue.

But the NCCPA did decide to introduce a practice-focused PANRE in 2009. PAs up for recertification will have the option of taking practice-focused PANRE exams, with questions slightly weighted towards a specific area of practice. For 2009, the NCCPA will offer three versions of the PANRE: primary care, adult medicine and surgery.

NCCPA to Offer Practice-Focused Recertification Exams

PA Specialty Recognition

The DScPA
The U.S. Army and Baylor University have created the first PA-specific clinical doctorate degree. The first students have already graduated. The program sparked a huge debate at the Physician Assistant Education Association conference in October.

Taking PA Education to the Next Level

PA Practice Ownership
ADVANCE 's article about PAs owning their own medical practices was one of our most popular features ever.

PA Owned and Operated

PA Prescribing in Indiana
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels signed PA prescribing legislation on April 26. PAs are now authorized to prescribe in all 50 states.

Nifty 50

Indiana PA Influenced Law From Iraq

Crane Resignation
ADVANCE broke the story of AAPA executive vice president and CEO Steve Crane's surprising resignation on May 16, and the AAPA officially announced it six days later.

Crane left the AAPA after almost 14 years to become the executive director of the American Thoracic Society. During his tenure at the AAPA, Crane became enormously influential in the PA profession.

End of an Era

Former AAPA EVP Steve Crane's 'Exit Interview' with ADVANCE

Missouri: A Bullet Dodged
Missouri PAs won a key legislative victory in April. Under a new law, PAs in Missouri can be supervised remotely by off-site physicians. The legislative success essentially preserved access to health care for thousands of Missourians in rural, underserved areas and prevented a possible exodus of PAs from the state.

Crucial PA Supervision Bill Passes in Missouri

PAs and Health Care Reform
PAs were part of health care reform plans in California and Pennsylvania.

Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Major PA Law

PAs a Part of Pa. Health Care Reform

PA Public Awareness or Unawareness
After 40 years, people still don't know much about PAs.

What Does a PA Do?

PAs as Distinguished Fellows
The AAPA created a program to recognize "members who have distinguished themselves among their colleagues, as well as in their communities, by their service to the PA profession, their commitment to advancing health care for all people, and their exemplary personal and professional development."

Distinguished Fellow Program Launched

Happy Birthday: The PA Profession Turns 40
Oct. 6, 2007, marked the 40th anniversary of the first PAs from Duke University. ADVANCE spoke with the very first PAs.

Four Decades of PAs

Bonus!
No. 11: The Masche Miracles
Arizona PA Jenny Masche gave birth to sextuplets on June 11.

Masche Miracles