The act allows PAs to practice based on their own education and experience, addressing health care workforce shortages and improving care access.
On May 16, 2024, Victoria Trott, PA-C, director of advocacy and leadership development with the PA Leadership & Learning Academy at the University of Maryland Graduate School, was on hand to witness the signing of the PA Modernization Act of 2024 into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The act introduces significant changes such as the transition from delegation agreements to collaboration agreements, removes certain administrative barriers, and allows PAs to practice under their own education, training, and experience. This is a step forward in addressing the health care workforce shortage, providing our Maryland communities with better access to quality care.
University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) employees were instrumental in supporting the legislation through letter writing campaigns, lobbying, and providing oral testimony. We would like to recognize the efforts of UMB leadership, faculty, and staff who participated including Kenneth Wong, PhD, vice provost for graduate education, UMB, and dean, Graduate School; Cheri Hendrix, DHEd, MSBME, PA-C, DFAAPA, assistant dean, physician assistant education, and program director, Physician Assistant Program; and Mary Jo Bondy, DHEd, MHS, PA-C, program director, Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc). We also would like to recognize the valuable contributions of our DMSc students Nicole Wooten and Laurarose Dunn O’Farrell, who provided testimony and support to the advocacy efforts.
We also need to recognize the collaborative efforts made by the Maryland Academy of PAs, MedChi, Maryland Board of Physicians, American Academy of PAs, and the state legislators, specifically Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Del. Kenneth Kerr, and Sen. Pamela Beidle, who made this possible. Thank you to those who have supported the process now and in the past and for your commitment to the advancement of PA practice in Maryland.