The inception of the PA profession was a response to the shortage of health care providers in the US. The fight continues as multiple factors such as poverty, environmental threats, lack of access to health care, and educational inequities continue to result in health disparities. Healthcare providers should strive to acknowledge the importance of culture and the dynamics that impact access to health care. Disparities are preventable inequities. Barriers to access include lack of adequate insurance, patient perception of needs, and resources that facilitate access to healthcare.

What are Health Disparities?
The US Department of Health and Human Services defines health disparities as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomicstatus; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.”

Click here to read about the PSPA’s commitment to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the PA profession in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

2025 Competition

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee invites you to enter this year’s competition!

• ONE pre-PA student and TWO current PA students could receive cash prizes!
• PSPA fellows will have the opportunity to gain free conference registration and a one-year PSPA membership!

In years past, the committee has received essays, videos, and PowerPoint presentations for this competition. We will continue to encourage creativity by welcoming multimedia projects for the 2025 competition! All applicants MUST be PSPA members at time of submission!

2025 Competition Topic: Refugee & Migrant Health

This year, the PSPA IDEA Committee would like PSPA members, fellows, students, and prePAs to reflect on the topic of “Refugee/Newcomer and Migrant Health” and select at least 3 out of the 6 subtopics to address in their project. Subtopics include:

1. Explore the impact of mental health on refugees/newcomers and undocumented
   migrants, and how their experiences with trauma, displacement, and isolation can be
   overlooked in healthcare systems.
2. Discuss the barriers refugees/newcomers and undocumented migrants face when
   trying to access basic healthcare services. How do these barriers affect their health
   outcomes, and what reforms could address these challenges?
3. Examine how language and cultural differences create significant challenges in
   healthcare for refugees/newcomers and undocumented migrants. What role do
   interpreters, bilingual staff, and culturally competent care play in bridging these gaps?
4. Analyze how the COVID–19 pandemic disproportionately affected refugees/newcomers
   and undocumented migrants in terms of access to testing, treatment, and vaccination.
   What long–term health disparities might arise from this?
5. Discuss how social factors like housing instability, food insecurity, and lack of legal
   status exacerbate health disparities among refugees/newcomers and undocumented
   migrants. How do these factors intersect with access to healthcare?
6. Research and discuss the health conditions faced by refugees/newcomers and
   undocumented migrants in detention centers/border facilities. What are the implications
   of inadequate healthcare in these spaces, and how do they contribute to systemic
   health disparities?
   

To honor the mission of Dr. Eugene Stead and all who were instrumental in the birth of our profession, we ask that you explore ways to improve the overall care and awareness of this special population. Culturally competent PAs should look for ways to heighten awareness
of disparities that exist and integrate the knowledge of cultural factors into patient education and instructions.

For further information regarding 2025 competition guidelines and eligibility, please click here.

Please join the IDEA Committee and let us know about efforts to take to address healthcare disparities in your current practice. Contact Jane Arenas by email at &aWRlYWNvbW1pdHRlZSBhdCBwc3BhIGRvdCBuZXQ=& if you would like to be contacted by the committee.

Thomas J. Lemley Award for Health Disparities Award History