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“I will never be someone who is comfortable standing center stage in the spotlight, but I absolutely can turn the lights on so a fellow PA can shine.”
– Nicole “Niki” Boisso, MS, PA(ASCP)CM
Nicole “Niki” Boisso, MS, PA(ASCP)CM
AAPA Member since 2011 | AAPA Volunteer since 2014
As part of a new regular feature, we will be highlighting AAPA volunteers and all the amazing work they do to help our organization thrive. First up, as part of National Volunteer Week (April 17-23) is Nicole “Niki” Boisso, MS, PA(ASCP)CM. Keep reading to learn about Niki’s volunteer journey below, and see why she doesn’t mind working behind the scenes to help the PA profession shine.
My first volunteer role with the AAPA was with the IT Committee conference production team in 2014. When I was in college, I was a member of the theater tech crew, working backstage to make all the performances happen. I mentioned this experience on a post-conference survey after seeing all the lights and production equipment in the lecture hall, and the following year the AAPA asked if I was willing to help the production team at the fall conference. That first year I made Facebook posts about the presenters/lectures and basically did whatever the team needed of me. I’ve been a part of the conference production team every year since and now monitor the Live Stream onsite at the fall conference. I joined the Peer Review team in 2018 after attending a volunteer fair and learning about the committee’s needs and role. I’ve always liked writing but am not too keen on doing research, so Peer Review was a good fit for me. In 2019, I became the Poster Lead, reviewing and approving all the conference poster submissions. Then, in the fall of 2020, I joined the Quiz Team as a quiz writer, and in March of 2021 I was promoted to Quiz Team Lead.
My volunteer positions with the AAPA have stemmed, not from topics learned in PA school or any particular special skills, but from a random thing I did in college and most importantly a willingness to donate my time. I think this is one thing that causes members to hesitate to volunteer – feeling like they don’t have skills or experiences that would benefit the association. But this is so far from the truth. It would be hard to find any AAPA volunteer who knew what they were doing when they first started. One of the best things about volunteering with the AAPA is that there are experienced PA volunteers to teach you, and we all know that PAs are the best teachers.
We are part of a relatively small profession, and yet we all have such different careers and have traveled very different roads to achieve them. All those differences matter. The AAPA was founded by PA volunteers who recognized a need for an association dedicated to advocacy for the newly emerging PA profession; it was the founders’ goal to keep the association volunteer-based so that PAs would have a voice to dictate the future of their profession. We can’t advocate for our diverse membership if we are only hearing one voice. Become a part of the history and future of the association by giving back and volunteering so the AAPA can continue supporting PAs.
The AAPA needs more volunteers. Many of our core PA volunteers are beginning to move into new roles or are beginning to take on less responsibility as they transition into the next stages of their careers. We need more people to bring in new ideas and help distribute the workload – burnout is sadly a reality with volunteerism as well. There are so many different volunteer positions with a variety of responsibilities and time commitments. As long as you are willing to donate your time and learn new things, there is a volunteer position within the AAPA for you.
In reflecting on why I continue to volunteer, I was surprised to realize that volunteering with the AAPA has become an important part of my identity as a PA. It is very rewarding to see how ideas grow into actualized entities and to be a part of the backstage workings of the association. I’m very grateful for and proud of what the AAPA does for its members and the PA profession; the contributions I make are small indeed compared to what we all gain from having our own professional association that is run by fellow PAs who understand our needs and struggles. Every CE quiz you have ever taken was written by a PA volunteer; every article you have ever read was edited by a PA volunteer; every conference you have attended, either in-person or virtually, has been organized by PA volunteers. I will never be someone who is comfortable standing center stage in the spotlight, but I absolutely can turn the lights on so a fellow PA can shine.
Thank you, Niki! We appreciate everything you do for the AAPA!
Are you interested in getting involved?
Visit our website to explore the available volunteer opportunities – from content contribution to meeting planning to member recruitment/retention and beyond. Choose from one-time micro-volunteering, short-term projects, and long-term commitments – just let us know what works best for your schedule! Questions? Contact us at [email protected].
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Nominate a volunteer to be featured next!
Help us recognize a member who works behind the scenes contributing their time and effort to better the AAPA and the PA profession. Send us your nomination at [email protected]. Be sure to include your nominee’s name, volunteer position (if known), and a brief summary of their contributions. They may be chosen to be featured in a future volunteer spotlight.
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