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“What PAs do may be behind-the-scenes, but let’s work together to bring our profession to the spotlight.”
– Rachel Poon, MS, PA(ASCP)CM
Rachel Poon, MS, PA(ASCP)CM
AAPA Member since 2009 | AAPA Volunteer since 2015
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. Next up is Rachel Poon, MS, PA(ASCP)CM, AAPA Ad Sales Subcommittee Chair. Keep reading to learn about how Rachel’s volunteer journey has helped her overcome her weaknesses and why she encourages members to challenge themselves with roles that make them uncomfortable.
I found out about AAPA as a first year student at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Class of 2010). In 2009, I was fortunate to be offered a student travel scholarship to attend the annual AAPA conference in Baltimore. This first exposure to AAPA had a significant impact on my involvement with AAPA. At the conference, I felt an immediate bond with fellow attendees as we all chose the Pathologists’ Assistant (PA) profession, which was relatively small and unknown at the time. I was proud to be a part of the PA community and knew I wanted to stay involved with the AAPA.
As a young PA professional with student debt, I did not know what I could do to help or even if I could help at all. One thing I did know was that I was willing to donate my time. I reached out to the AAPA to inquire about the current needs of the organization. There were many volunteer opportunities, and I ultimately selected my volunteer positions with the AAPA in areas I am most uncomfortable with so that I can work on my weaknesses. In February 2015, I joined the Grossing Guidelines committee as they needed a primary author for the gallbladder section. I am not a strong writer, but I know the importance of scientific writing for healthcare professionals, so I joined the committee to improve my writing skills. Now, seven years later, even though my writing skills have improved, I am still on the Grossing Guidelines committee because I enjoy updating my work and staying up-to-date on grossing guidelines.
I joined the Marketing and Communications Ad Sales team in May 2017. At that time, I knew absolutely nothing about marketing and the importance of non-dues revenue for a professional organization like AAPA. I became the Ad Sales Subcommittee chair in June of 2018. All non-dues revenue for the AAPA is generated from healthcare companies that provide services or products relevant to PAs. If we reach out to ten companies, we may only hear back from one. No matter how tough the job may be, the one sponsor we do get helps AAPA. With persistence and hard work from the Ad Sales Subcommittee (all volunteers) and the AAPA Central Office, we are now generating an average of more than $75,000 in non-dues revenue annually. This income helps keep member dues down and allows AAPA to continue to serve our members.
With my AAPA volunteer story, I hope to encourage other members to challenge themselves and do something they may be uncomfortable with. I am grateful to have been mentored and guided by experienced PA volunteers, like Janelle Fabian (Annual Conference chair) and Charlene Gettings (BOT member). I am proud to be a contributing member of AAPA, and I am ready to guide new volunteers. Join an existing group of volunteers who are passionate about the profession and want to help the profession grow. What PAs do may be behind-the-scenes, but let’s work together to bring our profession to the spotlight.
Thank you, Rachel! 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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