MAPA Member Highlight - Leslie Clayton PA-C, MPAS, DFAAPA

Congratulations to Leslie Clayton PA-C, MPAS, DFAAPA on her election to the position of First Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates and Member of the AAPA Board of Directors.

The House of Delegates (HOD) is the AAPA policy making body that includes representatives from all 57 chapters (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands and five federal services), twenty-six officially recognized specialty organizations, ten caucuses, and the Student Academy. It has sole authority on behalf of AAPA to enact policies establishing the collective values, philosophies, and principles of the PA profession.  

After serving on several committees in the HOD, in 2020 she was elected to the position of Second Vice-Speaker, which also includes serving as a Director on the Board of Directors (BOD) for the AAPA.  Leslie says that “Serving in this role during the pandemic has been unlike anything I could have imagined, but I am proud of how the House Officers continued to conduct the business of the HOD in the virtual environment.  We held a completely virtual HOD this past May including four days of debate on many topics, including the name change, while still maintaining all appropriate parliamentary processes.” 

At this year's HOD she was elected to the position of 1st Vice-Speaker. In this role she will have additional responsibilities in leadership and continue in serve on the AAPA BOD which guides and administers the policies established by the HOD in addition to managing the financial interests and governance of the AAPA. Leslie says, “It is my honor to protect and support the fair debate and policy work in the HOD as Vice Speaker, as well as the application of those policies as a member of the BOD.  I hope to continue in my service to the HOD over the next few years and if elected to do so, to serve as the Speaker and Vice President of the Academy.”  

She goes on to share “I have, without fail, been a member of my state academy and the AAPA since entering PA school in 1996. Being an academy member helps to keep me informed about issues regarding PA practice. Additionally it allows me to participate in helping to shape the future of our profession.  For over a decade I have been in various leadership positions at the state and national level. I served as President of MAPA 2015-2016 and as a MN delegate to the AAPA HOD for 7 years.   

I have been a PA for 23 years; the majority being spent in primary care.  I am currently a health system Provider Lead with oversight of multiple clinics including the PAs, Physicians and APRNs that practice there. My additional leadership involvement includes being a PA faculty member at the Saint Catherine University PA Program and serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Family Medicine division for CMEinfo Insider, an online CME resource.  I have learned so much professionally and personally in all my many roles as a PA and a leader.  I encourage every PA to join MAPA and AAPA and explore the options to volunteer for the benefit of the profession as well as for your own professional growth.”