Maine is now the second U.S. state to officially change the title “physician assistant” to “physician associate.”
The bill passed the Maine State Legislature on June 2 and was enacted on June 16, following a two-year lobbying effort by the Maine Academy of Physician Associates.
“It’s an exciting time to be a PA. We look forward to the positive impact this change will have on our patients and our role in the healthcare system,” said Kathleen Moneghan, PA-C, the association’s vice president, in a June 14 news release.
The American Academy of Physician Associates approved “physician associate” as the profession’s official title in 2021. While the AAPA and some state chapters have updated their names, formal adoption at the state and federal levels remains a lengthy process that may take a decade or more, the association noted in 2023.
Oregon was the first state to enact the title change in April 2024.
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