National Physician Assistants Week, 2010

Proclamation 8579 of October 6, 2010

National Physician Assistants Week, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

In communities across our Nation, physician assistants
serve tirelessly everyday to care for Americans and
fulfill a critical function in our health care system.
They provide important medical attention and treatment
to patients and their loved ones, and can be the
principal care provider in rural or inner-city clinics,
and other settings with provider shortages. During
National Physician Assistants Week, we honor these
dedicated medical professionals and their essential
role in providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and
preventive health care services to millions of American
men, women, and children.

With compassion matched by professionalism, physician
assistants work as part of a team to provide vital
support to both patients in need and the doctors who
balance the care of many individuals. Recognizing their
essential function in our medical system, we allocated
more than $30 million from the Prevention and Public
Health Fund under the Affordable Care Act to expand the
Physician Assistant Training Program, and to increase
the number of physician assistants in primary care over
the next 5 years. Primary care is the foundation of
preventive health care, and we must support the
training of hundreds of new physician assistants who
can join the medical field and increase access to
providers and services in underserved areas. Our Nation
needs a strong primary care workforce and the continued
dedication of physician assistants in our hospitals,
clinics, and medical offices to address the crucial
health issues of our time.

Countless American families have relied on the skill,
concern, and commitment of physician assistants, in
both joyous times and heart-wrenching circumstances. As
we recognize their countless contributions this week,
we also pay tribute to the kind and meticulous care
provided by all of America's medical professionals. Our
Nation is stronger because of these invaluable workers,
and their efforts safeguard a healthy future for all
Americans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim October 6 through
October 12, 2010, as National Physician Assistants
Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week
with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs
that honor and foster appreciation for our physician
assistants and all medical professionals.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.