If Andrea E. McKinnond, MMS, PA-C '15, has any complaints about her year as president of the North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (NCAPA), it’s that it was too short.
“One year is really not enough time,” she said with a smile. “There’s so much you want to accomplish, and the year goes by too fast.”
Despite the time flying by so quickly, McKinnond is happy with what she achieved as president. During her 2024 term, she championed advocacy, mentorship, and policy initiatives that strengthened the role of PAs in North Carolina.
McKinnond, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine PA Program, said she hopes her leadership will be defined by her commitment to inclusivity, progress, and fostering meaningful connections within the PA community.
Starting as a Student
McKinnond started her path to becoming president of the NCAPA early, when she was a PA student at Wake Forest. Through student membership, she became aware of NCAPA’s impact on the profession and got her first taste of organized advocacy.
During PA school and after graduation, McKinnond gradually increased her involvement in the NCAPA. She served on a task force, chaired a committee, and co-chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Each role provided her with valuable experience that ultimately prepared her for the presidency.
“I credit the Wake Forest PA program with introducing me to the academy,” she said. “The very inviting culture of the academy, seeing that they were open to change, really started my journey.”
As president, one of McKinnond’s key priorities was to increase access to the PA profession, particularly for underrepresented groups.
By taking on a leadership role, McKinnond hopes that she has helped inspire others to follow in her footsteps. “There have been fewer than three Black women to lead NCAPA in its nearly 50-year history,” she said. “I want others to see that they belong here. Not just as attendees, but as decision-makers.”
Making Connections
One of McKinnond’s most memorable moments was an activity she introduced at the final board meeting of her presidency, the “Threads That Bind.”
During this exercise, attendees formed a circle and passed around a ball of yarn, sharing personal details about their lives. As each person found commonalities with another, they held onto the yarn while passing it along, creating a web of interconnected threads by the end of the exercise.
The exercise helped everyone understand they had more similarities than differences and were bound by a common mission.
“We are in a place where we feel separate, where hard conversations seem impossible,” McKinnond said. “This activity was about showing that we are connected, that we share experiences even when we come from different backgrounds.”
Though her presidency has ended, McKinnond’s work is far from over. As Immediate Past President, she remains an integral part of the NCAPA board, mentoring the new leadership and encouraging more members to step into governance roles.
Inspired by the mentorship she received, McKinnond now seeks to support and cultivate the next generation of PA leaders. She said she encourages PA students and recent graduates to get involved in the NCAPA or other professional organizations.
She believes that involvement in state PA organizations not only strengthens the profession but also empowers individuals to be proactive in deciding the future of healthcare. “There are policies and laws shaping our profession every day,” she explained. “If you want to make a difference, start local. Be part of the conversations that affect your career and your patients.”
Looking Forward
McKinnond said she is grateful for the experiences, challenges, and growth that came with leading the NCAPA. From advocating for legislative change to fostering unity through personal connections, she hopes her leadership has left a lasting imprint on the organization.
She also remains committed to the NCAPA’s mission and pledges to do everything she can to ensure the PA profession remains strong, inclusive, and impactful for years to come.
“I keep saying I’m going to take a break,” she said. “But I want to stay involved, mentor future leaders, and keep working in advocacy and public health.”
McKinnond is pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health Executive Leadership at UNC-Chapel Hill. She also plans to get involved with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to expand her work in public health initiatives.
Her focus on public health and advocacy aligns with her long-term vision of influencing healthcare policy at a broader level. “I want to have more muscle when it comes to publishing, research, and policy,” she continued. “Bowing out of advocacy isn’t an option for me.”
Combining her work at the NCAPA, pursuing a doctorate, and teaching students at Wake Forest, McKinnond said she couldn’t have done any of it without the support of her husband.
“I had to travel a lot, go to late-night meetings, and we have two small children,” she said. “I could not do half of what I do without him.”