PAAPL began with a conversation over lunch at a national conference in New Orleans. Corinna Sicoutris and Ben Reynolds—both relatively new to advanced practice leadership roles in their respective health systems—found themselves discussing the common challenges they were facing: workforce development, unclear regulatory guidance, limited APP visibility in health policy, and the need for stronger interprofessional collaboration.

As they traded ideas and solutions, it became clear that if they were asking these questions, others across Pennsylvania likely were too. What started as a simple connection quickly evolved into a shared mission: to bring together advanced practice leaders from across the Commonwealth to align efforts, elevate practice, and advocate for meaningful change.

Corinna and Ben began organizing a coalition of APP leaders from diverse disciplines and institutions, representing many of the state’s largest and most influential healthcare organizations. The group included nurse practitioners, physician associates/assistants, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives—each contributing valuable insights from their respective practice environments.

At their first formal meeting in 2021, participants shared common concerns and recognized the urgent need for more structured education, strategic policy advocacy, and unified messaging. They envisioned an organization that could ignite advanced practice providers as centerpiece engines of health improvement across Pennsylvania—speaking with one inter-professional voice.

Key Early Milestones

• • 2021 – First formal convening of PA leaders; commitment to build a statewide alliance.
  • 2022 – Draft bylaws ratified and first Executive Committee formed.
  • 2023 – IRS determination received recognizing PAAPL as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
  • 2024 – Development of policy priorities, liaison member framework, and reimbursement policy guidelines.
  • 2025 – Website launch and formation of standing committees to support advocacy, membership, and education.

Since those early days, PAAPL has continued to grow—anchored by the belief that interprofessional APP leadership is not just valuable, but essential to the future of healthcare in Pennsylvania. Through collaboration, advocacy, and education, we are helping advanced practice leaders lead with greater clarity, confidence, and collective impact.