What's on the Agenda for PAs in 2026?

American Academy of Physician Associates CMO makes 2026 predictions.

For 2026, the CMO of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) sees ongoing PA trends as well as new opportunities for PAs in areas such as technology adoption.

Jennifer Kolb, DMSc, PA-C, has been CMO of AAPA since July 2023. Her previous leadership experience includes serving as director of advanced practice providers at Rush University Medical Center.

Prediction 1: Access to Care

PAs will continue to play a vital role in providing access to care, according to Kolb.

"In 2026, we see opportunities for PAs to improve access to care in rural and undeserved communities," Kolb says. "PAs and nurse practitioners are among the most highly utilized providers in rural health. There is an opportunity for PAs to drive health outcomes in rural communities."

Data on the geographic distribution of where PAs work shows they are playing a crucial role in providing access to care in underserved communities, and this trend will continue next year, according to Kolb.

"PAs are working in underserved communities in urban areas that may not be able to attract physicians," Kolb says. "PAs are willing to work in underserved communities, and they have the training to work with patients in these communities."

Improving access to primary care will continue to be an opportunity for PAs, Kolb explains.

"About a quarter of PAs work in primary care, and there are about 75 million Americans who do not have access to primary care," Kolb says. "So, there is an opportunity for PAs to improve access to primary care."

PAs also have an opportunity to improve access to mental health care in 2026.

"There are about 125 million Americans who do not have access to mental health care," Kolb says. "PAs have the skillset and the training to work in psychiatry and behavioral health."

Jennifer Kolb, DMSc, PA-C, is CMO of the American Academy of Physician Associates. Photo courtesy of the American Academy of Physician Associates.

Prediction 2: Serving the Aging Patient Population

PAs will continue to help serve the growing number of aging Americans, which will include PAs shifting into specialties beyond primary care, Kolb explains.

"We have an aging population and a worsening shortage of physicians," Kolb says. "More than half of physicians are over the age of 55, and these older physicians will be reaching retirement age in 10 years. As the number of PAs and nurse practitioners continues to grow, they will make up half of the provider workforce in the next decade."

The aging patient population comes with an increase in chronic conditions, which presents an opportunity for PAs to work more often in several specialties, according to Kolb.

"As the population ages, there is a growing population of patients with chronic conditions, and there is a growing demand for health services in several specialties such as orthopedics, endocrinology, and neurology," Kolb says.

Prediction 3: Technology Adoption

Adoption of new technology such as AI is likely to accelerate in 2026, and PAs are poised to play an important role in this process, Kolb explains.

"In 2026, we are going to continue to see a lot of change in healthcare, particularly in the technology space such as adoption of AI tools," Kolb says. "The younger generation of PAs are tech-savvy and have embraced AI. They are innovators and entrepreneurs."

With the younger generation of PAs getting established at health systems, hospitals, and medical groups, they are well-suited for entrepreneurism in healthcare and rapid adoption of technology such as AI tools, according to Kolb.

"The younger generation of PAs is poised to play a leadership role in adoption of new technology and new methods of delivering care," Kolb says.