07/23/2026
Inside OAPA's Leadership Retreat: Building the Next Chapter for Ohio PAs
Last weekend, OAPA's Board of Directors, committee chairs, AAPA delegates, and SCSRs were invited to The Ohioan Hotel and Event Center in Lewis Center for an in-person leadership retreat. The group of volunteer leaders was tasked with something big: shaping the strategic priorities that will guide OAPA through 2027 and beyond.
Led by President Madeline Meyers, the retreat set out to do something OAPA hasn't carved out time for in years: get leaders in a room together, be honest about what's working and what isn't, and start sketching the priorities that will define 2027.
The retreat opened with the board digging into what it actually means to govern an association, including legal duties, financial stewardship, and future planning. Leaders paired up to compare notes on what OAPA is, what it does, and what it should be, measuring those answers against the organization's own founding documents to find where OAPA is aligned and what is missing.
Then came the story of Sarah, a composite of real Ohio PAs juggling a packed patient schedule, supervision drama, and a life outside the clinic that doesn't pause for any of it. Maybe she was formerly in OAPA, but ask her today what OAPA actually does for her, and she'd probably shrug. Sarah represents the 90% of licensed PAs in Ohio who are not OAPA members. Leaders spent the rest of the retreat holding Sarah in mind, asking hard questions on her behalf: What's keeping her up at night? Would she even notice if OAPA disappeared? And, uncomfortably, what is OAPA spending time and money on that has nothing to do with her at all?
Participants engaged in a full slate of activities designed to connect leaders across every level of the organization, reflecting on the current and desired future state of the association.
A few highlights:
A "Signal Check" on communications. How is OAPA actually reaching people? Who are we missing?
A "Scope Check" on advocacy. What is OAPA is doing to advance the profession? What would help to further move that needle?
A "Lane Check" on roles and structure. How does the work of OAPA get done? Who will raise their hand to do the work that will make the impact we need?
Throughout the retreat, leaders opened up about why they volunteer for their profession, the fears that come with stepping up, and the skills they want to build to continue serving the Ohio PA community.
The board closed out the retreat with a debrief and preliminary strategic planning session, reviewing current goals and considering how to best use OAPA's energy and resources going into the coming year. Member feedback will be gathered in the coming months to help further refine the organization's plans.
Here's the thing about this retreat...
It didn't happen because a handful of people have it all figured out. It happened because people, some who are brand new to leadership and others who are seasoned volunteers, were willing to show up, say the uncomfortable thing, and ask what OAPA could be doing better...and identify how they can help.
There's a seat at that table for you. Whether it's in a formal role like serving on a committee or an informal role like spreading the word about OAPA membership, OAPA's future is being actively built right now by people who decide to stop watching from the sidelines.
Interested in getting involved? Reach out to us at oapa@ohiopa.com to learn more.