Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 12, 2010 / Presidential Documents 62451 

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. 


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62452 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 12, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

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. 

[FR Doc. 2010–25706 

Filed 10–8–10; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


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