Tuesday, Oct. 6, was PA Day, the first day of PA Week. It marked the 42nd anniversary of the graduation from Duke University of the first-ever PAs, three former Navy hospital corpsmen who became the avatars of a new and different profession, one unlike anything that had come before.

These three pioneers, and the men and women who followed them as the profession grew, prepared the way for you today. Think you have to explain what a PA is too often? Imagine having to explain it to everybody. Growing from three PAs in 1967 to about 80,000 PAs today, all of whom can practice and write prescriptions in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., is my idea of an American success story.

Every year, PA Week gives employers, colleagues and patients a chance to honor you. And while PA Week is a good time to sit back and soak up the richly deserved gestures of appreciation and well-wishes, it's also a time for you to act, to ensure that success doesn't breed complacency.

While you and the PAs of the future won't face the blank slate and blank stares that the first PAs did, you still must be steadfast ambassadors for your profession during PA Week and beyond.

Never duck a chance to enlighten about PAs. Engage anybody who doesn't know what a PA is, or thinks he or she knows but really doesn't. Answer innocent but uninformed questions from patients and even health care teammates with a smile. Write polite e-mails to newspaper reporters who muddle up details about PAs or add the apostrophe-s. And the fact that President Obama has begun to mention PAs in his health policy addresses demonstrates the value of your educating policymakers and politicians.

So think of PA Week not only as a time for others to recognize you, but also as a time for you to honor the PA legacy by relentlessly championing your profession. That may be the greatest contribution you can make this week and throughout the year.

On behalf of my colleagues here, I wish you all the best this week, and I thank you for allowing ADVANCE for Physician Assistants to be a small part of the remarkable past and bright future of your profession.

And this week, bask in the attention. You deserve it.

PA Week is a good time to renew your free subscription. We need to hear from you once a year to continue mailing each issue of ADVANCE. Renewing is quick and easy online or at the toll-free number below.