Virginia Academy of PAs

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Virginia Academy of PAs

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The Virginia Academy of PAs serves the needs of PAs and PA Students who practice or reside in Virginia

10/28/2026

VAPA members recently attended an event coordinated by the Tidewater chapter of VCNP that served as a networking event. This was a great opportunity that allowed Virginia PAs to network with our NP colleagues. Thank you for having us and we look forward to other events with you in the future!

10/09/2026

medical mystery - a famous Mary is known for putting this disease on the map after she handled food without proper handwashing in 1900

10/09/2026

Day 4 of JMU’s VAPA social media challenge! While our patient from yesterday has symptoms that make treatment complex, our pathogen is generally treated with praziquantel, an antihelminth medication. Final answer?
And the answer is: Schistosomiasis! Specifically, pulmonary involvement can occur with S. Mansoni or S. Japonicum. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic blood fluke (worm) that is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It is spread by contact with infested freshwater. Most infected individuals do not develop symptomatic illness. Testing involves stool sample and serology, organ-specific modalities in ectopic cases. Treatment generally involves anti-helminth therapy in the form of praziquantel and steroids.
If you used UpToDate in the process of this social media challenge, drop us a like on this post, because so did we! All source information for these posts was compiled from UpToDate.

10/09/2026

MBU PA: Case closed. The diagnosis is malaria, a parasitic infection transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.

Plasmodium falciparum can cause severe, life-threatening disease, including neurologic complications, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death. Diagnosis is made through examination of a blood smear and treatment must account for the Plasmodium species, disease severity, and geographic patterns of drug resistance.

In 1880, Alphonse Laveran identified malaria parasites in human blood. In 1897, Ronald Ross demonstrated that mosquitoes transmit malaria parasites.

10/09/2026

A sudden fever, a mysterious exposure, and one very telling clue. Would you recognize this rare diagnosis before it’s too late? Leave a comment below with your best guess!

10/09/2026

Anthrax has a long history as a naturally occurring disease; however, it gained worldwide attention in 2001 following its use in biological warfare and bioterrorism, when letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to news organizations and government officials. The attacks resulted in 22 people developing anthrax, five of whom died. Those affected included postal workers and individuals who came into contact with contaminated mail. This event brought significant attention to the potential use of Bacillus anthracis in bioterrorism and highlighted the importance of public health preparedness and rapid response to biological threats.
Radford University Carilion PA Program

10/09/2026

Diphtheria may sound like a disease of the past, but it is actually still a very important part of our curriculum! Stay for our favorite fun fact at the end, diphtheria definitely has an interesting history!
Check out www.cdc.gov for more information about vaccinations

10/09/2026

This disease that used to be called consumption is now called...Tuberculosis

10/09/2026

Day 4: 🦠 Cholera: Think Profuse, Painless “Rice-Water” Diarrhea

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by Vibrio cholerae, typically spread through contaminated food or water.

💡 Clinical pearl: Severe watery diarrhea can rapidly lead to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, hypovolemic shock, and death if untreated.

🔑 In cholera, rapid fluid and electrolyte replacement is the cornerstone of treatment.

10/08/2026

🧪 Pseudohyperkalemia: When High K⁺ Isn’t Really Hyperkalemia!

A high potassium level doesn’t always mean true hyperkalemia. Pseudohyperkalemia occurs when the laboratory potassium is elevated without clinical signs of hyperkalemia, such as ECG changes.

🔬 Common causes include:

• Mechanical trauma during blood collection or processing

• Chemical contamination from incompletely dried antiseptics

• Temperature extremes

• Delayed sample processing

• Patient-related factors such as thrombocytosis, WBC neoplasms, and post-splenectomy status

• Contamination with potassium-containing IV fluids

💡 Clinical pearl: Always consider the possibility of pseudohyperkalemia when the lab result doesn’t match the patient’s clinical picture.

Address

250 W Main Street, Ste 100
Charlottesville, VA
22902

Telephone

+14349773716

Website

http://www.vapa.org/

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