Founded in 1974 as a constituent chapter of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, IPAS's primary purpose is to help PAs provide accessible, affordable quality patient care. As with any professional society, members working together make the difference. IPAS monitors legislative reimbursement issues and supports changes that make the profession better able to provide quality patient care. With a consistent and unified voice, it is also effective in getting heard with state boards and commissions. IPAS has a membership of over 400 professionals.

The Iowa Physician Assistant Society was founded for these purposes: To provide the membership of the organization with an annual forum to consider issues that affect PAs and their patients.

• To maintain a job bank for Iowa.
• To help PAs, health professionals, and health organizations by disseminating health care information about the delivery and quality of health care within Iowa.
• To provide policy legislative advocacy on issues important to the PA profession in Iowa.
• To provide continuing education opportunities at reasonable costs for PAs in Iowa.