South Dakota Academy of PAs

10/28/2026

October is National Liver Awareness Month and Liver Cancer Month and SDAPA is helping promote the American Liver Foundation (ALF) to help raise awareness and connecting people with resources.

An estimated 80 to 100 million Americans have liver disease, but many don’t know it because early symptoms can be subtle.

Check out this link to the American Liver Foundation page to learn more about liver health, liver transplant, and other helpful resources.

https://liverfoundation.org/resource-center/blog/alf-honors-national-liver-awareness-liver-cancer-month/

10/27/2026

Communications committee meeting tonight! Message us for the zoom link if you are interested in attending and providing suggestions for our social media content and communication with members of the organization.

10/27/2026

Meet your 2026 SDAPA Board

Past President:
Justine Peterson, MSPAS, PA-C (Term 7/2026-7/2028)

Before I had even graduated, I was involved with the board, but the last two years as president taught me so much about what it takes to run an organization and truly lead. To say I am proud of what we accomplished would be a huge understatement. I look forward to taking on more of a consultant role this year. This group does incredible work and presents endless opportunity if you’re only willing to take the leap of faith.

10/23/2026

Shoutout to SDAPA President Echo Kopplin on being selected for Augustana’s 2026 Alumni Achievement Awards.

Each year, Alumni Achievement Awards are presented to Augustana University alumni who have made outstanding contributions to their fields of endeavor, communities and/or churches. The Horizon Award recognizes young alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years and quickly demonstrated outstandi...

10/21/2026

📣 SDAPA IS CALLING FOR SPEAKERS! 🎤

Do you have expertise, clinical insights, or evidence-based knowledge to share with your fellow PAs? We want to hear from you!

The South Dakota Academy of PAs is seeking engaging speakers for our upcoming CME conferences. We welcome evidence-based presentations that support the educational needs of PAs across all specialties and practice settings.

📅 Upcoming 2027 CME Conferences:
💻 Live Zoom CME Conference: April 1–2, 2027
📍 Hybrid CME Conference: October 28–29, 2027 | Rapid City, SD

Potential topics include clinical practice updates, evidence-based medicine, specialty-specific education, professional development, advocacy, and more!

✨ Whether you’re an experienced presenter or looking to share your knowledge for the first time, we encourage you to submit your interest.

🔗 Learn more and submit your interest:
https://sdapa.net/page/2027callforspeakers

10/21/2026

📣 SDAPA MEMBERS — WE WANT YOUR VOICE!

Do you have ideas for how SDAPA can better connect with and engage our members through social media? We’re looking for members to join our Communications Committee!

This is a chance to help shape SDAPA’s online presence, share ideas, and help tell the story of PAs across South Dakota.

Some of the content areas members have expressed interest in include:
🩺 A Day in the Life of a PA — showcasing the variety of PA practice settings
📢 Advocacy & Policy
📅 Events & Opportunities
🤝 Community & the PA Profession
⭐ Member Spotlights

But we want to hear your ideas, too! We’re especially interested in members who enjoy social media, graphic design, photography, video creation, or simply have creative ideas to share. 🎥📱✨

🗓️ Communications Committee Meeting
📅 Tuesday, October 27
⏰ 7:00 PM Central
💻 Via Zoom

No special expertise is required — just an interest in helping SDAPA communicate, connect, and grow.

Comment on this post, message us on facebook or instagram, or email [email protected] to request the zoom link and join our meeting!

10/19/2026

Meet Your 2026 SDAPA Board!

Vice President / President Elect:
Kayla Frank, MSPAS, PA-C (Term 7/2026-7/2028)

Why I became a PA: My entire family saw a PA growing up which encouraged me to look into the profession. I love the flexibility to change specialties and the focus on a team-based approach to patient care.

Why I chose to join the SDAPA board: I moved back to SD in 2020 after 5 years out of state and wanted a way to get connected with my PA colleagues and former PA school classmates. The SDAPA Board has been fulfilling and provided me with an outlet for professional engagement outside of work.The SDAPA Board has been a supportive environment and encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone with different roles within the organization. Never thought I would be the point person for legislative efforts, but it has become a passion project for me!

Other Items to Share: I currently work as a hospitalist in Sioux Falls but did primary care in underserved areas before my current position. My husband Matt and I have 3 kids, Elliott, Leo, and Carter.

10/15/2026

Meet Your 2026 SDAPA Board

President and Chair of the Board: Echo L. Kopplin, DMSc, PA-C (Term 7/2026-7/2028)

Echo Kopplin, DMSc, PA-C has been practicing as a PA for nearly a decade in primary care and emergency medicine. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Kopplin completed her bachelor's degree from Augustana University in Sioux Falls. She went on to earn her Master of PA Studies at Union Adventist University in Lincoln, NE and her Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg in Virginia.

As an educator, Dr. Kopplin has served as a preceptor throughout her clinical career, as an adjunct faculty member for several PA and DMSc programs, and as a lecturer and content developer for ThriveAP. Dr. Kopplin has been published in medical journals including JBJS Journal of Orthopedic PAs, Journal of Medical Regulation, and The PA Doctor.

Alongside teaching healthcare policy, Dr. Kopplin has actively served on legislative committees with both the Nebraska and South Dakota Academy of PAs and the Academy of PAs in Legal Medicine. Notably, Dr. Kopplin played a central role in the successful passage of PA practice modernization and PA licensure compact in South Dakota. In addition to these roles, she also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Good Shepherd Free Clinic in Spearfish, SD.

10/13/2026