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L. Gail Curtis serves as president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and chair of the AAPA Board of Directors. She has served in numerous leadership positions within the AAPA prior to her service on the Board, including on the Nominating Working Group and in various capacities within the House of Delegates. She served as vice president and speaker of the House of Delegates for three consecutive years, prior to being elected as the AAPA’s president-elect in 2016. Based in Winston-Salem, N.C., Curtis is chair and associate professor at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Department of PA Studies, where she has been an instructor for more than 25 years. She has written numerous articles and book chapters and presented on such topics as PA professional regulations, otolaryngology, substance use disorder and weight management. For Curtis, promoting wellness among her fellow PAs is just as important as promoting it to her patients and she often lectures on wellness issues for students and healthcare providers. Among her professional accolades, Curtis received the North Carolina Academy of PAs Outstanding Service Award and was named North Carolina PA of the Year in 2013. Curtis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and graduated from the Wake Forest University PA Program. Her master’s degree in PA studies is from the University of Nebraska. Curtis has earned the designation of AAPA Distinguished Fellow.