Which of the following statements about PA Day's commemorative purpose is true?

• A. The 20th anniversary of the first graduating class
• B. The 10th anniversary
• C. The 30th anniversary
• D. The 40th anniversary

Answer: (A)

PA Day is anchored in the profession’s origin story—the moment the first Physician Assistant graduates completed training and could practice as part of healthcare teams. The statement that matches this commemorative purpose is that PA Day marks the 20th anniversary of the first graduating class. The field began in the mid-1960s, with the first program producing graduates in 1967; celebrating 20 years later honors the birth and early development of the PA profession. The other anniversaries—10th, 30th, or 40th—don’t align with this foundational milestone, which is centered on the initial graduating class and the profession’s emergence into clinical practice.