About the FPA
The Faculty of Physician Associates provides professional support to physician associates across the UK. Members of the faculty are part of a professional membership body campaigning for progress and change in the profession, advising government, and taking part in national debates on medical, clinical and public health issues. The FPA reviews and sets standards for:
- the education and training of physician associates
- physician associate national certification.
The faculty provides support to both qualified and student physician associates in their education, training and professional development, giving members access to a benefits package that includes a CPD diary, publications, library resources, and discounts on professional development courses and events.
The FPA oversees and administers the running of the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) and is campaigning to achieve statutory registration of the profession.
For information on how to become a member of the FPA, visit our membership pages.
Alexandra Wolley
FPA devolved nations representative – Wales
Alex graduated from St George’s University of London (SGUL) PA programme in 2012. She has worked clinically in primary care, acute frailty and acute medicine.
As well as in education, where she is a lecturer and the admission tutor for the PA programme at SGUL. She moved to Wales in 2020 to become the Physician Associate Development Manager. She holds national roles for the FPA as an examiner and represents her health board and PAs at HEIW. Alex is also helping to establish the Society of PAs in Wales.
Lia McNamee
FPA devolved nations representative – Northern Ireland
Lia completed her MSc in Physician Assistant Studies from Wakeforest University in the USA in 2008. After graduation, she worked in vascular surgery in Washington before spending a year in Melbourne, Australia working in orthopaedic surgery.
After moving to Northern Ireland in 2011, Lia began working as a Physician Associate in ICU clinical research at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast until the first clinical PA post was created in 2016 in the A&E department, where she has been ever since. Lia has been a keen advocate for the PA profession in NI and has helped at Ulster Universities’ PA programme examining at OSCEs and participating in teaching days.
Sophie MacDonald
FPA devolved nations representative – Scotland
Sophie graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2017 and worked in both Vascular Surgery and Acute Medicine at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary before moving to Emergency Medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in April 2020. She has a wider interest in education and in particular, the role of simulation in the context of pre & post qualification development. At a national level, Sophie is involved as a PANE examiner and is an FPA QNPRG member.
In her role as Scotland Representative on the FPA Devolved Nations Board, Sophie hopes to work with PAs across the region to campaign for progress and change, as well as continuing to raise the profile of our great profession as we edge towards regulation.
Debbie Jegede
PA representative – RCP Diversity and Inclusion Delivery Group
Debbie Jegede qualified as a Physician Associate in 2018 from St George’s University and has been the FPA PA representative on the RCP Diversity and Inclusion Delivery Group since 2020.
Her role in the group involves promoting and showcasing equality, diversity and inclusion in the RCP. In her clinical role, Debbie has worked in several specialties including acute medicine, frailty, respiratory and emergency medicine. She currently works in a team of Lead PAs in Barking, Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Trust to fully integrate PAs into urgent and emergency care.
Silothabo Dliso
Chair of the FPA Research Committee
Silothabo is a qualified PA, graduating from the University of Liverpool in 2020. Initially, he worked in gastroenterology and now works in paediatric clinical research at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Silothabo is also an Honorary Fellow of the University in the department of Women and Children’s health. Since 2020 Silothabo has been striving to promote Physician Associates in research, as well as helping to facilitate and support others to engage in research activity.