Todd A. Pickard MMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO

Todd A. Pickard, MMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO, is Executive Director at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he also sees patients in the Department of Urology.

Mr. Pickard earned his bachelors of science in biology from The University of Texas, Austin and his masters of medical science from Emory University School of Medicine. A believer of life-long learning, he also acquired a graduate certificate in health care management from Rice University and completed certificate programs in administrative leadership and

clinical safety and effectiveness at The University of Texas MD Anderson. He holds the designation of Distinguished Fellow from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and is a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Mr. Pickard is a clinical provider with extensive experience and knowledge in oncology, clinical research, health policy, health legislation, regulatory compliance, administration, clinical operations, and hospital governance. Specializing in oncology, Mr. Pickard's expertise also includes clinical cancer prevention, head and neck medical oncology, lymphoma, and administrative leadership.

Often reflecting on the challenges he has faced as a physician assistant (PA) and an administrator, Mr. Pickard enjoys being a resource for others and seeing his colleagues empowered. His leadership journey began through volunteering to solve operational issues early in his career as a clinical PA. When Texas approved prescriptive authority for PAs, he

helped design the implementation process for his institution. As a result of this experience, he was given the opportunity to create, and then interview for, the first PA administrative position in the newly designated Office of PA Programs at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Advocacy for PAs also has led him to other opportunities to serve. Mr. Pickard serves on the AAPA Board of Directors, building on his more than 15 years of service in the House of Delegates representing the Association of PAs in Oncology and the Texas Academy of PAs. Mr. Pickard previously served as the Legislative Chair for the Texas Academy of PAs. During his tenure, he strengthened the inclusion of PA trainees and pre-PA students in legislative activities and successfully advocated for the elimination of PA supervision limits in Texas. Mr. Pickard also helped create and then serve as the AAPA/APAO Medical Liaison to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, where he worked with others to secure a stronger voice for PAs in oncology.