SCU PA Alum Marley E. Figueroa Munoz Selected for AAPA House of Delegates Leadership Role

When Marley E. Figueroa Munoz, PA, graduated from SCU’s Physician Assistant program in December 2025, she was already thinking about what it means to be part of the profession beyond clinical practice.

Now practicing in Emergency Medicine, the recent graduate has been selected as a delegate for the American Academy of Physician Associates House of Delegates through the California Academy of Physician Associates. The opportunity places her in a professional leadership role early in her career, giving her a chance to learn more about advocacy, policy, and the decisions that help shape the PA profession.

SCU spoke with Figueroa Munoz about her selection, her path into Emergency Medicine, how SCU helped prepare her for professional involvement, and why she hopes more students and new graduates see themselves as part of the future of the PA profession.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what you are doing now?

Hi, I’m Marley Figueroa. I am a physician assistant practicing in Emergency Medicine and a recent graduate from SCU. I graduated in December 2025 and was part of SCU’s PA Program Cohort 8.

How did you learn that you had been selected as a delegate for the AAPA House of Delegates through the California Academy of Physician Associates?

I found out I had been selected in a really unexpected way. I had interviewed for the position in early March and was told we would likely hear back in mid- or late April. When I did not receive an update, I assumed another candidate had been selected.

Then one day, I got multiple Instagram notifications from friends tagging me in CAPA’s announcement post, and that was actually how I learned I had been selected. It was surprising, exciting, and meaningful to have my friends be the ones to tell me about it unintentionally.

What does this opportunity mean to you, especially as a recent SCU PA graduate?

This opportunity is exciting and humbling. It is something I am proud of, especially as a recent graduate. I am fresh out of PA school, and while I was introduced to advocacy and professional organizations through my program, I know I still have so much to learn.

That is part of what makes this opportunity so meaningful. To be selected at this early point in my career, while I am still learning the deeper legal, policy, and advocacy side of the profession, feels like both an honor and a responsibility.

It reminds me that leadership does not always mean knowing everything already. Sometimes it means being willing to show up, learn, and contribute where you can.

For readers who may not be familiar, how would you describe the AAPA House of Delegates and why it matters to the PA profession?

The AAPA House of Delegates is the policy-making body of the American Academy of Physician Associates. It is where delegates from state chapters, specialty organizations, the Student Academy, and other groups come together to discuss issues affecting the PA profession.

In simple terms, I think of it as one of the places where the PA profession has a voice. Delegates share the perspectives of PAs and PA students, review and discuss resolutions, and contribute to policies that reflect the values, priorities, and direction of the profession.

It matters because the decisions and discussions that happen there at the annual AAPA conference help shape how the PA profession continues to grow and respond to changes in health care.

As a newer PA, I am still learning the full process, but that is also why I am excited to be involved. It is an opportunity to better understand how advocacy and policy work at a professional level, beyond the classroom or conference setting.

What responsibilities or opportunities will you have as a delegate?

This role gives me the opportunity to participate, learn, and contribute alongside others who are actively involved in PA advocacy and professional leadership.

What intrigues me most is the chance to better understand the policies, legalities, and organizational decisions that affect my career and the PA profession as a whole. As a new graduate, I feel like I am in a unique position. I have a lot to learn, but I also remember very clearly what it felt like to be a student trying to understand what opportunities existed beyond school.

My hope is to eventually serve as a bridge between students, new graduates, and the larger organizations that represent our profession. I want to help show current PA students and newer PAs that there are ways to get involved, have a voice, and learn about the issues shaping our profession, even early in your career.

What inspired your interest in professional leadership, advocacy, or service within the PA profession?

I have always been someone who likes to be involved and in the mix of things. Whether it is planning a birthday party, helping with an event, or just knowing the details of what is going on, I enjoy being part of the process and helping bring people together.

So when I started PA school, leadership felt like a natural fit for me. If it meant planning events, supporting my classmates, creating unity, or helping improve the student experience, I wanted to be involved. I think my leadership in PA school, and honestly in other areas of my life too, is what made me want to continue that involvement beyond graduation.

A big inspiration was also our faculty. SCU has faculty members with really impressive backgrounds: people who have served on licensing boards, been involved in PA advocacy, worked in different specialties, and built strong professional networks. Seeing how involved they were, and how connected they were to the profession beyond just teaching, made me want to learn more and be part of that bigger picture, too.

How did your experience in SCU’s Master of Science: Physician Assistant Program help prepare you for this type of leadership opportunity?

My experience at SCU helped prepare me for this because I was already involved in leadership as a student. That strengthened my ability to communicate with classmates, plan events, listen to feedback, and represent a group of people while still learning myself.

SCU also introduced us to professional organizations like CAPA and AAPA, and we heard a lot about the importance of getting involved beyond school. Being exposed to conferences, networking, community events, and faculty who were active in the profession helped me see that being a PA is not just about clinical practice. It is also about advocating for the profession and understanding what is happening around us.

I also had encouragement from faculty who thought I would be a good fit for this type of opportunity. That gave me the confidence to apply and say, “Okay, maybe I can do something like this.”

Were there any SCU experiences that especially influenced your professional path?

Before PA school, I always thought I would work in pediatrics. I love kids, and I grew up thinking I would have a lot of kids and eventually work with them. But during PA school, especially toward the end of the didactic year, I realized there were so many areas of medicine I had not really considered before.

One big influence was our Emergency Medicine course taught by our director, Melanie Catalano. I was so inspired by how knowledgeable she was and how she made emergency medicine feel exciting and approachable. That class opened my eyes to Emergency Medicine in a way I did not expect.

Then clinical rotations confirmed it for me. I still enjoyed pediatrics, but it was not exactly what I thought it would be. When I rotated in Emergency Medicine, I felt drawn to the pace, the variety, and the problem-solving. It felt like a better fit for my personality and the way I like to work.

I also think that SCU, being a smaller, close-knit program, influenced me. Not everyone knows about SCU when I mention it, but I think that is part of what makes it special. You are in this tight community where people know you, support you, and push you to do more. That environment helped me grow a lot.

What issues or priorities in the PA profession are you most interested in learning about or contributing to through this role?

As a new graduate, I am honestly most interested in learning what actually happens behind the scenes in the PA profession. I want to understand how policies are discussed, how decisions are made, and how organizations like CAPA and AAPA represent and advocate for PAs.

I am interested in issues related to PA practice, representation, protection, and the continued growth of the career. In California, PA practice has evolved over time, including changes like the practice agreement model, and I want to better understand what those changes mean for practicing PAs.

I also want to learn how to make these topics feel less intimidating for students and new graduates. When you are in school or just starting out, legislation and policy can feel very far away, but it affects our actual careers. I hope this role helps me learn enough to eventually explain it better to others, too.

What advice would you give to current SCU PA students who may want to become more involved in professional organizations, advocacy, or leadership opportunities?

My advice to current SCU PA students is to keep going and try not to compare your path to anyone else’s. Some people’s roads may look like a straight arrow, while yours may feel more like a maze. That does not mean you are not getting there. It might just mean you need those curves and roadblocks to better you.

PA school is hard mentally, emotionally, and physically. You may not do well on a quiz, then struggle on an exam, and then feel like you are getting beat down again and again. It can affect your confidence, your relationships, and the way you see yourself. But one grade, one test score, one rotation, or one difficult season that feels never-ending does not define you.

My Emergency Medicine training has been hard, and the learning curve is real. You can know the textbook answer, do well on exams, and feel prepared, but then a real patient is in front of you, and things do not always present exactly the way you learned them. It is challenging, but it is also rewarding. Keep asking questions, keep building your knowledge, and keep showing up. Everyone is going through something, whether they say it out loud or not. Learn from the hard moments, move forward, and keep going.

And remember, a winner is just a loser who tried one more time.