Physician Assistant Program
What is your hometown?
I grew up in Lebanon, Oregon, but was born in Kansas.
When did you join the UI faculty?
June 2004
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I've always been interested in both science and medicine. My father worked as a Medical Technologist, so I was always around a lab or hospital, which kept my interest in the healthcare field. I've also always enjoyed the process and analytical thinking that science offers along with the art and detective process of medicine.
What interested you to pursue a career in medicine?
For me, medicine seemed a very natural step. I had worked as a medical social worker for several years and really enjoyed the interactions that I had with patients. When I learned about the Physician Assistant Program, and that one of the best programs in the nation was located here at the University of Iowa, I realized that I would be able to integrate my enjoyment of the sciences with the interactions I had developed in my prior career.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
There are many, but in particular, Rick Dehn and Dave Asprey. Both guided me during my faculty fellowship and piqued my interest in teaching and research. In my undergraduate years, it was Jill Timmons, who taught me what being a true mentor could be as well as what enthusiasm for one's job can bring out in others. I hope to be able to translate all those qualities to my current position.
How or why did you choose the UI?
I was very fortunate to be selected to be part of the faculty at the Physician Assistant Program. Given its national reputation, the scholarly activity the faculty are producing and the leadership roles the faculty has taken, it wasn't hard to say yes after being offered the position.
What kinds of professional opportunities or advantages does being a faculty member at Iowa provide? What about challenges?
The opportunity to work alongside and to be mentored by nationally recognized faculty, to have the resources of a tertiary healthcare system, state of the art teaching and research facilities, the high quality of students attracted to our program, the opportunity to focus on scholarly activity, all wrapped into a small town atmosphere provided all the opportunities I needed.
Please describe your professional interests?
Currently I have been focusing on ethical issues and integrity as it relates to education within professional practice. There is more and more evidence that individual perceptions about what is acceptable and what is not have changed and this has created a significant dilemma for those of us used to practicing and educating in different models. Educating our peers, our students, and ourselves has now become a significant priority, but it remains unclear what the best way to do this is.
I am also very committed to adult education and have been chair of the State CME Committee and recently have been chosen to be on the National PA Educators Conference Committee. This role continues to keep me focused on the best ways to educate our students and ourselves.
What are some of your outside interests?
Being with family, wife and my children. Working out daily, gardening, church activities, playing the piano, and listening to jazz.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
To put whomever I am working with at the center, whether that's the students I am mentoring, the patient and family I am providing care to, or my family or friends. We all deserve the concern and interest that each one of us is capable of giving.
If you could change one thing about the world (or the world of medicine/science), what would it be?
The need to be in control and have power. In the end it has only been temporary and usually has caused a lot of pain along the way.
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
The interest and expansion of the mid-level provider not only nationally, but also internationally. There are several programs graduating their first classes or undergoing definition of the mid-level practitioner modeled after the PA role here in the United States. It's exciting to see and presents interesting challenges to the profession at large.
What one piece of advice you would give to today's medical/physician assistant students?
Get involved, ask questions, and explore all the options you can while a student. It may be your biggest chance to experience so many rich areas that a facility such as the University of Iowa has to offer.
What do you see as "the future" of the Physician Assistant field?
To continue to provide high quality healthcare for the patient in a cost-effective way. As well as the afore-mentioned expansion into international arenas.
President Skorton named 2005 as the "Year of Public Engagement." In what ways are you engaged with the greater Iowa public?
Having recently been elected as President-Elect for the Iowa PA Society, one of my goals is to encourage participation at local levels in new areas that we haven't typically been active in. Many people are concerned about the time it takes to take on volunteer or leadership roles and I hope to create smaller bite sized opportunities for people to do some of these activities without feeling overwhelmed.
As past chair of our State CME Conference, I worked to get more local involvement, not only on the committee but also in presentations and educating each other.
I have also been appointed to a Governor's Task Force to set guidelines and education for direct care workers in the State of Iowa. Hopefully we can engage a number of individuals in this process that ultimately will benefit all Iowans as standards are set and met in providing care to those in need.