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Newsletter of the University of Utah's Physician Assistant Program September 2021September 2021

NOTICE: 50 YEARS OF UPAPNOTICE: 50 YEARS OF UPAPCELEBRATION POSTPONEDCELEBRATION POSTPONED

Due to rising COVID-19 infections in thestate, all University of Utah Health AlumniEvents, including UPAP's 50th Celebration,have been postponed. Watch your emailfor the announcement of the new date ofthe celebration, which will likely takeplace in Spring 2022.

A Living Legacy: The Don Pedersen Endowed Chair in PhysicianA Living Legacy: The Don Pedersen Endowed Chair in PhysicianAssistant Studies EstablishedAssistant Studies Established

Don and Kathy Pedersen have a long legacy of providing support and leadership tothe Utah Physician Assistant Program. This year, the Pedersens' donorship reached evengreater heights in the form of the Don Pedersen Endowed Chair in Physician AssistantStudies in the School of Medicine. The donation, which is the first of its kind in Utah, willprovide support for many different initiatives throughout the program.

Virginia L. Valentin, DrPH, PA-C, associate professor and chief of the division ofPhysician Assistant Studies at the University of Utah, will be the inaugural holder of thechair. Michael Good, MD, CEO of University of Utah Health, will appoint her to the chairlater this year.

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PROGRAM DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Now is the TimeNow is the Time

By Jared Spackman,MPAS, PA-C

I hope UPAP alumni andfriends are doing well and staying safe.Classes are back in session, and theregular rhythm of the programcontinues. We graduated our 50th

cohort on August 6, 2021. Thisremarkable group of graduatespersisted during these pandemicconditions, and are beginning theirclinical journey in many locals andpractice settings. We are proud of themand wish them well. Class 51 beganclinical rotations and are settling intotheir new routines and educationalexperiences. And Class 52 is continuingthe lengthy process of learning clinicalmedicine, history and physical examwithin the classroom... Read moreRead more

Class 51 Research PosterClass 51 Research PosterPresentationsPresentations

Class 51 presented their CommunityEngaged Master’s Projects in which theyworked with community partners toaddress community questions. Theseprojects allow students to develophands-on research skills in a communityand clinical setting.

The 2021 Research Poster event was areturn to in-person presentations, andstudents and faculty alike enjoyedbeing able to meet in person whilediscussing student research.

UPAP NEWS and ACTIVITIESUPAP NEWS and ACTIVITIES

Class 50 Celebrates GraduationClass 50 Celebrates Graduation

UPAP celebrated the graduation of Class 50 inAugust, the first group of students to graduateduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the ceremony, graduates were keynotedby Dan Crouse, PA-C, MPAS, associateprofessor of UPAP and president of the UtahAcademy of Physician Assistants. Following hisremarks, awards of distinction were given tostudents, preceptors, and scholarshiprecipients. At the conclusion of the program,graduating students Jillian Barker of the SaltLake campus and McKenzie Reynolds of theSaint George campus celebrated thefortitude and resolve shown by their fellowUPAP students during the challenges of the lasttwo years. After their remarks, assistantprofessor Chaz Whitbeck, MMSc, PA-C led thenewly graduated physician assistants in thePhysician Assistant Oath.

Student HighlightStudent Highlight

Kenzi Bartz Selected for PAEA FellowshipKenzi Bartz Selected for PAEA Fellowship

In August, UPAP student Kenzi Bartz (Class 51) wasinformed that she had been selected for the 2021-2022 Student Health Policy Fellowship. Students inthe fellowship learn from influential policy staffers,experts in physician assistant practice andadvocacy, as well as other advocacystakeholders.

Bartz is the first UPAP student to be selected to thecompetitive program. "My peers and I learn in boththe UPAP classroom and the clinic that healthcareis not equitable," she says. "I am excited to gainmore tools from PAEA and the other fellows on howto further healthcare equity through policychange."

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NEWS AND UPDATESNEWS AND UPDATES

Read more about the exciting developments and honors at UPAP below.

In early summer, a HRSA grant was awarded to the Division of Family Medicine at theUniversity of Utah. The grant supports increased training in maternal health and provideopportunities for interprofessional education between our family medicine and PAdivisions.UPAP faculty and students visited the Migrant Farm Worker Clinics in their annualoutreach to provide pediatric physicals to migrant workers in the state. UPAP has beenvisiting rural communities under the Migrant Farm Worker Clinic program for over 25years.Associate professor Joanne Rolls, MPAS, PA-C, was named associate director for theUniversity of Utah's Master of Education in Health Professions program. The programtrains health professionals with clinical degrees in educational theory and practice sothat they can teach future healthcare providers.

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH PHYSICIANUNIVERSITY OF UTAH PHYSICIANASSISTANT PROGRAMASSISTANT PROGRAM