Legacy of Healing: Dr. Joel Bechtel Honored with the Naming of the Physician Assistant Studies Program CMU celebrated the naming of its Physician Assistant Studies Program (PA) last December in honor of the late Dr. Joel Bechtel, a revered community leader and trailblazing physician whose visionary contributions transformed the medical landscape in western Colorado. Dr. Bechtel left an indelible mark on the region by establishing the first pulmonary practice in western Colorado in 1980. The ceremony, held at St. Mary’s Medical Education Center, paid tribute to Dr. Bechtel’s legacy and recognized his pivotal role as the visionary and catalyst in establishing the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program at CMU. The program was also recently granted AccreditationContinued status by the Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the agency that is responsible for accrediting PA programs. This significant milestone in the program speaks to the support the university, community, faculty and staff have devoted to educating future PAs. As the Bechtel Physician Assistant Studies Program continues to flourish, it serves as a living tribute to a remarkable individual whose vision and dedication have left an enduring legacy in the hearts and minds of the Colorado Mesa University community.
THE MAVERICK
Joel Bechtel, MD; Betty Bechtel, JD, wife of Joel Bechtel and former CMU board member; guests at the dedication ceremony of the Bechtel Physician Assistant Program, December 14, 2023 at St. Mary’s Medical Education Center.
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