PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Studies
A Message from the Dean
To the Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni within our PA family,
This is truly a momentous time.
It is with great pride and gratitude that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Physician Assistant Studies program here at the University of Kentucky. For five decades, this program has stood as a pillar of excellence in healthcare education, shaping professionals who have made a profound impact on the health and well-being of our communities.
The contributions of the Physician Assistant Studies department extend far beyond the walls of our University. The program’s work has transformed lives across the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond, delivering care to those in need, advancing the field of medicine, and embodying the values of service, knowledge and compassion that define our mission.
This anniversary is not only a time to reflect on the remarkable achievements of the past 50 years but also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the future. As a College, we pledge to continue supporting and growing this exceptional program, ensuring that it remains a leader in the field of physician assistant education. Together, we will continue to make strong contributions to healthcare and education, upholding the legacy of excellence that has defined this program.
To our students, faculty, staff, and alumni — thank you for your dedication, hard work and unwavering commitment to making this one of the premier programs at the University of Kentucky and across the nation. Your efforts have built a foundation of success that inspires us all.
Let us celebrate this milestone with pride as we look forward to the next 50 years of innovation, growth and service. Together, we will continue to elevate this program to even greater heights.
Take care all, and continue to stay healthy and well,
Scott Lephart, PhD Dean College of Health Sciences
About the Cover
The UK Clinical Associate program was originally housed in a Craftsman house (not pictured), then known as the Dental Hygiene Building. It was located in that is now greenspace between the College of Pharmacy and the Speedway gas station. Offices then moved into the Center Motel, which UK renamed Medical Annex II. During the construction of the Charles T. Wethington, Jr. (CTW) Building (where the Center Motel had been), offices were temporarily moved to the Slone Research Building (not pictured). In 2003, construction of CTW was completed. In 2026, the Physician Assistant Studies program will relocate to the upcoming Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education Building, a state-of-theart facility designed to meet Kentucky’s growing need for healthcare workers.
A Message from the Department Chair
To the Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Friends of the UK PA Program,
There are only a handful of Physician Assistant programs that get the distinct honor of celebrating 50 years of educating the next generation of health care providers.
As the first Physician Assistant to chair this department, it has been my distinct pleasure to work with Ms. Donna Jones, Professor Emeritus David Fahringer and Professor Emeritus Gerry Gairola on this history archive project. Reviewing these past 50 years has been truly inspirational, from meeting the first program director, Dr. Earl Vastbinder, to documenting countless stories of innovation and service.
To the past and future faculty and staff, thank you for your work as it is the greatest honor to play even a small role in the development of these great students and this esteemed profession. As the first UKPA graduate, Thomas Kotheimer, said “Every time a new class graduates, I feel honored.”
To the students of the next 50 years, know you are standing on the shoulders of giants. The over 1,800 alumni have shaped this profession, and we look to the next 50 years as UK PAs address the evolving health care needs of the Commonwealth.
As we celebrate this milestone, allow it to bring us clarity in our commitment to innovation, collaboration and excellence, as we strive to provide health care to all in our communities.
Virginia L. Valentin, DrPH, PA-C Department Chair
A Message from the Program Director
To the Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Friends of the UK PA Program,
As we celebrate 50 years of the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies program, we reflect with pride on the impact our students, graduates, and faculty have made on healthcare across Kentucky and beyond.
From the beginning, our mission has been to educate highly skilled, compassionate PAs prepared to deliver exceptional care—especially in underserved and rural communities. We achieve this through rigorous training, community engagement, and a collaborative environment that fosters leadership, innovation, and service.
We’ve always sought students with strong character, compassion, and a commitment to others—and we’ve worked to help them grow into leaders and advocates who make a difference.
The success of this program is built on the dedication of those who came before us. Because they were great, we are great.
As we look to the next 50 years, we remain committed to developing PAs who will carry this mission forward and continue improving the health of our communities. The best is yet to come!
Kevin M. Schuer, DrPH, PA-C Program Director
OUR BEGINNINGS
1966
First Steps
Congress passes the Allied Health Personnel Act.
UK’s School of Allied Health Personnel is established (later renamed College of Health Sciences), entirely funded though federal grants. Joseph Hamburg, MD is the first dean.
Thomas Kotheimer, PA
1968
Clinical Associate “Experiment”
Thomas Kotheimer graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Clinical Associate certificate, the first person trained as a physician assistant at the University of Kentucky.
In this experimental class, Thomas was the only student.
1971 - 1972
First Program Director
The Comprehensive Health Manpower Act of 1971 called for the establishment of new PA educational programs in 1972.
UK Board of Trustees appointed Earl Vastbinder, MD as first director of Clinical Associate Program in 1972.
1974
Accreditation
The UK PA Program is currently accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) through March 2027. The Clinical Associate program was originally accredited by the AMA in 1974.
Earl Vastbinder, MD
Minutes of the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, 1966 October 21
1973-1975
Inaugural Class
“Over 4,000 people have expressed interest in the new 2-year program in the College of Allied Health Professions called Physicians Assistant Program.
Despite only 10 openings in this non-degree experimental program, 1,500 people with minimum requirements have received replies from the college.”
The Kentucky Kernel (November 13, 1972)
1996-1998
Morehead Expansion
In 1996, UKPA announced a rural campus at Morehead State University. There were 8 students in the first UK PA Morehead class.
The first cohort from the Morehead campus graduated from the UK PA Program in 1998.
Inaugural class of 10 students entered the UK Clinical Associate Program in 1973. These students were awarded Certificates of Completion in 1975.
Brian Brown
David Birch
Francis M. Ballard
Jacqueline Cooke
Mary Bayne
Norma B. Sparks
Patrick T. Walters
Rita Gail Wheeler
Steven Jay Arnold
Wiley Lamont Coldiron
1985
Bachelor’s Degree 2003
A New Facility
The College of Health Sciences moves into the newly dedicated Charles T. Wethington Jr. Building.
A proposal was submitted and approved for the Bachelor’s of Health Science (BHS) degree. The program name changed from Clinical Associate to Physician Assistant Studies.
2000
Master’s Degree
The PAS program submitted a proposal and received approval for the Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS). UK’s Board of Trustees approved the graduate-level program Sept. 19, 2000. The first MSPAS class graduated in 2003.
2020
Residency Program
The UK PA Academic Residency is established under the leadership of Sibu Saha and David Fahringer. The current director is Ryan Hunton.
EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS
1983 - 1991
Training for Appalachian Practice
This project, funded by HRSA from 1983 – 1991 and led by Gerry Gairola, developed an Appalachian studies curriculum to better prepare students for clinical rotations in Appalachia.
1980s - present
Interprofessional Education
Beginning in the 1980s the PA Program, in collaboration with the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, led the way in interprofessional education to provide formative educational sessions to learn to work in interprofessional health care teams. AHEC funded the training throughout the state to include students living and learning together. PA students are still involved with IPE education to this day, but it now includes all the health professions at UK.
Gerry Gairola, PhD CHS Emeritus Faculty
1991 - 2001
Rural Health Interdisciplinary Geriatric Training Program
This was a funded program in collaboration with the Sanders Brown Center on Aging. Led by Gerry Gariola, interdisciplinary (nursing, PA, pharmacy, PT, social work) teams participated in the assessment of patients in rural settings with case management and home visits. This grant supported the teaching of over one thousand interdisciplinary learners.
1995 - 2000
UKPA Students Caring for Patients with HIV
Patricia Jennings led two grants funded by the AIDS Eduation and Training Center (introduced in the Ryan White Care Act) that improved educational training related to HIV. The grants focused on improving PA didactic education, providing PA clinical training, and providing information on HIV on campus and in the community, and encouraging community support.
1996
Identifying Sites for a Rural Health Extension Program
The UKPA program was one of the first at UK to utilize distance learning technology. This technology allowed our program to have near uniformity of curriculum and meet accreditation standards.
Patricia Jennings, DrPH, PA-C Former CHS Faculty
2007 - 2010
Using Standardized Patients to Improve Patient Assessment
Debra Nickell and Samuel Powdrill received a HRSA grant that focused on Using Standardized Patients in Clinical Education. This provided engaging learning for the students to build confidence and clinical acumen.
2012 - 2014
Dual Degree Pharmacy/PA Degree
The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy and the College of Health Science (CHS) Physician Assistant Studies program partnered to provide a selective dual degree program with the goal of training clinicians with both clinical and pharmaceutical skills to enhance the care of rural patients.
2012- 2013
Improving UKPA Student Oral Health Assessment
Karen Skaff led two interdisciplinary grants from OHNEP and NIIOH. These grants were focused on teaching PA students to perform oral health exams and connecting oral health to systemic disease.
2014 - 2018
Norton Educational Training Grant
The James Petersdorf fund provided a four-year training grant led by David Fahringer in the Norton Healthcare System to provide PA students consistent clinical training in one hospital setting. Students were provided at least 50% of their clinical training in the Norton Healthcare System. Approximately 20 students trained under this grant with great success.
2021 - 2024
PAthways to a Healthier Kentucky
Led by Cheryl Vanderford, this Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant aimed to expand access to care for patients with substance use disorders by increasing the number of providers completing Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) training, obtaining a DEA license, and implementing training into practice.
2021
MedSkin
DeShana Collett and Samuel Powdrill were selected to participate in a Launch Blue cohort to market a realistic artificial skin model. Collett and Powdrill developed and patented MedSkin, an artificial skin created to address the problem with the lack of realistic, anatomically accurate lowfidelity task medical trainers that are also multifunctional, durable, portable, and reusable.
MedSkin patent graphic
Samuel Powdrill, MPhil, PA-C CHS Emeritus Faculty
Karen Skaff, RDH, PhD Professor
David Fahringer, MSPH, PA-C CHS Emeritus Faculty
Cheryl Vanderford, MPAS, PA-C Assistant Professor
DeShana Collett, PhD, PA-C Professor
RURAL EXPANSION
April 15, 1994
Health Care Reform Act
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky enacted House Bill No. 250 in response to President Clinton’s move toward National Health Care Reform. Kentucky’s 1994 Health Care Reform Act mandated state universities to produce mid-level health care providers to work in medically underserved areas of the Commonwealth. At that time, the University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Studies program was the only program graduating PAs. Each graduate of the 22-month full-time program was awarded a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree.
February 1995
Rural Expansion Proposal
UK President, Charles Wethington, Jr., submitted a proposal to the Council on Higher Education to expand the UKPA program to Morehead State University (MSU) and Paducah Community College, pending available funding. In May 1995, the Council on Higher Education approved the expansion to Morehead State University.
August 19, 1996
First PAS Class at Morehead
The mission of the Morehead extension campus was to attract students who are from eastern Kentucky and have a true commitment to return to the area and help improve access to medical care throughout the region. The Morehead-campus expansion enrolled 8 students and began with two full-time faculty members, Bradford Schwarz and James Fry. Classes began on August 19, 1996.
Pictured above is The charter
class.
Listed from left to right: MSU President Ronald Eaglin, UK CHS Dean Thomas Robinson, Kimberly Bromagen, Jennifer House, Jill Short, Jennifer Hardin, Laura Leuken, Marcella Adams, Joseph Edie, Mark Fairchild, Assistant Professor James Fry, NEAHEC Director David Bolt, Site Director Bradford W. Schwarz.
Pictured above is an initial planning meeting for the UK PA program at Morehead State University.
Listed from left to right: UK Dean Carolyn Williams, College of Nursing, UK CHS Dean Thomas Robinson, UK College of Allied Health Professions, UK Chancellor James Holsinger Jr., NEAHEC Director David Bolt, Representative John Will Stacy, MSU Vice President John Philley, and MSU Dean Gerald DeMoss, College of Science and Technology.
1997-2000
Program Growth
By March 1997, due to excellent program collaboration between the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, St. Claire Medical Center and Northeast Area Health Education Centers, the program was growing. After a successful first year, under the leadership of Bradford Schwarz, the program expanded enrollment to 10 students and added a new faculty member, Harold R. Hescock, Jr.
By December 1997, student interest in the Moreheadcampus site led to the establishment of a PrePhysician Assistant Student Association to educate prospective students about the UKPA program at MSU and the PA profession.
In September 2000, the UK Board of Trustees approved the UK PA program moving from a bachelor’s to master’s level program.
October 7, 2021
Morehead Campus 25th Anniversary
The program at MSU was originally housed in Reed Hall.
Offices are now located in the Center for Health, Education & Research (CHER) Building.
INTERNATIONAL
years of international partnerships
more than Afghanistan | Australia | Ecuador | Eswatini (Swaziland) | Germany | Ghana India | Ireland | Kenya | Mexico | Peru | Poland | South Africa | United Kingdom
partnerships in more than countries students have learned internationally
Over 100 PA students have trained clinically internationally over the decades. In addition to clinical training UKPA has been engaged in multiple initiatives such as:
Exploring Health and Care of Older People in Great Britian
Gerry Gairola developed a summer course in 2010 that included a two-week course with academic learning, cultural enrichment and a focus on care of the elderly. The program was open to all UK undergraduate students and was provided from 2010 – 2017.
International Academy Physician Associate Educators (IAPAE)
PA faculty have been involved in international consulting around the world and have helped in the only global PA education organization.
International Didactic Training
PA students in the didactic phase of training had the opportunity to enrich their training by going to Mexico with Steve Fisher and Ecuador with Samuel Powdrill (through Shoulder to Shoulder Global) for one week of interdisciplinary team hands-on learning experiences.
International Clinical Rotations
The international rotations have been life-changing experiences for our students, and now graduates. These hands-on clinical training rotations of 4 – 12 weeks have significantly broadened the education of our alumni.
PA Profession Development
Over the years the PAS Department faculty have been involved in helping Great Britain, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa to develop the PA profession in their countries.
UK at UK
For over 20 years, through David Fahringer’s international collaboration with Philip Begg, numerous UKPA students trained for one-month clinical rotations in the United Kingdom. Beginning in the early 1990s, students trained in emergency medicine, OBGYN, genetics, older people’s medicine, internal medicine and more recently in Birmingham, studying orthopaedics. This special partnership provided amazing opportunities for these students going from UK to the UK.
INITIATIVES
These quotes demonstrate the value the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences and the Department of Physician Assistant Studies have placed on encouraging our students to look beyond the borders of Kentucky. This unwavering support enhanced our students’ cultural understanding and ability to embrace all people for human kindness in the communities in which they trained. These transformative experiences have shaped our alumni as they use this cultural experience to enhance their patient care in the United States.
“An invaluable experience to me as a human and as a PA.”
Valerie Phebus, 2006
“...the absolute highlight of my medical training... I have gone on to make international medical volunteer work a priority of my life and career.”
Stephanie Pike McDonald, 2007
“I would encourage all... to do an international rotation in healthcare. It will deepen your passion for treating others [and] make you a better practitioner.”
Stephanie Crowe, 2011
“14 years later [and I] still refer to what I learned on that rotation.”
Aleece Renee Fosnight, 2011
“...life changing and invaluable... provides fuel for my compassion for humanity and desire to provide care for everyone regardless of background or means.”
Emily Johnson, 2013
“I cannot put into words how valuable this rotation was... I was given the opportunity to learn from several of the most brilliant and leading orthopedic surgeons in Europe.”
Alicia Chenail Friend, 2016
“Being abroad let me experience first-hand a different healthcare system model and the way that model directly impacts patient care.”
Taylor Faulkner, 2020
“I gained invaluable insights into global health disparities, cultural approaches to care, and the importance of compassionate, patient-centered treatment.
Morgan Brooke Kelly, 2020
THE FUTURE
The UKPA Academic Residency Program
Founded in 2020 by David Fahringer and Sibu Saha, the UK PA Academic Residency program’s mission is to transform healthcare delivery by training specialized PA leaders. The projected need for physician assistants is expected to rise 33.1% by 2030. The program is committed to address this need through education, innovation, and collaboration, specifically with healthcare partners throughout Kentucky. During their one year in this program, residents engage in clinical work, didactic learning, teaching, research, and advocacy.
The first cohort included five new graduates from the UK PA program and two clinical sites: UK Healthcare and Baptist Health Lexington. The initial four specialties included Hospital Medicine, General Surgery, Acute Care/ Trauma Surgery, and Critical Care. Over the last five years, the program has had as many as 12 PA residents annually
with partnerships at five clinical sites and opportunities in eight specialties. To date, 70% of residency graduates have remained employed in Kentucky, continuing to serve the healthcare needs of Kentuckians.
After David Fahringer’s retirement in July 2023, Virginia Valentin became the Program Director. In January 2025, Ryan Hunton assumed leadership. The program looks forward to even more growth in the future.
This program’s success is built upon the collaboration with our clinical partners.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
UK King’s Daughters
UK St. Claire
UK HealthCare and Baptist Lexington
Baptist Louisville
A Healthier Appalachia HRSA Grant
In July 2024, the Physician Assistant Studies program was awarded a fiveyear, $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for integrated behavioral health training.
The grant will fund the Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health program titled, “A Healthier Appalachia through PA training in Primary Care in Mental and Behavioral Health.”
Co-authored by Virginia L. Valentin and Shelley Irving, the grant will leverage UK’s existing infrastructure, expertise and rural relationships to increase the number of PAs who are specifically trained in integrated behavioral health and substance use disorders.
Shelley Irving, MSPAS, PA-C
Associate Professor
Morehead Campus Site Director
Developing Partnerships at Home and Abroad
As we reflect on the past 50 years, the University of Kentucky PA program works to train the PAs who will serve for the next 50 years. This includes developing clinical partnerships at home with Juniper Health, Primary Plus, UK St. Claire, St. Elizabeth, Baptist Lexington and Louisville, UK King Daughters, and Eastern State Hospital. These partnerships allow us to collaborate to build the workforce for Kentucky’s future.
At the same time, we look to expand our students’ experience through international partnerships with Shoulder to Shoulder Global which takes clinicians and students annually to Ecuador to provide needed healthcare. On the other side of the globe, through Virginia Valentin’s collaboration with Geert van den Brink at HAN University we are building an education abroad experience to increase the understanding of healthcare education and the health system of the Netherlands.
Saha Division of Post-Graduate Education
A division of post-graduate education, named for Sibu Saha, is being developed to house the residency program and planned doctoral program to meet the growing workforce needs of Kentucky currently and into the future.
Sibu P. Saha, MD, MBA Professor and Medical Director
Michael D. Rankin MD Health Education
As the academic programming within our College continues to excel, admission to our programs has become increasingly competitive, and we need more room to build upon the last 50 years of educational innovations, rural expansion and international education achieved by our faculty, staff and students. So, to continue to meet the needs of Kentuckians well into the next century, we will do so in the new Michael D. Rankin M.D. Health Education Building.
The RHEB will be a center for interprofessional education, collaborating with nursing, medicine, public health and our CHS colleagues to assure that we are training clinicians to meet the future needs of our Commonwealth. Overall, the building will provide our program with the opportunity to increase future enrollment.
This will result in an increase in the state’s number of physician assistants, especially in rural areas, who will increase access to care.
Building
To our PA family,
We extend our deepest condolences to the families, classmates, and friends who have, over the years, mourned those we have lost.
Our thoughts are always with you. We acknowledge that this list may not be complete, but we honor the memory of all of those who are no longer with us.
Please know that we stand with you in remembrance as we celebrate the achievements of all of these amazing individuals.
In Memoriam Alumni
Jean
Richard
Anna
Robin
Faculty/Staff/Administrators
The University of Kentucky Physician Assistant (PA) Program’s mission is to educate highly skilled, compassionate physician assistants trained to provide exceptional patient care and advance healthcare in underserved, and rural communities across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Framing the Past, Inspiring the Future
The University of Kentucky Physician Assistant Department is steadfastly committed to excellence in academics, service to others and the fostering of a collaborative environment where all can thrive.
In fact, for 50 years we have been inspiring the future healthcare leaders in Kentucky — one graduate, one innovation and one community at a time. As we reflect on this legacy of purpose and progress, we’re now calling on new champions to turn our lenses forward, and focus on the next five decades of impact.
Join us as we continue framing our past and inspiring the future, shaping what comes next for Physician Assistants for the next 50 years and beyond.
Thank You
We would like to express gratitude to all who assisted in compiling the history and developing this booklet with special thanks to Donna Jones, Gerry Gairola, David Fahringer, Will Hieronymus, Sam Reynolds and Virginia Valentin.
