Meet some of the people of MEDEX Northwest – students and faculty, founders and visionaries – who have helped to forge the forward path for PAs and affect change in world of progressive and responsible healthcare delivery.
Inter-Professional Education or IPE brings students from differing programs together to learn from one another and improve patient outcomes. In the case of the Free Dental Clinic, MEDEX Northwest students and UW Dentistry students work side-by-side to bring a more holistic and team-based approach to the healthcare needs of their [...]
In August of 2017, 113 students graduated from the MEDEX Northwest physician assistant training program at the University of Washington. We celebrate this occasion with a lively 7-minute video of the graduation proceedings plus over 330 photos from across the four MEDEX training sites in Anchorage, Spokane, Seattle and Tacoma.
Jace Meng of MEDEX Northwest Seattle Class 50 finds energy and inspiration from volunteering with young adult cancer survivors through First Descent, an adventure organization that takes participants out on kayaking expeditions. As survivors overcome the limitations and fears of their disease, Jace is learning firsthand about the disease and [...]
Lois Thetford, PA-C was recently awarded the prestigious UW Alumni Humanitarian Award for her work on behalf of the homeless. A longtime advocate for social change, Lois’ entry into healthcare and the PA profession focused her efforts in a new way. Now she’s teaching others to follow in her footsteps.
His skills always in demand during 23 years as a U.S. Army 18D Special Forces medic, Chris Heim, PA-C proved to be an anchor for his cohorts of MEDEX Seattle Class 41. With a promising civilian PA career in place, Chris died unexpectedly in 2015. He is now memorialized with [...]
Henry Stoll has been a PA educator for 41 years. 38 of those years were spent at MEDEX Northwest where his influence throughout the community is felt wide and deep. This 9-minute tribute video takes a look at Henry’s contributions and career at the time of his retirement. Henry Stoll [...]
From 2005 to 2016 Steven Meltzer, PA served as full-time lecturer to the MEDEX Northwest Spokane and Yakima sites. However, it is his commitment to rural healthcare access and rural communities that distinguishes him as a PA Pioneer. In this enlightening and sometimes humorous video, we learn of the depth [...]
As the physician assistant profession marks its 50th birthday, opportunities have arisen for PAs to assume leadership roles within hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Three PA leaders—all MEDEX alumni—are profiled here. Together they exemplify a future where PAs can fill major roles in medical administration.
Long recognized as a founding father of the PA profession, Dr. Richard A. Smith achieved numerous milestones in his 84 years. He served as a Peace Corps Medical Director, a Civil Rights leader assigned to desegregate US hospitals, and a Global Health innovator. Today over 100,000 US physician assistants follow [...]
On January 1st, 2017, President Barack Obama honored Richard A. Smith, MD, a founding father of the Physician Assistant profession, for his many contributions in the areas of PA education, racial desegregation and global health. Dr. Smith has devoted his lifetime to the cause of improving access to basic healthcare [...]