{"id":12021,"date":"2018-04-10T13:36:38","date_gmt":"2018-04-10T20:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/medex\/?p=12021"},"modified":"2018-04-10T13:36:38","modified_gmt":"2018-04-10T20:36:38","slug":"honoring-pa-achievements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familymedicine.uw.edu\/test\/honoring-pa-achievements\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring PA Achievements"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>his April 28th<\/sup>, 2018, MEDEX Northwest will host<\/span><\/strong> our annual Alumni Reception and Awards Ceremony<\/em> at the SeaTac Doubletree Hotel. This year the theme is \u201cHonoring PA Achievements\u201d, and five of our best and brightest are spotlighted for their accomplishments in various areas. These are truly the role models for the physician assistant profession.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don Coerver, PA-C, Ph.D., CHSE, DFAAPA<\/strong> \u2013<\/span>
\n MEDEX Lifetime Achievement Award<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Instrumental in the development of both MEDEX Northwest Eastern Washington sites in Yakima and Spokane, Don Coerver devoted 20 years of his life to PA education. Don started his career with MEDEX as a part-time lecturer and assumed the role of the Spokane Site Director from 2015 until his retirement in May of 2017. In between, he was responsible for the Basic Clinical Skills curriculum, and a large part of the Medical History and Physical Exam course. Don also brought innovative medical simulations to all the MEDEX teaching sites through the use of simulation mannequins to train students. He remains a member of the Society for Simulation among Certified Healthcare Educators<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Don was naturally skilled at science and math, leading him to attend an engineering college in his home state before leaving school in his Sophomore year in 1971 to join the Air Force as a lab tech. He was assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base<\/em> in Spokane, WA where he obtained his degree in biology and chemistry at nearby Washington State University<\/em>. Don also has a master\u2019s degree from Alaska Pacific University<\/em> and earned his PhD from Gonzaga University<\/em> in Spokane.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>At Fairchild Don became acquainted with several clinical-year military PA students and investigated the possibilities for himself. In 1978 he attended the Air Force\u2019s PA program (prior to the existence of IPAP) that was affiliated with the University of Nebraska<\/em>. From that date until his retirement from the Air Force in 1991, Don Coerver was a military officer, and retired at the rank of Major.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019s medical career as a military PA started out in family medicine, and eventually moved into orthopedics. This took him everywhere from Montana and Anchorage to the Iraqi Gulf War. Upon retirement from the military, he relocated to Spokane, WA where he took a job as an orthopedic PA at the local Rockwood Clinic<\/em>. In 1994, he was recruited by MEDEX leadership to give orthopedic lectures at the newly established Yakima site and, three years later, the Spokane site.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Don Coerver on the occasion of receipt of his Master Faculty Award from the Physician Assistants Education Association in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Don believes that teaching requires a thick skin, as feedback from the students can be swift and furious. \u201cBut most of the time if they give me something\u2014a kernel of something that can be beneficial\u2014then I can do something constructive.\u201d<\/p>\n

From involvement with 20 graduating MEDEX classes, Don Coerver has touched at least 500 lives. Many times Don has witnessed students struggle in their didactic year, only to flourish in their clinical year. \u201cI\u2019ve supported people that I thought would make good practitioners,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m just proud of them, and proud that in a small way I helped them get where they got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Smith, Ph.D., PA-C, the current Director at MEDEX Northwest Spokane site, says, \u201cDon has been a fantastic mentor. As the new site director, I had big shoes to fill. Don and I have a lot in common (Air Force PA program, specialty PAs, retired Air Force) and yet our approach to things can be very different.\u00a0 He has taught me a ton about PA education and leadership; he has taught me to approach things in a calm manner and that you need to let some things roll of your back. Overall, Don has helped me to become a more balanced leader and teacher. For that I\u2019m eternally grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Congratulations to Don Coerver, winner of the 2018 MEDEX Lifetime Achievement Award<\/em>!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Simon Mendoza, MCHS, PA-C<\/strong> \u2013<\/span>
\n The Future of MEDEX Award<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Simon Mendoza, PA-C of MEDEX Seattle Class 48<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since graduating from MEDEX in 2016, Simon has served his community as a PA at Columbia Valley Community Health<\/em> in Wenatchee, WA. In addition to working with patients in a primary care clinic, he serves his patients by providing care through home visits. He is a fierce advocate for his patients, including undocumented migrants and the LGBTQ+ community. Shortly after graduating, Simon become one of the first PAs in the State of Washington certified to prescribe Suboxone for treating patients with opioid use disorder. His commitment to service and underserved communities has been recognized by the state and he was recently been awarded funds by the Washington Health Loan Repayment Program covering the full cost of his education loans.<\/p>\n

Simon is proud to be a PA and reaches out to local high schools to teach young people about the PA profession.\u00a0 He has stayed connected to MEDEX by supporting currents students as a preceptor for Care Week and primary care rotations, as an interviewer for future MEDEX students, and by presenting at MEDEX Information Sessions to future PA applicants. Simon has a long career ahead of him with the goal of giving back to the program in as many ways as possible.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>As a young, undocumented migrant with protected status under the Dream Act<\/em> called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals<\/em>, Simon is an active participant in efforts to support other people with this same DACA status. While the political debate continues around this issue, Simon has been involved in supporting the political campaigns of those who support the Dream Act<\/em>. He has been the keynote speaker at several events designed to educate the public about people protected under this legislative act. Even as his own future is uncertain, he advocates for continued protections for all people with DACA status.<\/p>\n

Terry Scott, MEDEX Northwest Program Directors says, \u201cSimon Mendoza epitomizes the MEDEX mission. His commitment to serving vulnerable populations in our state is outstanding. We are proud to have Simon as part of the MEDEX community\u201d.<\/p>\n

Congratulations to Simon Mendoza, winner of the 2018 Future of MEDEX Award<\/em>!<\/p>\n