The director of Elon University's Physician Assistant Studies program received the PAEA's 2014 Master Faculty Award for her contributions to physician assistant education.
Associate Professor Patricia Ragan, director of Elon University’s Physician Assistant Studies graduate program, received the 2014 Master Faculty Award this month from the Physician Assistant Education Association at PAEA’s Education Forum in Philadelphia.
The award recognizes a program faculty or staff member with a minimum of seven years of service who has made noteworthy contributions to physician assistant education.
Ragan has been involved with PA education for more than 20 years and has served as a faculty member at Elon University since 2011, taking over as program director in 2013.
“Patti has formed a special bond with our students, all of whom admire and respect her,” said Dr. Diane Duffy, director of clinical education in Elon’s PA program. “She has the unique ability to have fun and laugh at herself, all the while maintaining her professional demeanor with the students.”
Ragan’s administrative abilities are just as impressive. “Her leadership skills have created a work environment in which even faculty members who are new to education feel supported and empowered to succeed,” said Associate Professor Brenda Quincy, the program’s academic coordinator.
In addition, Ragan’s scholarly activities and volunteer leadership have contributed significantly to the PA profession. She has served as a site visitor and has more than 20 peer-reviewed publications under her belt as well as having presented at numerous professional meetings.
“Dr. Ragan is one of the most well-rounded and impressive PA educators I have had the pleasure of working with,” said Shalon Buchs, who worked with Ragan at the University of Florida. “She is honestly ‘who I want to be when I grow up.’”
Physician assistants are licensed health care professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. Established in 1972, PAEA is the only national organization in the United States representing PA educational programs. Its mission is to pursue excellence, foster faculty development, advance the body of knowledge that defines quality education and patient-centered care, and promote diversity in all aspects of PA education.