Physician Assistant Studies faculty shine at PAEA Conference, Thurnes recognized for leadership

Faculty members from Elon’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies recently showcased their expertise at the 2024 Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Conference held Oct 8-10 in Washington, D.C. The faculty who presented at the prestigious national event highlighted groundbreaking approaches in PA education, featuring diverse topics such as competency-based education, student success, institutional leadership, and artificial intelligence in academic settings.

Most notably, Associate Professor Tracey Thurnes was awarded the PAEA Leadership Development Award in recognition of her contributions to the PA education community and her leadership in fostering innovative practices. Her letter of recommendation noted her work as Director of Accelerated Pathways to PA and PT, as well as her work with the Center for Design Thinking and mentorship of PA students in master’s projects that have resulted in publication. Thurnes is currently on the ballot for “Director at Large” for the PAEA Board of Directors. Visit the PAEA website for more information about the award.

Assistant Professor K. Alexis Moore led a workshop on competency-based education rubrics and was joined by Associate Professor C. Kim Stokes, who serves as department chair and program director. This collaboration, “Competency Based Education: Solving the Rubrics Cube,” explored how structured evaluation tools can transform the learning experience, ensuring that students are meeting necessary competencies while preparing for the demanding PA profession and aligning throughout the curriculum. Each participant walked away with a worksheet for mapping and step-by-step tools for completion.

Stokes also co-facilitated a discussion on student success titled “Supporting Students on the PA School Merry-Go-Round” that challenged the room of PA educators to reconsider our approach to student support and crowdsourcing ideas. She also co-facilitated the PAEA Faculty Development Mission Advancement Committee’s presentation, “Advancing Academia: the Boyer Model of Scholarship” in which participants considered where they are along their career pathway and how to advance.

As a member of the PAEA Diversity and Inclusion Mission Advancement Committee. Assistant Professor Anthony Clare co-presented the sensitive but crucial issue of navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in a session titled “DEI Backlash: Navigating Institutional Fear in the Contemporary Educational Landscape”. In this session, Clare discussed strategies to maintain momentum in DEI initiatives while addressing challenges that institutions face in the current sociopolitical climate. This is his first time presenting at an education forum.

Meanwhile, “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) To Improve Academic Work Efficiency” was the focus of a joint presentation by Thurnes and Associate Professor Antoinette Polito. Their session highlighted how AI tools can be harnessed to streamline administrative tasks, allowing educators to focus more on instruction and student engagement. The use of AI in education is a rapidly emerging trend, and their insights were well-received by conference attendees.

Polito also provided a presentation titled “Empower through Education! How We Teach About Weight Matters” addressing pervasive weight bias, stigma and the curricular approaches PA programs take towards patients in larger bodies. The session also explored the intersectionality of weight with other health inequities such as those encountered through ethnicity.

Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies program was also well-represented at the conference through the awarding of the Society of Point of Care Ultrasound (SPOCUS), an American Academy of PAs constituency group, as PAEA’s Partnership Award. In recent years, SPOCUS leadership has included our own Associate Professor Cynthia Bennett. Through involvement with SPOCUS, Elon PA students have been at the forefront of innovation through bedside diagnostic skills.

The PAEA conference continues to serve as a platform for educators to exchange ideas and advance the future of Physician Assistant education. Faculty members from Elon’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies have once again demonstrated their commitment to advancing both the academic and professional landscape for PA students and educators alike.

Currently, 85% of the Elon PA faculty serve as volunteers with the PA Education Association to include micro-volunteering (moderating sessions), exam development boards, facilitating Faculty 101 sessions for new educators, serving on mission advancement committees, and running for the Board of Directors. With 310 current PA programs and more than 2,000 PA educators nationally, this places Elon at the forefront of PA education.