The Preceptor’s Handbook for Supervising Physician Assistants

Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, is Professor and Dean of the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS), a School of A.T. Still University in Mesa.'He is a former Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at ASHS. He is a Past Chair of the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).'Dr. Danielsen has served on the NCCPA Board since 1997. He has served as the Chair of the Research & Test Development Committee, as the Secretary of the NCCPA Board of Directors, as a member of the Executive Committee, and most recently chair of their International Testing & Certification Task Force. Dr. Danielsen served on the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants 1986-1990 and 2001-2009. Dr. Danielsen is also a member of the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants (ASAPA) and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). In 2008 he was honored as a Distinguished Fellow. He is the PA Editor-In-Chief and Chair of the Editorial Board of Clinician Reviews Journal.'Dr. Danielsen received his PA training at the University of Utah MEDEX program (1974) and his Masters in PA Studies from the University of Nebraska (1997), and a holds a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences with en emphasis on medical education from the Union Institute & University (2003). ' Ruth Ballweg graduated from the MEDEX program with Class 11 (1978) and returned to practice in Ashland, Oregon as the community’s first PA. Her undergraduate degree is from Southern Oregon State College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington (1997). Barry University, in Florida, awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1999 in recognition of her political and policy leadership in the PA profession. She joined the MEDEX faculty in 1981 and became the Program Director in 1985. Ms. Ballweg has served as President of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs, the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Society for the Preservation of PA History. Her activities include work with a number of physician organizations to promote the effective utilization of PAs. She is an active participant in the leadership functions of the UW School of Medicine and serves on the Executive Admissions Committee for the school. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Group Health Cooperative. Linda Vorvick, MD is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine (1982), and the affiliated Providence Family Medicine Residency Program (1985).'She is board certified in family medicine and her medical practice included family medicine and obstetrics.'She has experience in medical group management as a clinic medical director and as a regional medical director for over 10 clinics that employed physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dentists. After leaving medical group management, she worked as a regional vice president in an HMO serving Medicare and commercial patients and later as a regional medical director in a pharmaceutical company.'For the past 5 years Dr. Vorvick has been a lecturer at MED. Donald Sefcik is the senior associate dean and a tenured professor at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.'' Dr. Sefcik is also the Director of Academic Innovation and Psychometrics in the college.' A 1985 graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, Dr. Sefcik holds a B.S. in pharmacy and an M.S. in pharmacology from Butler University, and an M.B.A. from Purdue University. He is board-certified in both family practice and emergency medicine.' Since 1987 Don has been involved in various aspects of the education and training of nursing students, nurse practitioners, osteopathic medical students, pharmacy students, and physician assistants, including serving as medical director for a physician assistant program.' Dr. Sefcik is a Past Chair of the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), has served on multiple state and national committees and task forces, and has received numerous awards for his teaching.