Farewell…
Posted: August 26, 2010
ASHS Dean Randy Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, left his position at the end of June to become senior vice president of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Foundation in Atlanta, Ga. The NCCPA is the nation’s credentialing organization for physician assistants, and its foundation promotes PA excellence through research and education. Dr. Danielsen has been with ATSU in several key positions since 1995, beginning with academic coordinator of the Physician Assistant Program in Phoenix when it was part of the KCOM Southwest Center for Osteopathic Medical Education and Health Sciences. When ASHS was formed in 1998, he became chair of the PA program, and in 2004 he took over as dean of ASHS. Dr. Danielsen has served the university well in those posts, and he was instrumental in ATSU’s accreditation process as co-chair of the Self-Study Steering Committee. For Dr. Danielsen, his departure is bittersweet. “Fifteen years of my life have been dedicated to ATSU (before it was even ATSU!). What we have accomplished together has been nothing short of spectacular — not just the rise in the number of schools or becoming a university, but the continued commitment to ‘Body, Mind, Spirit’ means a lot more than palm trees (Arizona) or Flowering Dogwood trees (Missouri) in front of the buildings. “Friendships and mentoring relationships with a world-class faculty and staff make this a unique place. I will surely miss it.”