PA alumni, students gather to celebrate ATSU-ASHS dean and alum
Posted: May 29, 2015
More than 60 A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Health Sciences’ physician assistant alumni and students gathered during the American Academy of Physician Assistants’ (AAPA) annual conference May 23-27 in San Francisco. During the gathering, alumni and students applauded Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, dean of ATSU-ASHS, for being named winner of the 2015 Eugene A. Stead Jr. Award of Achievement – the highest award given by the AAPA. Fellow ATSU-ASHS PA alum, Daniel McDermott, MS, PA-C, ’04, was also honored by by his peers after he received the Distinguished Service Award, given by the school’s alumni board.
Bert Simon, DHSc, PA, chair, physician assistant studies, ATSU-ASHS, and Geoffrey Hoffa, DHSc, ’14, PA-C, ’00, gave the following updates at the event:
- We’re proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ASHS this year, and we have the hard work of our alumni, faculty, staff, and students from the last two decades to thank for this milestone. For a quick summary of what ASHS has accomplished in this time, please see here.
- PA students have continued to distinguish themselves with all of the additional involvement they have in community projects, such as the falls prevention and health failures projects, and the Special Olympics. Moreover, starting in August, half of each class will be receiving their clinical training in community health centers, furthering ATSU’s commitment to training healthcare providers confident in caring for the underserved.
- Daniel McDermott, dean of Health and Human Services at Stark State College, was chosen by the ATSU-ASHS Alumni Board as this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Danielsen accepted the award on Daniel’s behalf and shared these sentiments: “I thank ATSU, their leadership, and the instructors who took the time to assist me in my learning path. I still reach out to those who guided me through the academic path and will forever be indebted. I am a proud alum of ATSU. Thank you for this award. I am truly honored.” Congratulations, Daniel!
Additional photos can be found by visiting the alumni Facebook page.
