Alumni Recognition

MEDEX Graduate, Phoumy B. Bounkeua, PA-C, PhD Receives the 2010 PAragon Award for Humanitarian PA of the Year

AAPA's PAragon Award for Humanitarian PA of the Year was announced in early March. Phoumy B. Bounkeua, PA-C, PhD, graduate MEDEX Seattle class 23, will be presented this award at a ceremony to be held on Monday May 31st, 2010 during the AAPA National Conference in Atlanta, GA. After graduating from MEDEX, Phoumy earned his Master of Sciences degree from Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School then went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy Degree - Health Sciences, " The Observation Report on Health Care System in Lao People's Democratic Republic for Purpose of Developing A Primary Health Care Training Program in Lao PDR.", June 2004. He is recognized by the American Academy of Physician Assistants as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants for exemplary achievement in service to the physician assistant profession, in the advancement of health care for all people, and in dedication to the community. Phoumy has been an administrator and team leader with the Aloha Medical Mission Lao PDR missions since 2002 and also serves as the HLI Vice President and Lao PDR Project Director. Phoumy has always been a true leader in the PA profession and continues to inspire all of us. Congratulations Phoumy! for more information about the 2010 PAragon Awards visit aapa.org

MEDEX Graduates Receive MEDEX Alumni Scholarship

		The Spirit of MEDEX MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Training Program Each year faculty selects from the graduating class several students to receive the MEDEX alumni scholarship. These recipients are chosen because they best exemplify “The Spirit of MEDEX” Faculty in Seattle, Yakima and Spokane have chosen Jennifer Erickson graduate of Seattle class 41, Joel Meier, graduate of Yakima class 14 and, Benjamin Pate, graduate of Spokane class 11, to receive this award. All of these student have worked hard to achieve success in the MEDEX PA program and are recognized for their leadership. MEDEX Northwest has a 40-year history of training primary care physicians assistants (PA’s) to work medically underserved populations in the Pacific Northwest Region. The MEDEX program graduated over 1,600 PAs since its creation in 1969 under the joint sponsorship of the University of Washington and the Washington State Medical Association. The MEDEX program selects experienced health care personnel for training in an intensive eight-quarters program. Students spend four quarters in didactic training followed by four quarters of clinical rotations, which include a six- month primary care preceptorship with a family physician or general internist.

AAPA Awards 2009 PAragon Award to MEDEX Seattle Class 26 Graduate Laurie Benton, PA-C

Texas Physician Assistant, Laurie Benton received the Physician - PA Partnership Award at the 2009 AAPA National Conference May 22nd, 2009. Benton, a PA-C from Temple, TX has worked with Charles Foulks, MD developing programs designed to educate medical providers and patients on the causes and prevention of chronic kidney disease. Read the official press release for more details about Laurie, Dr. Foulks and the PAragon Award.

MEDEX Graduates from All Over Attended the AAPA Conference in San Diego, CA

MEDEX Graduates, Students and, Faculty came together with PAs from across the country at the AAPA annual conference held May 22nd through May 26th, 2009. This event offered an opportunity to earn continuing medical education credits (CME), attend poster sessions and discussion groups regarding current issues facing practicing PAs, and gave everyone a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues.

The 2009 conference wasn't "all work and no play". Conference organizers arranged for tickets to the San Diego Padres home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It seems the PAs in attendance brought the Padres some luck as the team led the series two games to one.

MEDEX Graduates and Faculty enjoying the WAPA Reception at the AAPA Conference .

MEDEX Faculty Grace Landel, PA-C (left) and Graduate Seattle class 18, John Yerxa, PA-C (right)	Graduate Seattle class 36, Jamie Notzka PA-C (left), Graduates Seattle class 37; Jodi Leisholm PA-C, Angie Baker PA-C and, Gary Johnson PA-C (right)
Graduate Yakima class 1 Linda Dale PA-C (right), Graduate Yakima class 9 Debbie Spitler PA-C(center) and guest.	From right to left: Graduates Seattle class 31 Barbara Fayette PA-C and Sinclair Blake Jr. PA-C, Seattle class 33 graduate Kevin Hall, PA-C, Seattle Part-Time class 6 Graduate Laurie Brown, PA-C and quests.
Former MEDEX Faculty, Kaye Kvam PA-C	Seated: Current WAPA President Bill Crowell, PA-C (right) with Linda Krause (left) Executive Administrator. Standing: WAPA Past President, David Woods, PA-C (right) speaking with reception attendees.

Graduates Seattle class 34 (left to right) Lori Hill PA-C, MayLou Hernandez, PA-C and, Nicole Zalewski PA-C.

2009 MEDEX Alumni Reception

The 2009 MEDEX Alumni Reception was held Saturday evening, January 24th at the WAPA conference. WAPA and the School of Medicine Alumni Association were contributing sponsors. We had a large turnout and were able to award four alumni awards, a preceptor recognition certificate and over $10,000 in student scholarships. WAPA scholarships were also awarded at this event.

Bridget Albright, PA-C	Robert Glazewski, PA-C	Peter Martin, PA-C