Army Physician Assistants (PAs) have a diverse set of skills. They are able to serve in a variety of settings from deployed environments and clinical roles to educational settings and leadership positions. The majority of Army PAs have served multiple combat tours and of Army Medical Officers, Army PAs have earned the highest number of valor awards and purple hearts. This success is not a mystery but derived from the exceptional tactical, technical, and leadership attributes of Army PAs.
Army PAs serve in key strategic positions throughout the AMEDD and the Army from the White House, to the school house (AMEDD Center and School), to senior positions within the Joint Health Services Enterprise (JHSE) . Army PAs possess a vast arsenal of skills making them ideal to serve in the most diverse and difficult positions and environments. Given past performance, opportunities will only continue to expand.
Deployed Environments and Clinical Roles
The Army PA-Medic Team is the face of Army Medicine to the line. At the tip of the spear, Battalion PAs train leaders, first responders and medics to ensuring their respective units are ready to react to combat situations down range. Through their efforts and expertise, Army PAs have contributed to the lowest Died of Wounds (DOW) rates in modern history.
Soldiers in the Reserves and National Guard contribute to their communities as well as the Army. Reserve and National Guard PAs' drive is an example of the term "capability": they lead from the front and get the job done.
Educational Settings
Army PAs are geographically dispersed at all corners of the world providing the best care for all our men and women in uniform and casualties of war. They are well trained and well educated through academic programs such as the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP), civilian PA programs, and several Long Term Health and Education Training opportunities including the Army/Baylor Doctor of Science Programs in Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics and General Surgery, Training with Industry, PhD programs, Masters in Public Health, Business Administration, and in Health Care Administration.
Leadership
Current Army PAs in leadership positions draw on their past assignments to contribute healthcare expertise to the Mission Commanders and to develop doctrine and policy that focuses on the Army Ready and Resilient Campaign, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, and the Performance Triad. Army PAs embody the Army Medicine motto of "One team... One purpose" by fostering teamwork and cooperation providing expert medical advice, as liaison between commands, health policy organizations and agencies to focus on health for Soldiers, Family Members, and the Civilian workforce.
Army PAs in command positions leverage their expertise and knowledge of the JHSE , on the home front and abroad. They are sought out as experts where clinical knowledge enhances decision-making processes at the operational and strategic levels.
Army PAs are uniquely prepared and able to engage leaders across the Armed Services on clinical and non-clinical command topics from the tactical to strategic levels. This experience has better prepared PAs in leadership positions to lead, not only as master clinicians, but also manage complex organizations.
There are key Army PA leaders not only in the Army but also across the JHSE, other governmental agencies, national associations and constituency societies. Army PAs in these key leadership positions showcase the Army PAs' stories, successes, and struggles.
In the future, Army PAs will continue to serve as the healthcare link between the Warfighter and the AMEDD. They relate to the mission and vision of being agile, adaptable, versatile, and innovative to meet the ever-changing challenges of today and tomorrow. Army PAs are proud of the care they provide for this Nation's greatest treasure: the men and women in uniformed service, their Families, and Retirees. Army PAs are truly part of "One team… One purpose! Conserving the fighting strength!"
About the Authors:
Col. John Balser is currently the U.S. Army Reserves Command Surgeon stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Col. Pauline Gross is currently the Installation Management Command Surgeon stationed at Joint Base San Antonio--Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Lt. Col. John Detro is currently the Physician Assistant consultant to the Army Surgeon General and the 187th Medical Battalion Commander, Academy Brigade, Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence in Joint Base San Antonio--Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Lt. Col. Amelia M. Duran-Stanton is currently the Deputy Chief of the Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division at the U.S. Army Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, Massachusetts.
Lt. Col. Robert Heath is the commander of the Public Health Command District- Fort Gordon, Georgia, which provides veterinary and food protection/defense support to Department of Defense installations.
Lt. Col. Amy Jackson is the Battalion Commander of the Academy Battalion (Provisional), Academy Brigade, Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence in Joint Base San Antonio- Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Lt. Col. Jeffrey Oliver is currently the Chief, Physician Assistant Section and serves as the Assistant Executive Officer to the Army Surgeon General at Falls Church, Virginia.
Disclaimer: The views presented are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Defense, the United States Army, or the United States Army Medical Command.
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