Meet more of our team!

PA Week is coming up soon, so it’s time to prepare for a whirlwind of exciting events that'll make your head spin faster than a centrifuge! From virtual conferences to local community health fairs, PAs across the nation are stepping out of the exam rooms and into the limelight.

• "PA Proud" Social Media Blitz: Join the digital celebration by sharing your PA pride using #PaWeek Let's make those hashtags trend hotter than a fever! During 2023’s PA Week, PAs received 75 million earned media impressions. That’s a lot of support for a much-appreciated profession.

• PAs on the Plaza: Now an annual tradition, hundreds of PAs and PA students meet in New York to celebrate their careers in the Good Morning America and TODAY show plazas. In 2023, over 500 PAs and PA students showed up to represent! This year’s gathering will occur on October 7. If you want to attend, you can sign up at https://fs1.formsite.com/aapa/jbzuadv55n/index. But if you can’t make it to New York, be sure to tune in that Monday morning; you can still share in the fun.

• Project Access: It’s not just for PA Week, but PA Week can still be a great time to get inspired about participating in Project Access. Project Access is an information program supported by AAPA and PAEA through which PAs and PA students visit schools. There, they share inspiring information about the PA field with historically marginalized students. You can get a Project Access Toolkit at AAPA’s website: https://www.aapa.org/about/dei-resource-center/project-access/.

This is certainly an exciting month for us here at Scott Massey, PhD, LLC. As you know, we’re taking the weeks before National PA Week to introduce you to many of our talented expert coaches and consultants. Let’s not waste another moment! Permit me to introduce you to…

Jennifer R. Eames, MPAS, DHSc, PA-C

Dr. Jennifer Eames' journey into the PA profession was driven by a desire for balance and impact. "PA was the best fit for balance of medical curriculum and autonomy level desired, as well as fast school training," she reflects. This decision set the stage for a career marked by continuous growth and significant contributions to the field.

One of Jennifer’s crowning achievements was founding the PA program at Hardin-Simmons University. Under her leadership, the program successfully navigated the complex accreditation process, achieving continued accreditation and high PANCE pass rates.

In this accomplishment, Jennifer was the State of Texas’s first woman to ever serve as a founding program director and to see that program through to full accreditation. And that’s not all. A few years later, Jennifer was the first woman in Texas to receive the rank of full professor.

After 12 successful years in full-time PA education, Jennifer transitioned to a role that combines her passion for education with her extensive clinical experience.

Her experiences laid the foundation for her current role as a consultant, where she now guides other PA programs through similar challenges. Her expertise is particularly valued in navigating the complexities of clinical year planning and self-study aspects of accreditation applications.

“It is wonderful to be a consultant and help others through painful processes that I endured as a new program director and faculty member in the past,” Jennifer shares. “We relieve the burden on our clients. It is extremely rewarding knowing they can sleep better at night with the support we can provide.”

At the core of Jennifer’s professional philosophy is a deep-seated belief in the power of mentorship. “Everyone improves with mentorship,” she asserts. This belief drives her commitment to nurturing the next generation of PA educators and practitioners.

Her favorite moments in her career reflect this passion:

·        Hearing that her program was fully accredited for the first time

·        Giving the speech at the first white coat ceremony

·        Receiving an alumni award at her alma mater, coming full circle in her journey.

Jennifer’s enthusiasm for the PA profession remains undiminished after 22 years. "I haven't had a single dull day - not one!" she exclaims. Her passion is evident in her approach to both her work and personal life. She loves stories of people triumphing over adversity, doting on her granddaughter, and traveling adventures. Recently she took her first hot air balloon ride in the skies of New Mexico. Way to fly, Jennifer! “We all must continue to learn to grow and push ourselves to achieve new things. Otherwise, we stagnate.”

As she continues to make her mark in PA education and consulting, Jennifer remains inspired by the creativity and resilience she sees in PA programs nationwide. Her work with Scott Massey PhD LLC allows her to be part of a team that combines extensive experience with data-driven strategies to support PA programs through their most challenging times.

Dr. Jennifer Eames’ journey is a testament to the impact that one passionate individual can have on an entire field. Through her work in education, consulting, and mentorship, she continues to shape the future of PA education, ensuring that the profession she loves so dearly continues to thrive and evolve.

Stephanie Bowlin, EdD, PA, DFAAPA

Dr. Stephanie Bowlin's journey is nothing short of inspirational. Born to a 16-year-old mother with only a high school education, she internalized her mother's powerful words: "Girl, you will take yourself to school!" And take herself to school she did, becoming the first woman of color to hold the title of Physician Assistant with a doctorate in California, and later, the first PA of color to be appointed as a Dean.

With an impressive 35 years of experience in PA education and administration, Stephanie's career is a testament to her commitment to excellence. Her roles have been as diverse as they have been impactful:

• Former PA Program Director at Western University of Health Sciences

• Tenured Associate Professor

• Former Chair of the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

• Dean of the College of Health Sciences for two decades

• Assistant Team Chair for WSCUC (WASC Senior College and University Commission)

Under her leadership as Dean, the programs she oversaw achieved impressive retention rates and board scores, setting a new standard for PA education.

Stephanie’s dedication to the PA profession goes beyond administrative roles. She embodies the profession's core values, emphasizing teamwork and patient-centered care. One of her most cherished on-the-job moments exemplifies this commitment:

"I once saw a young girl whose mother described mood changes, attributing them to pre-teen hormones. Despite an unremarkable exam, I pushed for an MRI, which revealed a tumor. The mother's gratitude made all my training worth it."

This experience underscores Stephanie’s belief that “a good PA can make the right diagnosis, but a great one will demonstrate humanistic values when providing treatment. The patient is more than a number.”

Stephanie’s journey is a powerful narrative of breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes. She reflects, “According to society, a woman of color raised by a single mother would not likely be a successful PA, Dean, or Chair of ARC-PA. But I'm more than happy to smash those stereotypes and set an example of leadership.”

Today, Stephanie continues to shape the future of PA education as a key Scott Massey PhD, LLC team member. Her expertise in PA accreditation, honed through years of experience including chairing the ARC-PA Commission and serving as a site visitor, is invaluable in helping PA programs navigate the complex landscape of accreditation standards.

“Educators need consultants because it's very difficult to keep up with all the Standards and be successful,” Stephanie notes. “Consultants fill that void, and I'm passionate about seeing all PA Programs succeed.”

Stephanie’s vision for the future of PA education is rooted in her personal experiences and professional insights. She aims to leave a lasting legacy of leadership and excellence, inspired by her grandchildren to “always be better.”

As she continues contributing to the field through consulting and leadership roles, Dr. Stephanie Bowlin remains committed to her core values of service, education, and diversity. Her journey from a child told to "take herself to school" to a pioneering leader in PA education inspires the next generation of healthcare professionals.

In our next blog…

Next week I’ll introduce you to two members of our outstanding coaching team. We’ll hear from Marty Minto, MHS, PA-C, and Echo Kopplin, DMSC, PA-C. Please join me then!