UM Shore Regional Health Receives Physician Assistant Education Association's Partnership Award

University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) recently accepted the 2023 Partnership award from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). William Huffner, MD, MBA, FACEP, FACHE, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, UM SRH, accepted the award on behalf of the health system on October 12, 2023, at a ceremony in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The PAEA Partnership Award is presented annually to organizations that demonstrate outstanding support and dedication to the education and development of physician assistants. The award nomination cited UM SRH's consistent demonstration of excellence in providing educational opportunities, resources and mentorship to physician assistant students since the program's inception in 1997.

"This esteemed recognition is a testament to our commitment to advancing healthcare, and most especially, to the physician and advance practice provider preceptors who continually provide and advance healthcare education and foster collaborative partnerships," said Huffner. "This award is truly an honor."

"SRH leadership continues to seek learning opportunities and direct, hands-on training activities for our physician assistant students during their clinical phase," said Cherilyn Hendrix, Assistant Dean of the Physician Assistant (PA) Education & PA Program Director at University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB).

Nearly 60 UMB PA students have trained at SRH in the past eight years, equating to approximately 112,000 hours of clinical training. Since 2016, the organization has hired 44 PA graduates in eight specialties.

"Working with Shore Regional Health has been a breath of fresh air," the nomination read. "They are easy to work with and very responsive. The students always say how much they have learned from their preceptors."

"The partnership between UM Shore Regional Health - all its physicians and advance practice provider instructors preceptors and front-line staff, and PAEA, has resulted in meaningful initiatives that enhance the education and training of physician assistants," said Huffner. "Through joint efforts, we have created a supportive environment for students to gain valuable clinical experience and contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient care."