Historical Happenings Newsletter of the Physician Assistant History Society Message from the Inside this edition: President Message from the President .......................page 1 Karen Mulitalo, MPAS, PA-C National Public Radio Interview …………page 1 Happy Spring and Happy 50th Veterans Memorial Garden Dedication ......page 2 Anniversary to PAs across the country! PAHx Celebrates 15 years ..........................page 4 On April 8th, the PA History PAHx Documents its Own History …...…..page 5 Society kicked off the semicentennial of the PA profession with a tribute to Gasoline Alley - Special Edition Comic our founding military PAs. PAHx organized a Book.............................................................page 5 beautiful ceremony and rededication of the renovated Viva Las Vegas …………….......................page 6 and expanded John McElligott Veterans Memorial Garden at the Stead Center in Durham, NC. It was a PAHx 50th Anniversary Toolkit ….............page 6 wonderful celebration. The PAHx encourages How Did It All Begin? ................................page 7 everyone to visit the Stead Center and the Veterans Garden whenever you are visiting the Durham area. PAHx Associates New Levels of Support .page 7 PAHx Launches New Website ……………page 8 PAHx’s New Team Member ……………...page 8 PA Banners on Display at AAPA …………page 9 The Passing of Four Pioneers ………..……page 9 Illustrated History Book Order Form..........page 12 Read more about the commemoration on page 2 of this newsletter. Check out the ceremony photographs here: National Public Radio Interview http://pahx.pastperfectonline.com/photo/D22705E5- C5A9-48CA-9E83-480944974440 Features “50th Anniversary of PAs” On April 7, the National Public Radio Atlanta radio The PA History Society has been working on several station (WABE) included interviews of PAs in “A other 50th Anniversary projects included in this Closer Look.” The host, Jim Burress, interviewed edition: Ken Ferrell, PA-C, one of the three first 1967 • a special edition Gasoline Alley comic book graduates of Duke University PA Program, and Dawn featuring the adventures of Chipper Wallet, Morton-Rias, EdD, PA-C, president/CEO of PA-C (NPR Interview, continued on page 2) (President’s Message, continued on page 2) Historical Happenings, Volume 11, Issue 2 – Spring 2017 pg. 1 Honoring our History; Ensuring our Future for 15 Years: 2002 - 2017 (President’s Message continued from page 1) (NPR Interview, continued from page 1) • a 50th Anniversary Toolkit for PAHx NCCPA. The segment, “50th Anniversary of PAs” Associates occurs at the 20-minute mark of the broadcast. • the PA profession traveling banner exhibit, http://news.wabe.org/post/closer-look-syrian-air-strikes- created in partnership with the National physician-assistants-and-more -- Library of Medicine • a colorful 50th Anniversary Poster Mr. Burress asked Ken Ferrell: • a limited edition 50th Anniversary Lapel • why he took the chance 50 years ago to Pin enroll in the first ever PA program. • what the first PA program classes covered As the PA profession celebrates five decades of and what it was like to be a pioneer in the providing healthcare excellence, the PA History profession. Society is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Over the • what changes he has seen in PA scope of years, the Society has collected many interesting practice over the past 50 years. historical resources that are featured on the PAHx • how the profession will change in the next website for generations to enjoy. The Society 50 years. welcomes financial donations and historical materials from the profession. Please contact our staff at Dawn Morton-Rias answered questions about: [email protected] for details on the scope of • the eligibility requirements for admission to acquisitions we can accept. PA school, the educational curriculum, degree granted and certification requirements Please come by the PAHx booth at the annual of PAs. AAPA Conference in Las Vegas this month to say hello. The PA community is always welcome! • the differences between PAs in 1967 and 2017. • where the profession is headed in the next 50 years. Veteran Memorial Garden • the Veterans Memorial Garden dedication Dedication ceremony on April 8. Reginald D. Carter, PhD, PA In closing, Ken Ferrell gave On a comfortable, blue-skied spring afternoon, over advice to potential and 80 individuals gathered on April 8th to rededicate the current PAs. "… patients John McElligott don't care how much you Veterans Memorial know until they know how Garden at the Stead much you care. Resist Center in Durham, becoming so busy that you NC. The attendees don't have time to be a good enjoyed a moving listener. There is no better ceremony way to let a patient know surrounded by the that you care than to be a circular plaza with good listener." camellias, pansies, Japanese laceleaf maple Garden Photograph courtesy of Ken Harbert trees, brick and fine (Garden Dedication on page 3) Historical Happenings, Volume 11, Issue 2 – Spring 2017 pg. 2 Honoring our History; Ensuring our Future for 15 Years: 2002 - 2017 (Garden Dedication continued from page 2) Joseph Kelly, chief operations officer for the NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, spoke slate-pavers and plaques honoring PA veterans. The of his personal experience being cared for by Air medic statue, “Life Savers Then – Care Givers Now” Force PAs and expressed his appreciation for a was the focal point of the ceremony. garden honoring veteran PAs. Speakers included Representatives of the four national PA organizations North Carolina that supported the construction of the garden included Academy of PAs NCCPA President/CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D., President Truett PA-C; ARC-PA board member, Patti Ragan, Ph.D., Smith, PA-C; PA PA-C; PAEA President William C. Kohlhepp, DHSc, History Society PA-C; and AAPA Immediate Past President Jeffrey Historian Emeritus Katz, PA-C. Reginald Carter, John McElligott The Womack Army Medical Center Color Guard and Ph.D., PA; John McElligott, PA, MD, for whom the a bugler from Fort Bragg participated in the garden is named; ceremony, presenting and retiring colors and playing Michael Milner, taps. Although he could not attend, Don Pedersen, DHsc, PA-C, RADM, PhD, PA, the originator of the combat medic statue USPH (Retired), who “Life Savers Then – Care Givers Now,” sent spoke on behalf of the remarks in which he noted that the sculptor, John AAPA Veteran Prazen, was a former US Navy Corpsman during the Caucus; and the Korean War who at one time considered becoming a garden’s design PA. Pedersen concluded by thanking donors “for architect, Julie Sherk, providing such a magnificent setting for the RLA, ASLA, a North Mike Milner sculpture, which I believe captures the caring and Carolina State University professor. compassion of our military forebearers, and provides a lasting reminder of our noble profession’s unique Karen Mulitalo, MPAS, PA-C, president of the PA history.” History Society, recognized donors, contributors and honored guests, including Ken Ferrell, one of the first three Duke PA graduates; George McCullough and Jimmie Keller, two of the first PAs assigned to the medical staff of the White John Davis, Earl Echard, Dawn Morton-Rias, House; and Drs. Lovest Alexander and James Carter Harvey Estes, Jr. Jimmie Keller & George McCullough We invite all PAs, friends, family and the public to and Alfred Sadler, Jr., two pioneering physicians who visit the Veterans Memorial Garden when visiting the helped develop model legislation for the PA Durham, NC area. The list of PA veterans who are profession. honored with garden pavers may be found here. If you are or know a PA veteran who is not yet recognized with a paver you may order one. Historical Happenings, Volume 11, Issue 2 – Spring 2017 pg. 3 Honoring our History; Ensuring our Future for 15 Years: 2002 - 2017 PA History Society Celebrates NCCPA for their extraordinary and important th support. 15 Year Anniversary Reginald D. Carter, PhD, PA PAHx President Karen Mulitalo, MPAS, PA-C, expressed her In addition to dedicating the Veterans Memorial appreciation to th Garden, the PA History Society celebrated its 15 all past and th anniversary at the Stead Center on April 8 . The current trustees, PAHx Board of Trustees held their meeting at the donors, founding Doubletree Hotel in the morning. They attended a members, dual dedication and anniversary ceremony in the associates and afternoon. sponsors of the Society. NCCPA President/CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, EdD, PA-C, provided opening remarks, and on behalf of Karen Mulitalo the NCCPA’s Board of Directors, expressed pride in The ceremony ended with a reception and toast from having the PA History Society as a supporting Reginald Carter, Ph.D., PA, a cofounder and first organization. She noted the many accomplishments executive director of the Society. He said in part, “the of the Society over the past six years in preserving, Society wants all of you in the PA profession to keep analyzing and documenting the history and legacy of making history. We need the work.” He closed with the PA profession. a toast and salute to the profession for its current and future success. PAHx Historian Ruth Ballweg, MPA, PA-C Emeritus, described the founding of the PA History Society and its accomplishments. She noted that the National Library of Medicine (NLM) banner exhibit Dr. Reginald Carter toasts the PA History Society on its 15th Anniversary with Lori Konopka-Sauer, the Society’s managing director. Stead Center, April 8, 2017. PA History Society Board of Trustees and Friends, Cartoon Character Chipper Wallet Veterans Memorial Garden, April 8, 2017. Speaks at PA Veterans Memorial on display at the Stead Center and the beautiful Garden Dedication Veterans Memorial Garden are two tangible examples of the PAHx commitment to showcase the Thanks to Jim Scancarelli, cartoonist for Gasoline history and legacy of the PA profession. She read Alley™, Chipper Wallet, PA-C, made it just in time comments from Jeff Henrich, EdD, PA, a cofounder to speak on behalf of pioneering PAs at the PA and first president of the PA History Society.