Description of Award: This award was established in honor of Carl Fasser for his sustained demonstration of visionary leadership toward the physician assistant profession through education, research, clinical practice, and service.  The award is given annually to a Baylor College of Medicine physician assistant faculty or program alumnus who demonstrates exceptional leadership in these same domains.

Deadline: Friday, July 1, 2022

This award will be announced annually during PA Week in October and given during the School of Health Professions Graduation Luncheon in December.  Once nominates, candidates who do not receive the award will remain in the nomination pool for two consecutive years.

Criteria for the Award:  BCM PA Program alumnus or BCM PA who demonstrates leadership in one or more of the following domains (examples are provided, but not inclusive of all components of each domain):

Research
 Example - Serving as a primary investigator for a single or multi-institutional research project or grant.
 Example - Conducting a research project that leads to positive changes in the utilization of PAs.
 Example - Frequent publications in peer-reviewed journals in clinical, education, or PA profession research.

Clinical Practice
 Example - Development and implementation of new or improved processes in clinical practice resulting in improved patient care or outcomes.
 Example - Oversight responsibilities in clinic management resulting in improved efficiency, patient care, or patient outcomes.
 Example - Development of new or improved patient education materials that have been disseminated for others to use.

Education
 Example - Oversight responsibilities in PA student education, either in the didactic and clinical arena - course director, program director, lead preceptor.
 Example - Involvement in directing and planning CME activities that promote the professional development of the PA profession.
 Example - Development and implementation of new or improved learning experiences or teaching strategies that result in improved learner outcomes.

Administrative
 Example - Innovative and strategic planning at the PA program, service organization, or PA profession level to prepare PAs to practice in the future.
 Example - Operational leadership at the PA program or clinical practice level to include hiring, communication, budgeting, and maintenance of a positive workplace climate.
 Example - Establishment of systems to effectively run an organization that employs PAs.

Service
 Example - Service in a leadership role (chair, co-chair, president) on a committee at the national, state, or local level with the goal of representing and promoting the PA profession.
 Example - Mentoring to PA colleagues, serving as an advocate and guide for professional development.
 Example - Creation or leadership of an organization giving PAs the opportunity to engage in community service activities.

Following nomination, the awards committee will contact the nominee for further information, including a CV and letter of recommendation.  

Past Award Recipients:
2019 - Peggy Walsh Sheryka, PA-C
2020 - Susan Kirk, PA-C
2021 - Janie Anders, PA-C