Name: William L. Tozier, PA-C, Ph.D.

Current Residence – City State: San Antonio, TX

Current Employment: US Army

Position: Program Director, Interservice Physician Assistant Program

Length in this position: 1 year (26 years in the Army)

Where you were born – City State: Claremont, CA

Undergraduate College: Prescott College, University of California, Davis

PA Program: Duke University Physician Associate Program  

Graduation date: May 1976

Additional Degrees Received/From Where: M.P.H. Occupational Health, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center; Ph.D. Education, University of Denver

Past Professional/Community Activities (up to 5 that provided leadership growth):

•  Senior Physician Assistant, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2008

•  PA Consultant to the Army Surgeon General

•  Department of Defense Representative to the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

•  Secretary and President, Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants

Present Leadership/Community Activities (up to 5 that you consider most fulfilling):

•  Program Director, Interservice Physician Assistant Program

Professional Memberships:

•  American Academy of Physician Assistants

•  Society of Army Physician Assistants

•  AAPA Veterans Caucus

Honors and Awards (up to 5):

•  Distinguished Fellow, American Academy of Physician Assistants

•  Duke University Physician Assistant Program Distinguished Alumnus

•  2003 Federal PA of the Year, Veterans Caucus

•  Legion of Merit

•  Bronze Star

Family:

Wife – Sarah, my source of support for 33 years

Son – Evan, Landscape Architect

Hobbies:

Backpacking, kayaking

Interests:

Travel (one reason for joining the military)

Last book you read:

Detective novels on plane rides for enjoyment. I get more out of television documentaries

Favorite quote:

“Select, don't settle.” You must be honest with yourself and your goals.

Who is your idol? Why?

My father is my idol.   As an architect (now retired) he epitomizes for me the characteristics of a self-made, creative, and energetic individual whose accomplishments go beyond organizational structure and can be seen as substantial contributions to the community.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is part inspirational and part managerial.   Leadership gets people to achieve their mission and goals in the best possible way.   The example that comes to mind was the part I played in the creation of the Army Medical Department's (AMEDD) Tactical Combat Medical Care course.  

I served as the PA Consultant to the Army Surgeon General at the beginning of the war in Southwest Asia.   Army PAs returning from early combat identified a significant gap in their knowledge and skills needed to treat combat casualties.   Amazingly, the AMEDD did not have such a course, and the civilian trauma courses were found to be inadequate.   Army training for point of injury resuscitative care was directed at the medics, and emergency surgical training was provided to the physicians and nurses.   This gap became evident as PAs served in their first major combat operation.

As consultant, I helped to organize a group of experienced PAs to collect the necessary course content.   The instructional material that group compiled was validated against current medical and surgical practice with the Army Trauma Surgeon and others.   I then identified and reassigned one individual who had the skills and drive to put this whole project together and supported his efforts to get resources and instructors.   Additionally, I marketed the need for this training through the appropriate training organizations and policy makers.   The result was the first military course to train point-of-injury care at the provider level.   The Tactical Combat Medical Care course was completed in less that two years -- from concept to first class -- and has now trained thousands of PAs, physicians, and senior medics who have saved numerous lives on the battlefield.

The point I'm trying to make is that I am not an expert on combat resuscitative care.   I do not teach the classes, nor do I direct the program.   However, my leadership helped bring this critical training course to fruition and integrate it into the AMEDD.   We identified a problem, came up with the solution, and, most importantly, brought it to closure in a timely manner.

Last Revised9/2/08