2025 PA of the Year Transforms Healthcare Through Leadership and Public Service

“The PA profession has empowered me to serve with compassion, purpose, and a lifelong commitment to improving lives.”

May 8, 2025

By Annie Mattix

Colonel James Jones, PhD, PA-C is the 2025 recipient of PA of the Year Award, for his significant contributions to military medicine, public health initiatives, and the advancement of the PA profession. With a career spanning multiple leadership roles within the military, federal government, and at several academic institutions, Jones’s work in 2024 alone reflects a deep commitment to clinical innovation, public service, and equitable access to healthcare.

The PA of the Year Award honors PAs who demonstrate exemplary service to the community; exemplify the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare to all; and furthers the image of the profession in a positive, meaningful way.

Jones’s journey into healthcare began in rural Texas and New Mexico, where limited access to medical services deeply influenced him. The challenges his family faced, including his mother’s chronic health issues and a shortage of local providers, motivated him to pursue a career aimed at addressing such disparities. Jones ultimately made the decision to become a PA to make a broader clinical impact and care for diverse populations. As he recalls, “Becoming a PA was the perfect path. It allowed me to combine my passion for medicine with leadership and service.”

Since entering the PA profession, Jones has held positions in both military and civilian healthcare systems, as well as academic institutions, serving communities at home and abroad. “The PA profession has empowered me to serve with compassion, purpose, and a lifelong commitment to improving lives,” he says.

In 2024, Jones served as the 11th PA Consultant to the U.S. Army Surgeon General, where he “played a critical role in shaping military PA policy, expanding PA leadership roles, and advancing professional education.” His advocacy efforts resulted in increased PA visibility in executive healthcare leadership roles and policy development, demonstrating the critical role PAs play in military and federal healthcare strategy. Jones also served as Director of the Medical Capability Development Integration Directorate, where under his leadership, the department received the Army Medicine Wolf Pack Award to recognize exceptional teamwork and contributions to Army Medicine.

Later in 2024, Jones was tasked to lead the Public Health Command West, where he managed public health initiatives for over 20 states and parts of South America to ensure the health and readiness of servicemembers.

Most recently, Jones was appointed as the Director of the White House Medical Unit, marking the first time a PA has held this position. He now oversees the medical care and health preparedness of the President, Vice President, their families, and senior White House staff, in addition to managing a multidisciplinary team responsible for medical planning and dignitary support in both domestic and international contexts.

“The most rewarding aspect of being part of the PA profession is the privilege of taking care of patients and being trusted to provide compassionate, high-quality care—even to our  nation’s highest leaders,” Jones says. “As PAs, we serve in diverse roles and environments, delivering care across the globe in support of missions that truly matter.”

Jones says that professional experiences have allowed him to influence strategic medical operations and public health initiatives at the highest levels, while also giving him the opportunity to champion PAs’ critical role in delivering high-quality, mission-ready healthcare.

In addition to his military and administrative roles, Jones is an active educator and author. He holds faculty positions at George Washington University, Baylor University’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program, and the University of Phoenix, where he teaches and mentors the next generation of PA leaders. His publications—including books and peer-reviewed articles on telemedicine, prolonged field care, tactical medicine, and dignitary health services—further contribute to the academic discourse surrounding the PA profession.

Beyond his professional appointments, Jones volunteered in San Antonio to provide primary care, preventive screenings, and patient education to vulnerable populations. Internationally, he has supported military medical teams in deploying preventive medicine programs across South America, addressing areas such as infectious disease monitoring, vaccine outreach, and public health education.

Jones’s recognition as the 2025 PA of the Year reflects his sustained commitment to leadership and service within the PA profession, as well as his efforts to shape military medicine, public health, and healthcare education in both national and international settings.

“PAs are servant leaders, deeply committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care in every setting,” Jones says. “We don’t just treat illness—we strengthen communities, support families, and protect freedom around the world.”

Annie Mattix is AAPA’s Media Relations Coordinator. She can be reached at [email protected].