2025 Publishing Award Recipient Examines the Effect of a Doctoral Degree on PA Graduates

James “Rick” Kilgore Has Blazed a Trail for the PA Profession Over 40+ Years

May 8, 2025

By Alex Morse

James “Rick” Kilgore, DMSc, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, has over four decades of experience as a physician associate, stemming from his interest in medical research and patient care throughout high school and college. The PA profession not only satisfied these interests, but also established him as an advocate and leader in the healthcare workforce, and eventually an author and educator, paving the road for future providers.

Kilgore is the recipient of the 2025 AAPA Publishing Award for his contribution to the comparative study: “Characteristics and career effect on PA graduates of a doctor of medical science program,” published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Associates (JAAPA).

The Publishing Award is granted to a PA who published, during the prior calendar year, a new clinical or research article expressing original and/or scientifically rigorous ideas substantiated by best practices and contributing to the advancement of the PA profession.

“This award represents the efforts of a number of faculty members to collect and analyze multiple years of data since the inception of the University of Lynchburg’s DMSc program,” Kilgore says. “This collaborative effort is representative of the quality of research that is expected of all the doctorly prepared PAs in the future. The authors are appreciative of the recognition of the team and the publication.”

Throughout his career, Kilgore has watched the PA profession evolve and has served in several leadership roles, including being elected president of the Alabama Society of Physician Assistants in 1985 and 2002, and president, past-president, and treasurer of the PA Foundation, now the Physician Associate Foundation (PAF). He has also served on AAPA’s Board of Directors and as a member of several AAPA committees, including the Political Action Committee, which he chaired from 2003-2004. Kilgore was named an AAPA Distinguished Fellow in 2007.

Kilgore’s work in clinical research led to his establishment of Clinical Research Consultants, Inc. where he was president, CEO, and chairman of the board of directors for 13 years. His firm conducted clinical trials in collaboration with over 60 major pharmaceutical companies from around the world.

Due to his experience with the military and vaccine development, Kilgore volunteered as the logistics director for the Jefferson County Task Force on COVID-19 at the request of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and the Alabama Department of Public Health.

“The COVID-19 pandemic comes to mind quickly where without a PA in many situations, care would have been limited or nonexistent,” he says. “As healthcare is changing, PAs must evolve into leadership roles, increase advocacy, and assume more responsibility for the healthcare of tomorrow.”

Currently, Kilgore is a primary care provider and the medical director at a free and charitable clinic, Community of Hope Health Clinic. He is also an associate professor at the University of Lynchburg School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he provides instruction in behavioral and addiction medicine.

Kilgore will accept the AAPA Publishing Award at AAPA 2025, his 43^rd consecutive AAPA conference.

“PAs are committed to making a difference: a difference in patient care, medical and academic research, and education,” Kilgore says. “PAs are up to the task to contribute to the changing healthcare delivery system.”

Alex Morse is AAPA’s Communications Manager. She can be reached at [email protected].