2026 Military Service Award Recipient Combines Service, Clinical Impact, and Adaptability 

COL Sharon Rosser Has Dedicated Her Career to Advancing Military Medicine and the PA Profession 

May 14, 2026

By Alex Morse 

Across combat zones, research institutions, and leadership roles, Col. Sharon L. Rosser, DSc-PA, MSS, PA-C, has dedicated her career to advancing military medicine and the physician associate profession. After almost four decades of service, she is the recipient of AAPA’s 2026 Military Service Award. 

The Military Service Award recognizes a veteran or active-duty PA who demonstrates exemplary healthcare service and exemplifies the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare to current members of the military, veterans, or a medically underserved community. 

Though she always felt called to service, Rosser didn’t always plan to become a PA—until her husband introduced her to military PAs. “What I describe as ‘not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up’ ultimately led me to becoming a PA—a culmination of service, clinical growth, lifelong learning, and a commitment to caring for soldiers and the military family,” Rosser said.  

Rosser began her military career as an enlisted combat medic with the South Dakota National Guard. Since then, she has held several leadership roles, including President of the Society of Army Physician Associates, Deputy PA Consultant to the Surgeon General, and her current role as Commander of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. In this role, she leads a large, multidisciplinary team of military, civilian, and contractor professionals, and oversees a substantial research portfolio focused on optimizing Army service members. 

“As a PA, I am continually growing and taking on greater responsibility while working within a team that truly multiplies capability,” Rosser said. “For me, it’s the combination of service, clinical impact, adaptability, and the opportunity to develop others that makes this profession so fulfilling.” 

Rosser became one of the first four military PAs to complete a doctorate degree with a focus on emergency medicine, and was the first PA to complete the Emergency Point of Care Ultrasound fellowship, a program traditionally reserved for physicians. “[PAs] are not just part of the healthcare system—we are force multipliers who extend access to care, improve readiness, and bring a depth of experience that enhances outcomes for every patient we serve.” 

Rosser made history in 2021 as the first PA to serve as Deputy and Acting Commander of the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center. In that role, she led over 200 personnel and managed a $30 million research portfolio, focusing on automation of battlefield casualty care and directly advancing combat medical capability. 

Rosser has served in multiple combat deployments, including Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. In Iraq and Afghanistan, she provided life-saving care to over 350 wounded soldiers, triaged more than 30 casualties after a rocket attack, and provided medical care while under fire. 

“As senior physician assistant, her devotion to providing world-class medical care for U.S. soldiers and coalition forces strengthened the ties between the multinational forces and the citizens of Iraq,” said Brigade Surgeon William Lewis. “Rosser’s dedication to her fellow soldiers on the battlefield upholds the finest traditions of military service and reflects great credit upon her, Task Force Danger, and the United States Army.” 

Despite Rosser’s commendable service in leadership and patient care, she feels like her impact can be best felt in the providers she helped to shape. Training and mentoring medics, she said, has always been central to her mission—and throughout her career, she has trained and mentored combat medics, PAs, nurses, and physicians. During her career, Rosser spent nearly two years providing field training to over 6,500 combat medics annually.  

“This award reflects not only my journey, but the collective accomplishments of the teams I have been privileged to serve alongside,” Rosser said. “The military has given me the opportunity to work with extraordinary officers, enlisted personnel, and civilians across a wide range of assignments—opportunities shaped by the people beside me.” 

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