2026 Preceptor of the Year Demonstrates the Transformative Impact of Mentorship

Dustin Keenan has trained more than 120 PA students over the course of his career

May 14, 2026

By Alex Morse 

Through his work across clinical practice, military service, and education, Dustin Keenan, PA-C, CAQ-OS, demonstrates the ways in which physician associates play a vital role in improving healthcare delivery. 

As the recipient of the 2026 AAPA/PAEA Preceptor of the Year Award, Keenan has distinguished himself as an educator and mentor of exceptional impact. Over the course of his career, he has trained more than 120 students and aspiring providers. Currently, he practices in orthopaedics and serves as adjunct faculty for the University of South Carolina PA Program, where he coordinates rotations across orthopaedic subspecialties, lectures in the classroom, and plays an active role in student selection. 

The Preceptor of the Year Award, presented in partnership with PAEA, honors a preceptor who demonstrates exemplary service in the clinical education of PA students as a mentor, role model, and instructor; and furthers the image of PAs by exemplifying the PA profession’s philosophy of providing accessible, quality healthcare. 

Keenan’s journey to medicine was not straightforward. Growing up with limited financial support, higher education felt out of reach. Enlisting the U.S. Army as a combat medic offered him a path forward through a developing passion for patient care—and with the encouragement of his mentor, Major Mark Dutton, he pursued the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP).  

His training there, he said, deepened both his clinical knowledge and his commitment to lifelong learning. “It also strengthened my desire to mentor and support those following a similar path, sharing both knowledge and experience to help them grow in the field,” said Keenan, who continues to mentor enlisted medical personnel through IPAP applications, helping them pursue careers as PAs and expand access to care within the military health system. 

With 16 years of military service—including roles as a combat medic, critical care flight medic, and aeromedical PA—Keenan brings lessons learned in high-pressure, resource-limited environments to every patient encounter and teaching moment.  

“Hosting 15-20 students each year is incredibly rewarding, and I strive to dedicate time to review a broad range of orthopaedic topics, provide guidance on career decisions, and support professional growth,” said Keenan. “What matters most to me as a PA is helping shape the next generation of high-quality PAs.” 

Keenan’s mentorship extends beyond PA students to undergraduates, and he reserves up to two clinic days a week specifically for shadowing opportunities. These efforts have already had measurable impact, as several of his mentees have been accepted into PA programs. He wouldn’t be able to accommodate as many learners, he said, without the support of physician Greg Grabowski, fellow PA Ryan Chadwick, and the rest of his care team. 

In addition to teaching and precepting, Keenan serves on a working group within Prisma Health, where he works as the APP Director of Orthopaedic Surgery. Currently, he is teaming up with APP leaders to create a compensation plan for student preceptors. This initiative recognizes the time and effort required to train students while encouraging more experienced clinicians to participate in preparing the next generation of PAs. 

In his role at Prisma, Keenan advocates for advanced practice providers by supporting onboarding, facilitating educational opportunities, coordinating student rotations, and providing communication access between APPs and administrators. Outside of his clinical practice, he has served in the South Carolina Army National Guard for 16 years and currently serves as an aeromedical PA at McEntire Joint National Guard Base. 

Despite these competing demands on his time, Keenan still makes precepting and mentorship priority. “I believe we owe it to future PAs to share our knowledge, model strong work ethic, and demonstrate dedication to patient care,” he said. “By doing so, we not only support the individuals we mentor, but also help shape the future of the medical profession.” 

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