PAs Go Beyond

PA Brian Bizik shares what an average day looks like as he balances a practicing at an Federally Qualified Health Center in Idaho, overseeing urgent care clinics, and precepting for Idaho State University PA and NP programs. This November, he will be presenting at the world’s largest educational symposium on COPD, the GOLD International COPD Conference.

PAs Joe Ciavarro and Patti Cuartas, along with 18 PA students, traveled thousands of miles to provide care in Cusco, Peru. Over the course of five days, they transformed community spaces into temporary clinics, treating predominantly indigenous farming communities.

Jill Nelson recently spent two weeks trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal with the Wilderness Medicine Society. There, Nelson visited EverestER, as well as nearly hospitals and clinics, to learn about common conditions in wilderness medicine and treatment techniques, as well as how clinicians provide quality care with limited resources in the region that is home to Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

Viet Le, AAPA’s 2026 PA of the Year, has practiced in cardiology for 14 years. As a clinician, he prioritizes clear language to effectively communicate with his patients, collaborates on research projects to bring new knowledge to the bedside, and is an active advocate for the PA profession.  

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.