McDaniel elected director at large for PAEA

Janie McDaniel

Congratulations to PA Studies faculty member and director of admissions Janie McDaniel, BSMT, MLS(ASCP)SC, who has been elected director at large for the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). Her term on the PAEA Board of Directors will begin in January 2015.

McDaniel, who was also recently promoted to assistant professor, has been a PA educator for more than 20 years and has a long history of service and leadership within PAEA. She was a member of the CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) Admissions Committee for 2 years, followed by 6 years as chair of the committee. She also serves as faculty for PAEA’s basic skills workshops, which help new faculty to develop their skills as educators. In November 2012, McDaniel was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Awards Luncheon held during PAEA's Annual Education Forum. The award honors a person who has provided sustained, exceptional service or leadership to PAEA or who has contributed in other ways to the advancement of the PA profession.

During her time on the PAEA Board of Directors, McDaniel wants to focus on two goals: how PAEA can (1) help programs recruit a more diverse pool of applicants that better reflect the population of patients PAs provide care for, and (2) support the growth of new programs by helping them to find and mentor new faculty, develop new preceptors, and identify new rotation sites. “This is an incredible time to be in PA education,” McDaniel said. “With PAEA’s recent organizational restructuring and development of a visionary strategic plan, the time is right to take the next step towards becoming a stronger presence in the healthcare arena.”