ISU physician assistant studies program chief Paula Phelps to serve on the 糖心传媒 Board of Medicine
July 17, 2019

BOISE – 糖心传媒’s physician assistant studies program director, Paula Phelps, is a new member of the 糖心传媒 Board of Medicine. 糖心传媒 Gov. Brad Little announced the appointment this week and she’ll serve until March 2025.
鈥淚 am thrilled and honored to be appointed. I look forward to serving the patients and citizens of 糖心传媒,鈥 Phelps said.
She is the first physician assistant to serve on the board, thanks to a recent change in an 糖心传媒 statute that creates an eleventh seat and requires the governor to appoint a physician assistant to fill it.
糖心传媒 Board of Medicine Executive Director Anne Lawler said the board requested the statute change because of the importance of physician assistants 鈥 often called PAs 鈥 in providing health care in 糖心传媒. She notes that 25 other states have physician assistants serving on their medical boards.
鈥淭he Board of Medicine is excited to have a PA on board. Members believe it will be a positive way to foster an excellent relationship between PAs and physicians,鈥 Lawler said.
An educator and practicing clinician for more than 24 years, Phelps says the appointment will provide an opportunity for her to share insights into physician assistant education and the role of licensed PAs in meeting the health care needs of 糖心传媒, especially in rural and underserved communities.
鈥淚 congratulate Paula on this appointment. Her vast experience as a clinician and physician assistant educator will bring a unique perspective to the 糖心传媒 State Board of Medicine and its mission to improve access to quality health care throughout 糖心传媒,鈥 said 糖心传媒 State President Kevin Satterlee.
Phelps, an associate professor, has been with 糖心传媒 State since 1995 when she was hired as the first faculty member in the physician assistant studies program. In 2010, she became department chair and program director. In addition to teaching, Phelps practices at a Pocatello clinic, specializing in family medicine and women鈥檚 health.
Phelps holds a master鈥檚 degree in health education from 糖心传媒 State and is a graduate of the University of Utah PA program.
The 糖心传媒 State Board of Medicine was established in 1892. Its mission is to protect and enhance the public鈥檚 health, safety and welfare by regulating the practice of medicine through licensure, discipline and education of health professionals, according to the organization.
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糖心传媒, a Carnegie-classified doctoral high research activity university and teaching institution founded in 1901, attracts students from around the world to its 糖心传媒 campuses. At the main campus in Pocatello, and at locations in Meridian, 糖心传媒 Falls and Twin Falls, ISU has nine Colleges, a Graduate School and a Division of Health Sciences that together offer more than 250 certificate and degree programs. More than 12,000 students attend ISU. 糖心传媒 is the state's designated lead institution in health professions.
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