Constance Goldgar, PA-C, MS is a Professor (Lecturer) in the Division of Physician Assistant Studies. She grew up in Chicago and graduated from Grinnell College with a BA in Biology. She attended the Child Associate Program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center where she received her MS in Child Health. She has worked clinically in the areas of pediatric gastroenterology, adult gastroenterology, and genetic epidemiology. Connie worked as academic coordinator at UPAP in 1993-1995. After a four year hiatus in France, she was recruited back to UPAP in 1999 to head up the new Masters of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) curriculum, which she headed for over 18 years, making its focus evidence-based medicine (EBM). This EBM curricular model has been shared with over 150 PA program faculty nationally and has been incorporated in varied forms into numerous PA programs.
For many years Connie has also been dedicated to advancing the medical genetics/ genomics curriculum development for PAs in particular and health professionals generally. This has occurred locally and nationally with a multidisciplinary team of educators through the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), including development of PA genomic competencies and serving as an advisor for the Genetics/Genomics Competency Center (G2C2). This online repository of vetted genomics educational resources was created to provide materials for use in the health professional classroom as well as for self-directed learning in genetics and genomics by practicing health care professionals, including physician assistants, nurses, genetic counselors, pharmacists, and physicians. She was primary author and designer with a team of PAs and physician of a web-based PA interactive educational website sponsored by an NIH grant from the National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics (NCHPEG), in conjunction with AAPA. In 2010, she received the national Michael J. Scotti, Jr., MD Award from NCHPEG for her genetics educational endeavors.
Ms. Goldgar served several years on the Board of Directors of the national Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), including as President (2011-2013). She also was invited as the only PA to be involved with the national movement, Family Medicine for America’s Health (FMAH), as a core strategic task team member with the goal of addressing national workforce and education issues for family medicine and primary care teams. Ms. Goldgar has written and been funded with several grants, including Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants for the PA Program and has authored more than thirty peer-reviewed articles (17 as first author), and has been an invited speaker numerous times nationally including National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the Institute of Medicine.
