Celebrating Excellence: 2025 APC Appreciation & Excellence Awards Dinner
Celebrating Excellence: 2025 APC Appreciation & Excellence Awards Dinner
Nov 03, 2025
On October 20, 2025, the Department of Internal Medicine hosted its annual Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) Appreciation & Excellence Awards Dinner, honoring the dedication, achievements, and impact of APCs across the department. The evening, held at the HELIX tower, brought together nurse practitioners and physician assistants from every division to celebrate their contributions to clinical care, education, and teamwork.
Hosted by Andi Schindler, MSN, APRN, Ambulatory Director of Advanced Practice, and David Kendrick, MPAS, PA-C, Inpatient Director of Advanced Practice, the event highlighted the extraordinary growth and excellence of the department’s APC workforce, which has expanded to nearly 300 APCs across Internal Medicine and more than 850 across University of Utah Health. This year also marked a record number of nominations for the APC Excellence Awards, with 19 nominees recognized for their outstanding work, most nominated by faculty.
Special guests Thomas K. Varghese Jr., MD, MS, MBA, FACS, Associate Chief Medical Quality Officer and Chief Value Officer for Huntsman Cancer Institute, and John M. Inadomi, MD, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, joined the celebration to express their gratitude and pride in the department’s APCs. Both leaders commended the group’s excellence, professionalism, and essential role in advancing the department’s mission.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 APC Excellence Awards, which recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional clinical knowledge, collaboration, and commitment to teaching and mentorship.
Advanced Practice Teaching Excellence Awardees
Tyler Cairo, PA-C
Tyler Cairo is originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin. He received his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021. He then moved to Utah and completed the University of Utah Hospital Medicine APC Fellowship in 2022. He currently works as a full time Hospitalist Physician Assistant at the University of Utah Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Institute. In addition to his clinical role, he is also the Director of Didactic Education for the Hospital Medicine, Pulmonology, and Hematology-Oncology APC Fellowship tracks.
Matthew McGady, PA-C
Matthew McGady is a physician assistant working in the Medical and Huntsman ICUs. He was trained at the the University of Washington MEDEX PA Program, graduating in 2018. He started his career as a Hospitalist PA in Missoula, where he worked for 3 years before pursuing travel contracts and ending up part of the ICU team at the University of Utah. Matthew has been working at the U for 4 years and loves the team-based approach and continual growth inherent to a career in critical care medicine. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Matthew enjoys the opportunity to teach others through lecturing at the U of U PA program, working with various medical trainees in the ICUs and facilitating CME/clinical orientations in his role as education coordinator.
Advanced Practice Clinical Excellence Awardees
Brynn Parsegov, PA-C
Brynn Parsegov is a physician assistant specializing in lymphoma and myeloproliferative neoplasms, with over five years of experience in the field. She began her career as a registered nurse in pediatric intensive care before pursuing her PA degree at the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program. Brynn has contributed to numerous abstracts and published articles, and served as principal investigator for a prospective, observational trial of her own design, which she presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in 2024. She was also honored as first author on an abstract that received the Overall Best Abstract award at the International MPN Congress in 2022. In addition to her clinical work, she is an educator and guest lecturer at the U of U PA program.
Grace Woo, DNP, APRN, ACHPN
Grace Woo is a nurse practitioner with the Supportive and Palliative Care Program, serving patients at the University of Utah Hospital and Huntsman Cancer Hospital. She is passionate about supporting seriously ill patients through symptom management and goals of care discussions, as well as empowering fellow healthcare professionals to become more effective communicators. Grace enjoys teaching primary palliative care skills to providers rotating through the inpatient service. She has also contributed to educating Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students at the College of Nursing on end-of-life care and navigating difficult conversations. Additionally, she serves as a facilitator for the Utah Certificate of Palliative Education (UCoPE) as well as the Transition to Internship Course simulation at the School of Medicine.
Each honoree was celebrated for embodying the highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and leadership in clinical care and education.
Before closing the evening, Kendrick offered a special tribute to Holli Martinez, DNP, APRN, ACHPN, who has chaired the APC Awards Selection Committee since 2019. Martinez was recently selected to deliver the 2025 Nessa Coyle Leadership Lecture at the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care—one of the most prestigious national honors in her field. “Her thoughtful leadership and commitment have shaped this event into what it is today,” Kendrick said.
The evening concluded with thanks to the department’s leadership team—John Inadomi, MD, Thomas Varghese Jr., MD, MS, MBA, FACS, Fred Welt, MD, Mary Beth Scholand, MD, and Nate Wanner, MD—and to the APC Awards Selection Committee members: Gretchen York, NP, Kristin Akers, ACNP-BC, ACHPN, Zara Mahamat, DNP, Kelsey Gaid, PA-C, and Chair Holli Martinez.
The evening concluded with a celebration not only of the award recipients but also of all APCs in the department. We are proud of the dedication, skill, and compassion each of our advanced practice clinicians brings to patient care, education, and teamwork. Their hard work and commitment make a meaningful difference every day, and this event was a moment to honor and recognize their invaluable contributions.