Alumni
Constance Goldgar, MS PA-C, Scholarship
Constance Goldgar, PA-C, MS is Professor Emeritus in the University of Utah Division of Physician Assistant Studies. She grew up in the inner city of Chicago, graduating from Grinnell College with a BA in Biology. After attending the Child Associate Program (University of Colorado Health Sciences Center), and receiving her MS in Child Health, she worked clinically in the areas of pediatric/adult gastroenterology, pediatrics, and genetic epidemiology. Connie has been dedicated to advancing medical genetics/ genomics curriculum development for PAs and other health professionals nationally. She has also served national leadership roles with the Physician Assistant Education Association and Family Medicine/Primary Care strategic groups. One scholarship in the amount of $5000 will be awarded to a qualified applicant determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. The awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if the recipient is a first-year student, or at Graduation, if the recipient is a second-year student.
C. Hilmon Castle Founder's Fund Scholarship Endowment
The awards are given based on demonstrated clinical excellence during the first year of study and clinical practice in the didactic year Friday Clinic experience. This endowed scholarship program was created through a generous financial donation from Dr. C. Hilmon Castle, the founder of the Department of Family and Community Medicine (now the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine) and co-founder (along with William M. Wilson, PhD) of the Physician Assistant Program. Contributions to the endowment fund are greatly appreciated as we attempt to reach our goals. Awardee will be determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. Awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if recipient is a first-year, or Graduation, if recipient is a second-year student.
The Marcia L. Feldkamp, PA Scholarship
Dr. Feldkamp, PA, MSPH, PhD is a graduate of our PA Medex Class 9 and has dedicated her career to the study of birth defects. Her interest in birth defect epidemiology began while working as a physician assistant and caring for women of reproductive age. Due to the limitations of existing data in Utah, Dr. Feldkamp led the efforts to develop a clinically based birth defects surveillance system within the Utah Department of Health. This was done as a means to conduct the research necessary to improve our understanding of pathogenesis and etiology. The Utah Birth Defect Network (UBDN) is a surveillance system that is population-based, statewide, and operates through active case-ascertainment of birth defects. Dr. Feldkamp was also one of several founding members of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network in 1997. Two Scholarships will be awarded Spring Semester to qualified applicants determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. Awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if recipient is a first-year, or Graduation, if recipient is a second-year student.
Dorothy S. Hall Scholarship Endowment
This $1,000 scholarship is given yearly to a PA student who is a single parent with dependent children living at home. Mrs. Dorothy Hall started this endowment fund with a generous $25,000 donation. Donations to this endowment are greatly appreciated and will benefit PA students with expenses related to their education. One award in the amount of $500 will be given. The awardee will be determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. The awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if the recipient is a first-year student, or at Graduation, if the recipient is a second-year student.
David J Keahey, PA-C, BUS, MSPH Endowed Scholarship
David Keahey, PA-C, BUS, MSPH grew up in rural Idaho and graduated from UPAP in 1983 after serving three years as a decorated US Army DUSTOFF flight medic. He went on to graduate from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of University Studies (Primary Care Medicine) and a Master's of Science in Public Health. David practiced family medicine for 24 years at the Salt Lake Community Health Centers (CHC, Inc.) where he served six years as associate medical director and medical director. One Scholarship in the amount of $500 will be awarded Summer Semester to a qualified applicant determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. The awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if the recipient is a first-year, or at Graduation, if the recipient is a second-year student.
Kathy J. Pedersen Equal Access to Higher Education Endowed Scholarship
The scholarship is established to help defray education costs for students studying in the Physician Assistant Studies Program in the School of Medicine at the University of Utah. One Scholarship in the amount of $500 will be awarded Summer Semester to a qualified applicant determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. The awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if recipient is a first-year student, or Graduation, if recipient is a second-year student.
Pedersen Endowed Scholarship Fund for International Electives
Don and Kathy Pedersen have been a staple in the Physician Assistant Program. For more than thirty years, they have tireless cared for under-resourced patients in their community and around the world. Their lifelong dedication to improve the health of the world has been an example to our students and faculty. Don and Kathy initiated the first several PA student international elective rotations in the 1990s and have been participating in international travel ever since. This scholarship is to help offset the costs of the rotation in the hope that more students can participate. The dollar amount of the awards available will be determined by the number of qualified applicants and the interest-bearing account the scholarship is held in. Awardee will be determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. Awardee(s) will be announced by December 1 and funds will be available for Spring or Summer Semester.
Pedersen Leadership Scholarship
The Leadership fund is established at the University as a way to help encourage and reward exceptional leadership in the Physician Assistant Profession in the Utah Physician Assistant Program in the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine. Don Pedersen, PhD, PA, Emeritus Professor, exemplified leadership locally, regionally, nationally and internationally in his over 30 years as former Program Director and Chief. Awardee(s) will be determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee on an as needed basis.
Dick A. Rensch, PA Endowed Scholarship
Dick Rensch has dedicated his life to service; to our country and to the medical profession. From serving as a Navy Corpsman and Air Force PA, to retiring as an Air Force lieutenant Colonel and receiving a lifetime achievement award, Dick has devoted his life to improving the lives of those around him. He has completed many humanitarian military missions to several Native American reservations, has served on Medical teams for the Winter Olympics, has participated on State and National Committees, has sat on the Board of Directors for AAPA, and has been honored with countless awards for his outstanding dedication to the health professions. One award will be given annually. The amount of award will be determined by the Awardee will be determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. Awardee will be announced by March 31 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if recipient is a first-year, or Graduation, if recipient is a second-year student.
The Maggie Snyder, RN, PA-C Endowed Scholarship
Since the mid-1980s to 2017 Maggie Snyder, RN, PA-C, DFAAPA cared exclusively for patients with HIV/AIDs along with her physician colleague Dr. Kristen Ries. They cared for these marginalized individuals when no other medical providers were willing to serve their needs. Maggie taught the human aspect of caring for people who were afraid, alone, and struggling with the stigma of a poorly understood and devastating disease. Patients in Maggie's practice were listened to, touched, loved, and hugged. One Scholarship in the amount of $500 will be awarded Summer Semester to a qualified applicant determined by the Physician Assistant Studies Scholarship Committee. The awardee will be announced by March 15 and recognized at either Sendoff Breakfast, if recipient is a first-year student, or Graduation, if recipient is a second-year student.
William M. Wilson Underserved Areas Scholarship Endowment
Multiple scholarships are awarded yearly to clinical year PA students who desire to practice in rural or inner-city under-resourced settings. The endowment is named for Dr. William (Bill) Wilson, the PA Program’s co-founder and initial program director. Multiple funding sources were utilized to create this endowed fund that provides three to five $3,000 to $5,000 scholarships per year. Principle funding came from the Archstone Foundation, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Utah, and Intermountain Health Care. The endowment stands at $300,000, and your contributions to this effort would be greatly appreciated. The dollar amount of awards available will be determined by the number of qualified applicants and the interest-bearing account the scholarship is held in. The funds will be made available to use for Summer Semester of the clinical year. Awardee will be announced by March 31.
International Elective Funds
UPAP currently has three international elective rotations for clinical year PA students.
- Thailand International Elective (TIE)
- Guatemala International Elective
- Nepal International Elective
Contributions to these activities are greatly appreciated to help offset supplies and equipment utilized during these activities. Information on the individual rotations can be found under the international section.
PA Student Emergency Fund
Through this fund, no-interest loans of up to $1,500 are available for students for expenses related to PA education. These loans are for a semester at a time and are repaid in a timely fashion. Your contributions are greatly appreciated by at-risk students.
Training and Education Equipment Fund
Your contribution to this fund assures that PA students have access to state of the art equipment for training purposes. The PA Program Learning Lab has been an excellent addition and is serving our students well as they learn the science and art of medicine. Your contributions to this fund is greatly appreciated.
General Gift Fund
Your unspecified donations to UPAP go into the general gift account for use by the program for various activities of program enhancement and are not supported by the general program budget. Examples include alumni receptions at annual conferences, recognition awards at graduation, and funding for student participation in professional venues.