WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (October 21, 2024) — Heidi Kennedy, clerkship coordinator for the Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies program at Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, has been awarded the 2024 PA Education Association Administrative Support Staff of the Year Award. This prestigious national award is given to a single recipient each year from over 300 PA programs in the country. Kennedy received her award at the PAEA Forum Awards Ceremony in Washington DC in October.
"It's humbling to be recognized as someone who makes a meaningful impact and contributes to the success of the program and a reminder that even the things that happen behind the scenes can have a big impact on students and the program," Kennedy says.
PAEA faculty and staff awards are designed to promote and celebrate growth, commitment, and advocacy, recognizing educators, trailblazers, and innovators who best represent the PA profession. Kennedy was nominated for the honor by Taylor Holland MSPAS PA-C, PA program director and department chair, and Laura Delaney, PA-C'99, MPAS.
"Heidi is our superhero. She has gone above and beyond to make significant contributions to our PA program over the past five years," Hollands says. "She has obtained intimate knowledge of all clinical operations, both programmatic and across the university."
Much of Kennedy's work takes place behind the scenes, ensuring the smooth operation of the physician-assistant program. Her daily motivation comes from seeing students excel. "I love seeing the students thrive in their clinical rotations and grow into amazing health-care providers," Kennedy says. "I enjoy tackling challenges that improve systems for our students and team, making it easier for them to succeed and keep things moving forward."
Located in West Des Moines, part of Iowa's capital metro, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences offers ten graduate-level professional-degree programs in anatomy, biomedical sciences, health-care administration, occupational therapy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician-assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' scores on national examinations, pass-rates on board certifications, and match-rates for medical-residency programs are consistently higher than national averages and rates at peer institutions.
