UK HealthCare

Schwarz Named College of Health Sciences Division Director

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 29, 2011) − Brad Schwarz  has been named the Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) Division director for the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences. Schwarz is returning to UK where he previously served as professor and the inaugural site director for the physician assistant (PA) program at Morehead State University.

Prior to his return to UK, Schwarz worked at Mercer University in Atlanta, Ga. At Mercer, he developed the university’s PA program and served as a clinical associate professor, as well as the program’s first director. Schwarz has also served as assistant professor and the associate director of the PA program at Emory University.

Schwarz was recently named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). He has also served in the U.S. Army and Air Force for 35 years and is a lieutenant colonel. Schwarz will soon be joining the Kentucky Air Guard 123rd.

“In my career, I have learned the preparation it takes to build a program and what it requires to become a top-notch program," said Schwarz. "I believe that the PAS program is poised to move to the next level and is capable of becoming one of the top 20 programs nationally."

With the goal of leading the PAS program to this nationally recognized level, some of Schwarz’s plans include changes to the program’s curriculum to make it more progressive, implementing a holistic application process, strengthening interdisciplinary training, teamwork, and service-learning both on and off campus and continuing to develop the program’s rural health initiatives.

“It is an exciting time to be in health care for PAs in because we are one of the answers for the health care deficit, as well as a nationally recognized top profession. This is a great career, a great state and a great program. We have the potential to rise up and become a premier program in the U.S.,” Schwarz said.