As part of Grand Valley State University's College of Health Professions, the Physician Assistant Studies program (PAS) is designed for students seeking a career as a Physician Assistant. Graduates of the PAS program are eligible to take the National Certification Commission on Physician Assistants’ (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE), and may apply for licensure in any of the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. Graduates seeking employment in states other than Michigan may obtain further information on submission of a state-specific licensure application from the American Academy of Physicians Associates (AAPA) website for the respective state.

GVSU PAS PROGRAM MISSION

To prepare highly competent physician assistants who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion; lead and advance the profession; and provide quality patient-centered healthcare in all communities and settings.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

The Grand Valley State University Physician Assistant Studies Department is committed to upholding the pillars of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.  This commitment has been enhanced by the development of the Physician Assistant Studies Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Advisory Committee. This group of students and faculty are resolved to promote, advise, and assess the program in these four areas.

Contact Information

PAS ACADEMIC ADVISING/CHP PROGRAM ADMISSIONS:
For questions regarding admissions or to arrange a tour, please contact CHP Student Services Office @ [email protected]

CASPA APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
CHP Student Services Office - Valinda Stokes @ [email protected]

PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) - Cathy Tomek @ [email protected]

Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit Information

Please note that some of the College of Health Professions programs require prerequisite courses to be completed with LETTER (A, B, C) or NUMERICAL (4.0, 3.0, 2.0) grades. Prerequisite courses completed with Pass/Fail or Credit/No credit will not fulfill some program’s admissions requirements. Some programs accept AP credit (advanced credit) as the exception. Please check with the advising office for specific program information regarding Pass/Fail and Credit/No credit at [email protected].

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R. Paul Clodfelder, MD

It is with great sadness we announce that R. Paul Clodfelder, MD, passed away on July 16, after a recent cancer diagnosis, surrounded by loving family. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He attended Washington University in St. Louis for his undergrad degree and then earned his medical degree from Vanderbilt University. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
Paul had a very accomplished career as a physician. He was heavily involved in the Kent County Medical Society and Michigan State Medical Society and advocated on medical legislative issues. He served as the first medical director of Grand Valley State University's Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program. Its student society RPC is named for him, using his initials.

At Butterworth Hospital, Paul was Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine. He was also an internist at Cherry Health where, upon his retirement, he volunteered as a governing board member which involved working on legislative issues and client services. He helped launch the Cherry Health Foundation.
 

"I was able to rotate with him and he was an amazing teacher! I would ride with him back and forth between Pine Rest and Cherry Street Clinic and he would impart words of wisdom along the way. It was definitely one of my most memorable rotations. Prayers for his family as I am sure he will be missed!"  Jill Ellis, DHSc, PA-C

"I can tell you that I have never seen him without a smile on his face. He was so welcoming to students and faculty:  you can understand why the student society was named after him based on his magnetic personality and acceptance of all individuals.  A sad loss for this world."  Theresa Bacon-Baguley, Ph.D.

"RPC Student Society is beyond grateful for Dr. Clodfelder and the opportunities he provided us with. He paved the way for us to succeed in our careers and as members of our community. We are keeping his family in our thoughts, and we will continue to honor his legacy for generations to come."  Casey Kreuser, Class of 2024 RPC Society President

Dustin Grimshaw, PA-C

Along with his family, friends, and loved ones, the GVSU PA program mourns the unexpected loss of Dustin Grimshaw.

Dustin passed away on May 23, 2024.  He was a member of the GVSU PAS Class of 2016.  He was a passionate, caring Physician Assistant that would do anything for the health of the people he treated.  That was the nature of his heart and soul.  

James Searfoss, PA-C

Maj. James Phillip Searfoss (ret.) died on June 28, 2021, due to complications from end-stage prostate cancer.  Jim was born May 31, 1946, in Lima, Ohio and grew to adulthood on a small farm in Northwestern Ohio.  He was a 1969 graduate of Ohio State University and received his Master of Medical Science from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1972 and served 24 years, retiring as a Major at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Following his military service, Jim was an Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator in Physician Assistant Studies at Grand Valley State University.  Jim retired as a Physician Assistant with Spectrum Health in occupational therapy.

Jim is survived by three daughters, Jennifer, Shannon, and Caitlin, and four grandsons.

Ricardo Rios, PA-C

On August 6, 2018, the PA profession lost one of its great leaders, Ricardo "Rico" Rios, PA, after he lost his long-fought battle with Alzheimer’s dementia. Rico was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to the United States to attend Westminster College in Pennsylvania. He graduated and became a high school science teacher, but his love of learning and medicine drew him to further his education and become a Physician Assistant.

Rico attended and graduated from the PA program at Kettering College in Ohio in the late 1980's. His first job in Ohio was in ophthalmology and he never left that specialty, working for many years at Grand Rapids Ophthalmology. He taught at Western Michigan University in the PA program and also at GVSU as lecturer and clinical coordinator. He was a valued member of the faculty. For those of us that knew Rico, we remember his incredible knowledge of and love for ophthalmology.

Rico was active in the profession, being an involved member of both the AAPA and the MAPA. It was not uncommon to see Rico at MAPA board meetings and regional meetings.

Rico is survived by two sons, Jordan and Lucas, and their mother, Debra Brooks.

Peter Weiblen, PA-C

Mr. Peter Weiblen, a 2017 graduate of our PA program, died on December 8^th, 2018, just one year after graduating from the program. Peter died from brain cancer that was diagnosed 2 months after he graduated. Sadly, Pete never had the opportunity to work as a PA.

Pete was incredibly positive and determined to win his war against the cancer that finally took his life. Everyone who knew him can testify to the inspiration of his courage, determination and positive attitude. Pete passed away at the age of 55. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Barbara, and daughters Emilee and Molly.

Stephanie Urbanawiz, PA-C

Along with her family, friends and loved ones, the GVSU PA program mourns the loss of Stephanie Anne Urbanawiz.

Stephanie had finished the rigorous didactic portion of the PA program and was ready to begin her clinical year of education. As a part of the 2015 class, Stephanie will be remembered not only for her strength as she battled her illness, but also for her kindness, care, and love for the health care profession. We are honored to have had her as part of our Physician Assistant family. Stephanie’s family, friends and loved ones continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. In her memory, contributions to Stephanie's scholarship fund can be made here -- Stephanie Urbanawiz Physician Assistant Endowed Scholarship.  

On December 12, 2015, Stephanie was awarded a posthumous degree of Masters of Physician Assistant Studies  (Letter of Support of Posthumous Degree).