Melissa Gentry
The IPAS 2023 PA of the Year is Melissa Gentry! Her nomination letter was very compelling and touched on the many ways Melissa has been instrumental in progressing and protecting PA practice in the state. We're excited to share some of the comments from her recommendation below.
"Melissa provided outstanding service on the Iowa PA Regulatory Board for 9 years (2013-2022) during a most challenging time. This included 3 years as chair. With integrity and articulateness she spoke truth to power on the PA board. Under her watch the PA board followed the law faithfully. ... And under her watch PA complaints were dealt with promptly to protect the public while treating the PA fairly.
Knowing how essential PAs were to increasing access to care, Melissa always worked for sensible PA regulation. She worked diligently with other members of the PA regulatory board to ensure that PA rules followed the law and encouraged PAs to provide care where it was most needed.
As a dedicated PA she has always strived to go beyond the usual requirements to bring better care to more people. Locally she served as Ottumwa YMCA Board of Directors and President. For our profession she served as Iowa PA Society Secretary and President Elect. For AAPA she served as a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, as a Reimbursement Work Group member and as a member of the Federation of State Medical Boards committee that developed the model legislation for the PA Interstate Licensure Compact. (This legislation makes it easier for PAs to practice across state lines.)
During her career as a PA she has practiced in a wide variety of settings including emergency departments, remote site settings, chemical dependency units, as a psychiatry practice owner, as a PA educator at the University of Dubuque PA Program and as a PA doing special medical assessments for our military service members. Currently, she practices in another of our areas of great need, psychiatry.
Her ability to explain medical issues to policy makers served her patients and profession in good stead. Visiting Iowa members of Congress in Washington DC, she helps us secure the co- sponsorship of national PA legislation by the entire IA Congressional Delegation. These include Medicare direct pay for PAs, certifying patients for Medicare and Medicaid home health and providing care for Medicare hospice patients. On the state level, this included these same improvements for Medicaid."
Congratulations to Melissa, as well as our most genuine thanks for all her service to IPAS and Iowa PAs!