A message from Elizabeth M. Petty, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to announce that Amanda DeVoss, PA-C, MMS, has accepted our offer to become the next Director of our Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Her appointment was effective June 12. She succeeds Ginny Snyder, PhD, PA‑C, who is retiring after 21 years with the program and 18 years as director. In this role, DeVoss will provide expert leadership, vision, and oversight to maintain the high quality of education in the PA program.
DeVoss is an associate professor with the Department of Medicine who has been working as a faculty member with the PA program since 2010. She earned her undergraduate degree in medical microbiology and immunology at UW–Madison and her Masters of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois. After completing the Schering Corporation Fellowship Program in Liver Disease for Physician Assistants at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, she joined SMPH as a clinical instructor in 2010. The following year she was promoted to academic director of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.
DeVoss’ commitment to education is evident through her multifaceted involvement in the PA program. Over the years, she has served as the course director for more than nine PA program courses, showcasing her leadership and expertise. For the last 13 years, DeVoss has served as the academic director within the program, overseeing the curriculum for both the didactic and clinical year students. Her classroom teaching since 2010 has included undergraduate and graduate PA students, MD students, guest lectures, and continuing medical education courses for local, regional, and national audiences. She currently teaches or lectures for 12 PA courses. Along with teaching, DeVoss has mentored well over 100 students in the past 13 years, 22 of whom are current students. In addition to her academic role, DeVoss practices clinically at the Digestive Health Center with UW Health, specializing in the treatment of patients with liver disease. With 23 years of clinical experience, she uses this to enrich her teaching with real-world insights and current practices.
Her commitment to the PA program, SMPH, and the university is exemplified by her service activities. For the PA Program, she has been an Admissions Committee member since 2010, chaired the Curriculum Committee since 2011, chaired the Community-Based Learners Committee since 2019, currently chairs the Faculty-Staff Committee, and has co-led the Service Learning Trip to Belize four times since 2015. She recently finished a three-year appointment to the school’s Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee and currently sits on the Physician Assistant Education Association Cultural Humility Exam Development Board. She is a chair or member of multiple committees for SMPH, UW Hospital, and the University of Wisconsin, as well as numerous statewide and national service organizations. For example, DeVoss is a founding member and current committee member of the UW Health Metabolic Liver Clinic, and from 2017 to 2021 was an interprofessional panel member for the Pharmacy 125 Exploration Undergraduate Course.
Along with her academic roles, DeVoss has published a number of articles and provided numerous research and peer-reviewed presentations to regional, national, and international audiences. Along with numerous published articles, presentations, research, and teaching, DeVoss has received well-deserved awards for her exceptional teaching, mentoring, and service. She is eminently qualified to continue the excellence of our PA education.
I want to thank the search and screen committee co-chairs, Beverly Speece, MTS, PA‑C, and Joel Hill, MPAS, PA‑C, the committee members, and the many learners, faculty, and staff throughout Academic Affairs for their time and commitment in helping to identify the best candidate for this position.
Please join me in welcoming Amanda to her new role. I know she will carry on the tradition of excellence in the Physician Assistant program as she works with faculty, staff, and learners to provide extraordinary educational experiences for learners!
Sincerely,
Liz
Elizabeth M. Petty, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Medical Director, Genetic Counselor Program
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health