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By Kate Hunger 

Seeing graduates of the Physician Assistant Studies program at �����Թ� thrive in the profession is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching for Leticia Bland, MPAS, PA-C, Assistant Professor. 

“PAs are going to be ones taking care of our families,” she said. “So it’s important to make sure our PAs are prepared and competent.”

Bland, who serves as associate clinical coordinator for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, was named 2018 Bexar County Physician Assistant of the Year by the Bexar County Physician Assistant Society. She said the award inspires her to keep striving.

“When you receive an honor, you feel the need to keep going up,” she said.

Bland became a physician assistant after graduating from the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) in 2002.  She retired from the United States Air Force after 27 years of service in 2016 and joined the faculty at the Department of Physician Assistant Studies that same year. 

She counts staying active in professional organizations and volunteering with a range of groups as priorities. Teaching has long been a pleasure for Bland, who recalled conducting expeditionary medical support (EMEDS) field training to prepare military medical professionals for deployment. She said she experiences that same thrill when students grasp a new concept or skill in the classroom.

“You just see it in their face and their eyes light up,” she said. “That’s great.”