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Assistant Professor Laura Mattingly, PA-C, was awarded the Physician Assistant Education Association’s 2014 “Rising Star,” a prestigious national award given to the PA who made outstanding contributions to Physician Assistant Studies education.

Mattingly received the award at the association’s 2014 Annual Education Forum in Philadelphia.

“I was surprised and excited,” Mattingly said. “I truly do love teaching and helping our students at the Health Science Center as they pursue and achieve their goals.”

In just five years on UNTHSC faculty, Mattingly has directed nine courses and provided hundreds of hours of didactic instruction. She currently serves as the program’s Director of Academic Education and chair of the PA Admissions Committee, among many other duties. Her ratings as an instructor are always among the highest of any PA faculty.

Dr. Hank Lemke, DHSc, PA-C, Chair of Physician Assistant Studies, said Mattingly proves her commitment to excellence by holding herself and her students to a high standard.

“Her strong work ethic, dedication to high standards, and willingness to shoulder responsibility beyond that of a typical new faculty member are laudable and indicative of her ‘Rising Star’ quality,” Dr. Lemke said.

Mattingly said new PAs are expected to handle a broad range of responsibilities in today’s changing health care landscape.

“There is more pressure today on new PAs to do more and have more skills,” Mattingly said. “There is a lot of competition, but there also are a lot of jobs. It’s an exciting time to become a PA.”

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