Huffner Honored by the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants

William Huffner, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, UM Shore Regional Health

William Huffner, MD, senior vice president, Medical Affairs and chief medical officer, recently received the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA) highest honor, the MAPA Physician of the Year Award. MAPA represents the interests of all Maryland physician assistants in the state by supporting and offering continuing education, practice support, advocacy, scholarship and fellowship.

The award was presented during a luncheon at the Tidewater Inn on April 30, 2019 by Dr. Mary Jo Bondy, assistant dean, University of Maryland Graduate School and Dr. Cherilyn Hendrix, program director, Physician Assistant Program for the Anne Arundel Community College/University of Maryland-Baltimore Collaborative Program.

Dr. Huffner was selected in recognition of his leadership that led to the development, coordination and oversight of a clinical curriculum at Shore Regional Health for Anne Arundel Community College/University of Maryland (AACC/UMB) Physician Assistants students. In 2016, when most of the enrolled students had been displaced after the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Physician Assistant program lost its accreditation, Dr. Huffner identified Shore Regional Health physician partners across many medical specialties and disciplines to support the clinical rotations of 12 students over the past three years and continues to do so. For many of these students, receiving education and training in the Mid Shore region has resulted in employment offers with the Shore Regional Health network after their graduation.

To date, three PA graduates were recruited and are now working in local physician practices. At the award presentation, Dr. Bondy stated, “We are indebted to Dr. Huffner for his leadership and very grateful to the physician community for their collective efforts to educate the next generation of physician assistants.” Dr. Hendrix added, “We look forward to our continued collaboration with Shore Regional Health to meet the health care needs of the Mid Shore region.”