Physician Assistant Studies

Alumni

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the UWL PA Program's Alumni page! Whether you are an alumnus, a current student, a future student, or just curious about our program; we are glad you found this page!

The program first matriculated students in 1995. Since that time we have graduated over 500 physician assistants. The majority of our graduates find jobs across the regions served by our partners. Graduates also find successful career opportunities across the country.

If you are an alumnus, we would love to hear from you. Below you can find links to update us. Feel free to share your current location, practice, and any other information you would like us to know about you!

If you are a recent graduate and in need of documentation of education or a letter of reference, you will find links for these items below.

Stay in touch! Update your contact and practice information. You may be chosen for our Alumni Spotlight!

Program News and Events

PAs that Go Beyond!

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD - Andrew Horstman, PA-C

Gundersen Medical Foundation

Gundersen Media Foundation The program along with its clinical partners, Gundersen Medical Foundation, Mayo College of Health Sciences, and Marshfield Clinic recently awarded Andrew Horstman with the Distinguished Service Award! Andrew is a Physician Assistant within the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and a graduate of the 1997 UWL PA program class. He joined the program's administrative committee in 2002 and made the decision to step down from the position this Spring. Thank you, Andrew, for your 22 years of dedication and service to our students and the healthcare community!

(Pictured along with Andrew - Ms. Nina Conard, PA-C, Gundersen Medical Foundation (UWL PA Class of 2013), and Mr. Ryan Meverden, PA-C Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences (UWL PA Class of 2009)).

Mayo Clinic Health System's Mankato General Surgery PAs recently spent the day with our first year students to demonstrate and practice proper suture technique. A BIG thank you to PAs Amanda Holland and Ashley Vitale!

New Virtual Alumni Meet-up

Dates: TBD Fall 2024. Virtual weekly meetings for 6 weeks total
Who: Alumni of the UWL PA program
Facilitator: Maggie Laufenberg PA-C
Discussion Topics:
- Discovering and Nurturing Your Wholeness
- Honoring Loss
- Sharing Grief: The Healing of Loss
- Beyond Analysis: Allowing Awe in Medicine
- The Care of the Soul: Service as a Way of Life
The Healer’s Art is an innovative discovery model course.
Designed in 1991 by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D., the course offers an environment for a personal in-depth exploration of the time-honored values of service, healing relationships, reverence for life, and compassionate care.
https://rishiprograms.org/healers-art/
For more information or to sign-up, email Maggie: mlaufenberg@uwlax.edu

Letters of Reference or Other Form Requests

For letters of reference by one of our faculty members please contact them directly via phone, email, on-campus office or campus mailbox.

For letters of reference or other forms that need to come directly from the program or program director please email: mlaufenberg@uwlax.edu

Requests should include:

Your name and graduation year
Preferred contact information
Due date
Requesting organization
Purpose of request
Attachments/forms in need of completion
Pertinent notes or instructions

Alumni Activity

Let's bike for a cause!

The plan is for us to get as many UWL PA students, faculty, and alumni to participate!

From their website: The Apple Blossom Bike Tour is an annual ride held in La Crescent, MN, and hosted by the La Crescent Rotary Club. Each year, more than 100 cyclists participate in this event, which takes them on 1 of 6 possible routes through the beautiful Apple Blossom Valley region.

The ride has options for everyone, ranging from the most challenging routes for serious cyclists to short & scenic routes for families and children. The event is sponsored by local business, charities, and individuals with the main goal of bringing together our community and serving important charitable causes.

Activities may include anything from biking a 5k "Free" or a 74-mile ride. It sounds like they may also be looking for volunteers.

Among other important causes, the ride will directly benefit the Erin Dunlap-Mathews Memorial Foundation, which awards scholarships to UW-La Crosse physician assistant students. Erin Dunlap-Mathews is a graduate of the UWL PA Class of 2016. The Erin Dunlap Mathews Scholarship was established in 2019 after Erin passed away unexpectedly at the age of 26 from a pulmonary embolism in November 2018. Erin was a physician assistant in cardiology at Gundersen Health System from September 2016. Erin brought peace, wisdom, and encouragement to many in how she lived her life, greeting all with an infectious smile. Love of family, appreciation for nature, and a deep commitment to her faith will be her enduring legacy that will live in the hearts of those she touched.