Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

6 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY care was critical—a reality that has persisted to date and was made more critical with implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA),” Marquardt said. Prior to joining the CHCS faculty, Marquardt served in the military for 24 years, including two tours at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., and two tours at the Pentagon as a U.S. Air Force physician assistant. Before becoming director of the NSU Fort Lauder- dale/Davie Campus PA Program, Marquardt served as director of clinical education of the Shenandoah University PA Program and director of clinical curriculum of the George Washington University PA Program. He also served as president of the Ameri- can Academy of Physi- cian Assistants (AAPA), in addition to numerous other leadership roles within the AAPA and other professional organizations. As a seasoned practitioner, educator, and national leader within the PA profession, Marquardt has chosen to invest in what he values. He noted the history of significant gaps in access to basic primary and preven- tive health care services in rural and underserved communities and the current dearth of services that continues to exist. The PA profession is rooted in a commitment to address- ing these needs. Because increasing numbers of physi- cians and PAs are entering specialty and subspecialty fields, calls for a plan to draw health care professionals into the community-care arena are increasing. While the Affordable Care Act seeks to address this trend legislatively, Marquardt is taking a more grassroots approach through financial incentives designed to recognize and inspire emerging PA professionals toward a commitment to primary and preventive commu- nity health care. “The CHCS initiative is an attempt at reminding both PAs and the medical community of the chronic history of provider short- ages and lack of adequate basic health care that have persisted despite the best efforts of the ACA and other programs,” said Marquardt of the vision and values underlying his gift. “Emphasizing community health and collaborative service, the initiative is designed both to promote the founding principles of the PA profession and to support the efforts of those NSU physician assistant graduates who embrace it as they begin their medical careers.” In addition to supporting emerging PA professionals, his endowment is designed to assist community providers who volunteer their time to serve as preceptors and provide students with experiential training in the health care setting. “The PA programs rely on community providers for clinical mentoring, and their in-kind support is invaluable, but often unrecognized,” Mar- quardt pointed out. “The lack of such support would Continued on page 8 William H. Marquardt served in the military for 24 years.