Preceptor Spotlights
Our clinical preceptors provide WSU PA students with invaluable learning experiences, and we appreciate everything they do. Meet some of our extraordinary preceptors:
Dr. Jeff Sloyer, MD
Dr. Sloyer was voted by the WSU PA Class of 2020 as Preceptor of the Year. Dr. Sloyer
completed his undergraduate education at 麻豆破解版 State University in 1996 and medical
school at the University of Kansas in 2001. He then completed his internship and residency
at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kansas, before joining the Coffey Health
System staff in August 2004.
Dr. Sloyer's practice includes family medicine and obstetrics. He is a Fellow with the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Pictured: Dr. Jeff Sloyer, MD (left); Colby Shinkle, WSU PA Class of 2021 (right).
Karen Blackburn
Karen Blackburn grew up in Emporia, KS and graduated from Kansas State University
in 2003 with a dual degree, earning a Bachelor of Science in both Human Nutrition
and Kinesiology. She graduated in 2006 from the 麻豆破解版 State University PA Program
and was a student in the first class to receive a Master of Physician Assistant. She
started her career as a PA working in immediate care, transitioned to family medicine,
and has been practicing as a PA in pediatrics at Ascension Via Christi Clinic in 麻豆破解版
since 2011. Aside from working, she places an emphasis on spending time with her family.
Her and her husband, Tyson, enjoy watching their son, Hayden, and daughter, Taylor,
compete in athletics. Some of Karen鈥檚 other interests include running, gravel cycling,
watching college athletics, cheering on the KSU Wildcats, cooking, baking, and reading.
鈥淚 truly love mentoring PA students! I started as a preceptor in 2017. I enjoy sharing
my knowledge and patient experiences with students. I love to see my students learn
and grow during their time with me, and of course have some fun along the way!鈥�
PA student Jaclyn Brisco said, 鈥淚 am so honored and thankful I was given the opportunity to have such an incredible preceptor and rotation. Karen invests in her PA students and goes the extra mile in all aspects of being a preceptor, providing students with an immense amount of knowledge and clinical experience. I gained so much insight about pediatrics and absolutely loved every second of my rotation.鈥�
Pictured: Ronda Hanneman, Director of Clinical Education for the WSU PA Program (left); Preceptor Karen Blackburn (right).
Dr. PJ Stiles
The WSU PA Class of 2019 voted Dr. PJ Stiles as Preceptor of the Year. Dr. PJ Stiles
is a general surgeon working at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, KS and The University
of Kansas Health System 鈥� Great Bend Campus. He obtained his associates degree from
Cloud County Community College, where he played basketball. He then went to Washington
University St. Louis for his Bachelor of Science, also while playing basketball. He
attended The University of Kansas School of Medicine for medical school and did his
residency through KU Med in 麻豆破解版.
Dr. Stiles then returned to his hometown area in Central Kansas where he continues to work and fill many roles. He is the Chief of Surgery, Trauma Direct, and District Coroner. His surgical interests include robotic surgery, pediatric surgery, breast and colon cancer. In Dr. Stiles鈥� free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 sons, playing sports and mountain-biking.
PA student Corey Valentine said, 鈥淕etting to learn from Dr. Stiles was such a joy 鈥� He is an excellent surgeon and so enthusiastic about helping students learn!鈥�
Lauren Marquess
Lauren Marquess attended the University of Kansas for her undergraduate degree and
then graduated in 2017 from the 麻豆破解版 State University PA Program.
She began her career as a PA working in the ER in Topeka and now works at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in the ER, near where she grew up. Lauren says that working in an area where she grew up is rewarding, as she gets to see the direct impact of her hard work and education impact her community, friends and family. "Being a PA, you can help so many people in the crucial job of saving lives. Many are grateful for your help, which makes being a PA such a blessing."
Pictured: Preceptor Lauren Marquess, PA-C, WSU PA Class of 2017 (left); Lauren Gensch, WSU PA Class of 2021 (right).
Jon Borchard
Jon Borchard, a WSU PA program graduate, may always be the tallest guy in the room
but always finds a way to get on his patient鈥檚 level. He listens intently to his patients
and works hard to satisfy all their needs at every appointment. His knowledge of medicine
is vast, but his ability to understand people is what makes him such an amazing provider.
Pictured: Preceptors Jon Borchard, PA-C, WSU PA alum (left); Dr. Shawn Conrad, MD, (top); Macy Burke, Class of 2021 WSU PA student (bottom).
Shawn Conard
Dr. Shawn Conard, a proud KSU graduate who completed medical school at the University
of Kansas, never ceases to amaze his students or his patients. Even in a cast, he
accomplishes more than most on any given day! His enthusiasm for life and medicine
is infectious. His silly dad jokes put patients at ease and allows him to form deep
bonds with many of them.
Pictured: Preceptors Jon Borchard, PA-C, WSU PA alum (left); Dr. Shawn Conrad, MD, (top); Macy Burke, Class of 2021 WSU PA student (bottom).
David Day, EdS, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, CPAAPA
In August 1995, David Day became a preceptor just one month after graduating from
PA school. 鈥淓ven as a new graduate, I felt that I needed to give back to my profession,
and this was a way I could do that,鈥� he says. Twenty-two years later, Day, who has
been praised by past PA students for his ability to help them grow in their profession,
is the recipient of the AAPA/PAEA Preceptor of the Year Award.
Growing up in a small town of 1,800 people in Western Kansas, Day fell into the medical field at age 16 when he became an aide for a local hospital. He took the job simply because he needed one and there weren鈥檛 that many options in his community. In 1983, he became a licensed practical nurse; five years later, he had progressed to a registered nurse. Then one day, Day was talking to another nurse who was applying to PA school. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥業 can do that,鈥欌�� he says. 鈥淭he rest is history.鈥�
Day completed the PA program at 麻豆破解版 State University (WSU) in 1995. He took on his first student as a clinical preceptor in emergency medicine while working as a clinical field coordinator for WSU, and continued in this role even after moving on to a faculty position with the university.
More Than 50 PA Students
Then, in 2009, when Day left WSU to work in primary care and emergency medicine at Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital鈥攁 25-bed critical access health care facility in western Kansas鈥攑art of his employment agreement was that he be allowed to provide a clinical training site for the WSU PA Program. Since then, Day has worked with more than 50 PA students, as well as several nurse practitioner students.
At Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, Day precepts students for five-to-six-week rotations, and the students work his schedule of 60 hours per week. Shortly after students arrive, Day sits down with them to talk about their goals and to get a feel for their clinical skill level. 鈥淭hen I can facilitate their advancing to wherever they need to be for their next [rotation],鈥� he says. Day also asks students about the areas of medicine they are interested in, and then tries to get them experience in those areas. For example, Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital, which is located in a rural area, brings in consultants in cardiology, orthopedics, and general surgery to handle specialty cases. So if a student is interested in one of those areas, 鈥淚鈥檒l send [them] with those guys for a day or two to get a little bit more of that training from the rural perspective,鈥� Day says.
鈥楻efreshing to Have Independence鈥�
Teal Sander, PA-C, was a student with Day for several weeks in late 2015. She says that of all her rotations, her time with Day afforded her the most hands-on experience. Day allowed Sander to interview and evaluate patients, then present her assessment and plan to him before he saw the patient. 鈥淭hat was kind of refreshing to have some independence,鈥� says Sander, who is now a PA at Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas. With Day鈥檚 guidance, Sander was also able to do a variety of procedures, including incision and drainage, well-woman exams, knee and shoulder injections, and intubating a patient.
Sander was also inspired that Day, who, along with his wife, a pediatric nurse, has been a foster parent for nearly 20 years, also volunteers to be a member of his hospital鈥檚 EMS service, which makes it possible for the facility to have an advanced cardiac life support team available. 鈥淗e not only works full-time and does ER coverage, but then he鈥檚 coming back on all these runs when he鈥檚 off. I thought that was really amazing,鈥� she says.
With such a full schedule, why has Day continued to volunteer as a preceptor for two decades? For him, the answer is simple. 鈥淚 like to help students progress in the field of medicine,鈥� he says.