Spotlight | OHSU

Karen Whitaker Knapp Service Award

This award is given out each year in recognition of physician assistants whose clinical careers reflect a commitment to the rural and medically underserved communities of Oregon.

As Director of the Oregon Office of Rural Health, Ms. Knapp was instrumental in establishing the OHSU Physician Assistant Program and in supporting Physician Assistant practice in the state. For 25 years she has dedicated her professional life to the advocacy of quality healthcare for all Oregonians. Her contributions have been numerous and will have a lasting impact on health care delivery in rural Oregon. This award was established in her honor upon her retirement.

Previous Awardees:

2020 - Christopher D. Benjamin, MPAS, PA-C
2019 - Sharon DeHart, PA-C
2018 – Jon Tardiff, BS, PA-C
2017 – Julia Frey, MPAS, PA-C
2016 – Pat Buckley, ND, PA-C
2015 – Kristin Kimmel Schmidtgall, MPH, MPAS, PA-C
2014 – Linell Wood, CHAP, PA-C
2013 – Matthew Beria, PhD, PA-C
2012 – Emily Jacobsen, MPAS, PA-C
2011 – Rob Soans, PA-C
2010 – Stan Ferguson, PA-C
2009 – Barbara Martin, MS, PA-C
2008 – Dave Jones, PA-C
2007 – Bob Davis, PA-C
2006 – Kevin Heidrick, PA-C

Ted Ruback, Karen Whitaker Knapp, Kevin Heidrick — Kevin Heidrick, first recipient of the Karen Whitaker Knapp Award, is shown receiving his plaque from Ted Ruback and Karen Whitaker Knapp.

Ileana Esquivel, Jon Tardiff, Claire Hull — Ileana Esquivel, PA Program Clinical Coordinator; Jon Tardiff, 2018 awardee; and Claire Hull, PA Program

Glenn Forister, Claire Hull, Julia Frey — 2017 recipient Julia Frey, with PA Program Director Glenn Forister and Clinical Coordinator Claire Hull

Pat Buckley and Students — 2016 recipient Pat Buckley and students she has mentored

Bob Davis, 2007 Awardee — 2007 awardee Bob Davis, from Vale, Oregon, along with his staff. Heidi Layer, former OHSU PA Program Regional Coordinator, is shown presenting the award.

Pat Kenney-Moore and Claire Hull Promoted by School of Medicine

Pat Kenney-Moore, EdD, PA-C, became the first PA to achieve the status of professor in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University. Claire Hull, MHS, PA-C, was promoted to the rank of associate professor in July. The two were recently honored, along with other promoted OHSU faculty, in a ceremony hosted by Dean Sharon Anderson.

Pat Kenney-Moore with OHSU School of Medicine Dean Sharon Anderson.

Pat Kenney-Moore, Glenn Forister and Claire Hull.