Physician Assistant Program says Farewell to Paula Phelps

Paula’s journey at ISU began in 1995 when Walter Stein, the PA program director at the time, asked her to assist with student applicant interviews for the incoming PA class. They worked so well together that he offered her a job, which she initially declined. However, after considering the family flexibility the position provided, she ultimately accepted the offer. That decision, she says, made Pocatello and ISU feel like home for both her and her family. Her first daughter was born 13 months after she started her PA education career.

Paula's approach to both her students and the program has been instrumental in shaping the unique and successful PA program at ISU today. She was determined to create a student-centered environment, moving away from the impersonal, "just another number" approach. Her involvement during the program's development helped build a strong foundation, and as a result, the program has earned an outstanding reputation.

One of the PA program’s greatest achievements is the numerous federal HRSA PA training grants it has secured. During her time working in a migrant clinic in Blackfoot, Paula observed the unique challenges faced by rural communities, particularly the added difficulty of communicating with patients when Spanish is their first language and the provider does not speak it.  

Driven to find a solution, Paula collaborated with Dr. Cathleen Tarp of the ISU Spanish Department and other PA faculty to apply for grant funding. At the time, the Spanish Department had recently created the first of its kind nationwide, bachelor’s degree in Spanish for the Health Professions (SHP) and a related graduate SHP certificate. After persistent efforts submitting grant proposals related to SHP and PA education, ISU was awarded the first of four grants in a row that were focused on increasing the preparedness of PAs whose goal is to practice in rural Idaho and other medically underserved areas. These initiatives provide ISU PA students the opportunity to add specialized educational tracks to their PA master’s degree in either Rural or Hispanic Health. PA students may choose one of five specialty ISU offered graduate certificates: Geriatrics, Lifestyle Medicine, Mindfulness, Spanish for Health Professions, and Rural Health. 

Two distinct HRSA grants have played a major role in the program's growth. Pipeline to Diversity (2015-2020) and the Grit grant (2020-2025), both of which built on the successful collaboration of the SHP and PA programs. Pipeline introduced two new ideas: recruiting area rural high school students who grew up speaking Spanish into the health professions by teaching them medical Spanish and exposing them to a variety of health professions, and the Latino Health Track offered to PA students (which has since been renamed as the Hispanic Health Track). Meanwhile, the GRIT Grant, focused on enhancing the grit and effectiveness of rural PAs, laid the foundation for the PA Care Grant (2022-2027) and PA LEAP Grant (2023-2028).

Another notable addition was the Lifestyle Medicine certificate, offering students the chance to earn extra credits alongside their already rigorous coursework, opening doors to more advanced career opportunities after graduation. These specialized tracks, made possible by the grants, set ISU’s PA program apart, providing unique opportunities that attract students from across the country.

It’s clear from speaking with her students and colleagues that Paula has had a profound impact on their lives. One former student shared that during her time in the program, she was away from her family, and Paula invited her to spend Thanksgiving dinner with hers so she wouldn’t be alone. Even though this student graduated over 10 years ago and now lives miles away, they still keep in touch.

Paula’s colleague, Marv Sparrell, wrote her a reference letter that helped her gain acceptance into the PA program at the University of Utah, calling it the best thing he ever did. Years later, Paula ended up hiring Marv to join her at ISU. He recalls her being the first PA to serve on the Board of Medicine, where she represented PAs. Marv describes Paula as a "strong presence" who welcomed feedback and ideas from others, always getting things done with professionalism. He adds, "She couldn’t be a better boss."

Paula has not only played a key role in educating and shaping many successful PAs over the years, but her influence extends to her own family as well. Her youngest daughter holds two ISU master’s degrees—one in Counseling and the other in Spanish Literature and works as a bilingual counselor at Health West. Her older daughter is finishing her final year at a Family Medicine residency in Boise and plans to begin an FM obstetrics fellowship in Salt Lake CIty where her medical Spanish proficiency will also be utilized daily. Paula reflects that the one thing she wishes she could have achieved throughout her career is a better work-life balance, something she plans to focus on moving forward.

With so much success in her past, Paula is now looking ahead to spending more time outdoors with her husband, sharing a love for wilderness activities like canoeing, fly fishing, river rafting, cross-country skiing, hunting, and hiking in the mountains. We wish you the best of luck, Paula—you will be deeply missed.

If you wish to celebrate Paula’s retirement there’s a party on Saturday, February 8 at Portneuf Valley Brewing, Open House is from 6 to 8 p.m. and dancing from 8:30 to 10 p.m.