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For the ninth year in a row, a faculty member from the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Pitt has been awarded the Physician Assistant Educator of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA).  

This year, the award was granted to Susan Graff, director of the Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program, director of medical technology education and assistant professor. Graff was recognized for her ability to inspire, stimulate and educate PA students within the program at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS).  

Graff has been with SHRS since 2020, and since then, she has made a profound impact on the PAS program and the students she teaches. 

“I’m honored to receive this award,” Graff said. “I think it’s important to celebrate the work that we as educators do and to recognize that this is not the work of one person but the work of teams. The work that we have been able to accomplish in our program is the result of not just me, but our faculty, our staff and most importantly, our students.”  

In her time at Pitt, Graff has dedicated herself to initiatives that better the PA profession and the community within and outside of the classroom. 

She has been an innovator in the development of the PAS curriculum, providing students with unique perspectives to make them more well-rounded health care professionals. This includes point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) technology and gender affirming medicine. 

Christina Davis, chair for the PAS department and assistant professor, shared that the implementation of Graff’s curriculum has been beneficial for PAS students. 

“Dr. Graff consistently exceeds expectations in her role at the University of Pittsburgh,” Davis said. “She is a leader in curriculum innovation which has been appreciated by students, many of whom have written testimonials describing how the training empowered them to excel in clinical settings. The coursework reflects Dr. Graff’s deep commitment to inclusive excellence.” 

Additionally, Graff is the co-founder of the Community, Partnership, Identity, Dialogue (CuPID) program, where she collects individual stories of Pitt staff, students, faculty and community members to develop educational content that address the ways in which underserved populations experience barriers in their access to health care. 

Interim Dean David C. Beck underscored Graff’s commitment to advocating for holistic care for all populations.  

Throughout her time at SHRS, Graff has proven to be a dedicated educator, helping to inspire her students and leave a meaningful legacy in the PA profession. 

“Dr. Graff is more than deserving of the PA Educator of the Year Award,” Davis said. “Her vision, integrity and passion elevate those around her and exemplify the very best of our profession.”   

View the list below for the prior PSPA Educator of the Year Award winners, plus additional recognitions received by PAS faculty: 

• 2024 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Christine Rodgers, director of the Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program, assistant professor 
  • PA Preceptor or the Year: Alexa Llewellyn, adjunct assistant professor 
• 2023 
  • PA of the Year: David C. Beck, Interim Dean, Professor 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Antoinette Wilson, director of curriculum for PAS, assistant professor 
• 2022
  • PA of the Year: Amy Haller, vice chair for professional development and continuing education, visiting associate professor 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Rosa Fannie, director of clinical education, associate director for the PAS program and assistant professor 
• 2021 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Jamie Hammond, assistant professor 
• 2020 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Jason Hare, assistant professor 
• 2019 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Mary C. Alias, director of the Doctor of Medical Science program, associate professor 
• 2018 
  • PA Educator of the Year: Emily Murphy, associate director of the Doctor of Medical Science program, assistant professor 
• 2017 
  • PA Educator of the Year: David C. Beck