Univ of CO Physician Assistant Program

As the CHA/PA Class of 2027 enters their third year and begins clinical rotations, we are proud to celebrate a truly historic milestone within our program.

👏🏾 Join us in recognizing Hasim Adams, who will be the first Black male to matriculate through the CHA/PA program in the past 40 years.

With only 3.9% of PAs in primary care identifying as Black, the importance of representation in healthcare cannot be overstated. Diversity in the medical workforce directly impacts the health, trust, and outcomes of Black patients and communities.

As the outgoing President of Voices in Medicine, Hasim continues to lead with purpose—advocating for greater representation while serving as an inspiring role model for youth in our community. His dedication and passion truly embody what it means to make a difference.

🖤 Please join us in congratulating Hasim on this incredible achievement and wishing him continued success as he embarks on his clinical rotations!

✨ Staff Spotlight: Felicia Doherty✨

With our summer clinical rotations starting soon for our 2nd and 3rd years, we want to acknowledge members of the team that make sure our clinical rotations happen! Although many of you already know her, we’re excited to reintroduce **Felicia Doherty** and highlight the incredible impact she has on our Clinical team!

Felicia is a proud CHA/PA graduate (Class of 2013) who found her professional home in primary care at Denver Health. For over a decade, she has cared for patients in an outpatient Internal Medicine clinic, bringing compassion, expertise, and dedication to every interaction.

Felicia’s passion for education is just as strong. Since 2019, she has served as a **Site Director for CHA/PA students at Denver Health**, and in 2024 she expanded her reach as a **Clinical Site Educator**, partnering with sites across Denver and throughout Colorado. She loves supporting students at such a pivotal stage while collaborating with preceptors who are shaping the next generation of providers.

Outside of work, Felicia embraces adventure and creativity! You might find her baking sourdough, tending her family’s beehives, running (sometimes *very* long!) mountain distances, or exploring in a vintage camper with her husband, three children, and their beloved super mutt. 🐝🏔️🚐

We are so grateful to have Felicia on the CHA/PA team and thankful for the passion and dedication she brings to this important work every day!

👏 **Join us in celebrating Felicia!**

Don't forget, you still have 1 more week to nominate one of your colleagues or friends for a CHA/PA alumni award in either of the 3 categories (Rising Star Award, Alumni Achievement, Henry Silver Award. Nominate someone today!

https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/chapa_rising_star_award_nominations_form_2026

https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/chapa_alumni_achievement_award_nominations_form_2026

https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/chapa_alumni_henry_silver_legacy_award_nominations_form

Rain couldn’t stop us from celebrating the CHA/PA Class of 2026! What an amazing day, recognizing accomplishments with family and friends. Congratulations, Class of 2026. We are so proud of you!!

Don't forget, you still have 1 more month to nominate one of your colleagues or friends for a CHA/PA alumni award in either of the 3 categories (Rising Star Award, Alumni Achievement, Henry Silver Award. Nominate someone today!

https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/chapa_rising_star_award_nominations_form_2026

https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/chapa_alumni_achievement_award_nominations_form_2026

https://ucdenverdata.formstack.com/forms/chapa_alumni_henry_silver_legacy_award_nominations_form

🌟 Guest Lecturer Spotlight: Dana Steidtmann, PhD 🌟

We’re excited to highlight Dana Steidtmann, PhD, a valued Guest Lecturer with CHA/PA who has been sharing her expertise with our PA students during the Psych Block since 2019!
📍 Originally from: Laramie, Wyoming — about 2½ hours north of the Denver metro area
🎓 Education & Training: Dr. Steidtmann earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!) and completed her clinical internship at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
🏥 Current Practice: She practices at the Johnson Depression Center, an outpatient specialty clinic for mood and anxiety disorders here on campus.
📚 What does she lecture on?
Dr. Steidtmann helps PA students build confidence in:
Knowing when to refer patients to psychotherapy
Effectively collaborating with psychotherapy providers
Understanding different types of psychotherapies and how they’re used in clinical practice
💙 Why she loves teaching PA students:
“CHA/PA students are engaged and enthusiastic, which is energizing for me. They also ask interesting questions that challenge me to think about things differently.”
🎿 Fun facts:
When she’s not teaching or practicing, Dr. Steidtmann loves to ski, making Colorado a perfect fit! She’s also an animal lover and recently welcomed a dog named Quincy into her family—walking and playing with him is a favorite pastime.

Thank you, Dr. Steidtmann, for your continued support of PA education and for inspiring our students!

Last week, Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD stopped by CHA/PA to receive her Guest Lecturer of the Year Award. Aimee was selected by the Class of 2028 for the HEME/IIM Immunology lecture she delivered this program year. Aimee is a fabulous lecturer and we are grateful to have her talent and experience here at CHA/PA. You can find her on TikTok and Instagram as - an immunologist and black belt martial artist in a small, yet mighty package! Check out Aimee's Bio below.

Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology and dedicated educator at the University of Colorado Anschutz medical campus. The motivation behind the pursuit of her PhD was teaching and she is honored to serve as the immunology content director for the CU School of Medicine (CUSOM) curriculum, which leads to her dream of teaching immunology to students across the CU Anschutz campus, including medical, physician assistant (her favorite!), dental, and graduate students.

Aimee is also a science communicator and a co-director of the Colorado Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CCTSI) ‘Communicating Your Science to the Public’ Workshop series.

Clinical Skills is an important aspect of the CHA/PA program that complements our Didactic program. Last week in Clinical Skills, our second-year students had the opportunity to hear from individuals living with an ostomy. The panelists shared their experiences on living with an ostomy, common wound complications and the importance of patient advocacy and support groups. One of the presenters also did a live demonstration of an ostomy bag change. Thank you so much to Taylor Mitchell-Ross and Amie-Leigh Reece for sharing their experiences with our students so they can be advocates for their future patients!

🌟 Guest Lecturer Spotlight: Morgan Avery, MPH, PA‑C 🌟

It's week 2 of Psych Block, and we’re thrilled to spotlight Morgan Avery, PA‑C, a valued guest lecturer for this block with CHA/PA since Fall 2023 and a passionate advocate for compassionate, accessible care.

Originally from Grapevine, Texas, Morgan earned a Master of Public Health from the University of Kentucky before completing PA school here at the CHA/PA program (woohoo!). Morgan currently practices in Addiction Medicine with CUSOM’s Department of Psychiatry, working across three outpatient clinics and helping run their mobile clinic to reach patients where they are.

Morgan lectures on topics that challenge and inspire future PAs, including:
Harm Reduction
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Healthcare Implications for People Experiencing Homelessness

What Morgan loves most about teaching? Building real connections with students—especially when those relationships extend beyond the classroom and into the clinic.

Outside of work, you’ll find Morgan soaking up Colorado’s great outdoors, spending summer weekends at Chatfield State Park swimming, biking, running, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Thank you, Morgan, for your dedication to education, advocacy, and student mentorship!

Don't forget to sign-up at the link below for our final in-person CHA/PA information session this coming Friday, April 17th, 2026 from 1 - 3pm, or share with a friend that may be interested.

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/physician-assistant-program/prospective-students/information-sessions

We can't wait to see you there!