Randy Danielsen, DHL (h), PhD, PA-C Emeritus, DFAAPA, was born in Preston, Idaho, and began his healthcare career as a medical corpsman in the US Air Force in 1970. He served 28 years with the Air Force and the Army National Guard, retiring in 1998 as a Desert Storm veteran with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Dr. Danielsen graduated from the University of Utah MEDEX PA Program in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) from the same institution in 1978. He earned a Masters in PA Studies (MPAS) from the University of Nebraska with an emphasis in Internal Medicine in 1997 and his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with an emphasis in Medical Education from the Union Institute & University in 2003. In 2022, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) by Nova Southeastern University for his work in higher education and the PA profession.
Danielsen has been a clinician, PA educator, author, and editor throughout his career. He was among the first PAs to receive NCCPA certification in 1975, and he maintained his certification until 2020 when he retired from clinical practice. Danielsen was named Outstanding PA of the Year by the AAPA in 1993 and ASAPA in 2011. In 2012, he was honored by the University of Utah, School of Medicine, Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, Division of Physician Assistant Studies with the “Patron of the Profession” award for “unwavering dedication and service to the Physician Assistant Profession.” In May 2015, he received the Eugene A. Stead Award of Achievement from the AAPA. This is the Academy’s most prestigious award recognizing an individual for lifetime achievement that has had a broad and significant impact on the profession.
In 1995, Danielsen began a path that led to an extensive journey in education–both in the classroom and in administration. His academic career started with the Wichita State University PA Program, and from there, he went on to serve as the Associate Director and Academic Coordinator for the PA Program at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Southwest Center, which later became AT Still University (ATSU). He completed over twenty-five years with ATSU as academic coordinator (1995-1997), chair of physician assistant studies (1997-2004), and dean of the Arizona School of Health Sciences (2004-2010, 2012-2018). Danielsen is the director of the Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) program (20180Present). He is also an adjunct Associate Professor for Nova Southeastern University’s College of Health Care Sciences.
Danielsen has served in several leadership positions throughout the PA profession. The governor of Arizona appointed him to serve on the Arizona Regulatory Board for Physician Assistants from 1986 — 1990 and again from 2001 — 2009, serving as the chairperson from 2002 — 2004. As a member of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) from 1976 until the present, Danielsen has served as a member and Chairman of a variety of committees, as vice-speaker of the AAPA House of Delegates, and as a member of the AAPA Board of Directors from 1979 — 1981. He is an active member of the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants, serving several terms on their Board of Directors and as President of the Board from 1982 — 1983, 1985 — 1986, and 1993 — 1994.
From 1997 -2009, Danielsen was an integral part of the leadership of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. He chaired several committees and served as Chairman of the Board in 2007. From 2010-2012, Danielsen led the NCCPA Foundation as its Senior Vice President. In 2024, he was appointed a Trustee for the PA History Society.
Danielsen’s dedication to the US military was not limited to his active and reserve duty in the Air Force and Army National Guard. He has been a member of the Veteran’s Caucus of the American Academy of PAs since 1989, serving as a director from 1993 — 2001 and President from 1989 — 1990.
Throughout the past three decades, Danielsen has participated on various publication advisory/review boards and has been a prolific writer. He has published over twenty-five peer-reviewed articles, twenty journal editorials, and four book chapters. In 2011, Danielsen published his first book, The Preceptor’s Handbook for Supervising Physician Assistants.
Dr. Danielsen has received several honors and awards for his work with the PA profession. He received the AAPA’s House of Delegates Outstanding Service Award in 1988, their Outstanding PA of the Year Award in 1993, and became a Distinguished Fellow in 2008. In 2002, he received the PA Foundation’s Brietman-Dorn Research Fellowship. The Veterans Caucus of the AAPA named Danielsen their Civilian Physician Assistant of the Year in 2003, and the AT Still University Board of Trustees named Danielsen as the recipient of the George Windsor Award in recognition of his characteristics of fairness, loyalty, intelligence, and service to ATSU. In 2012, the Arizona State Association honored him with their Outstanding PA of the Year award.
In addition to his work with the PA profession, Danielsen is involved in the community. He has participated as the medical director of the Elite Racing Team’s Medical Team in the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N Roll Arizona Marathon and Half-Marathon from 2004 — 2011. He is also a second-degree Black Belt and instructor in Uechi-Ryu Karate. In 2007, he was inducted into the Soda Springs High School Hall of Fame by the Soda Springs Educational Foundation.
He has been a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for the past ten years and was awarded the Peer Corps Mighty Mentor award during the organization’s 2023 annual conference. The Mighty Mentor Award is given to experienced professionals essential to HLC’s success, helping the organization develop the next generation of leaders and team chairs in the peer corps.
Danielsen lives in Quincy, MI (Population 1500) with his wife, Kendra, a retired RN.
Acknowledgments: This biography was written by Sheila Mauldin with the assistance of Randy Danielsen and submitted to the Society in June 2012. It was updated by Dr. Danielsen in June 2024. All photographs are courtesy of Randy Danielsen.
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