Mike Goodwin, BS, PA, is a dedicated and committed professional who has been a practicing physician assistant for 51 years. His journey began with completion of PA training from the US Federal Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, in 1973. A United States Air Force veteran, Goodwin served from 1966 to 1970, with notable service as an Air Force medic in South Vietnam from May 1968 to June 1969 in the cities of Phang Rang, Nah Trang, and Cam Rahn. After Vietnam, he completed his enlistment at Williams Air Force Base (AFB) in Mesa, Arizona. Upon separation from the Air Force, he returned home to Ohio. While attending school and working, a nurse informed him of an opportunity to attend PA school through a grant. Goodwin applied and was selected to attend the PA program at the US Medical Center, becoming one of the pioneers of the PA profession in the United States.
After completing PA school, Goodwin was the second PA in Arizona certified by the Board of Medical Examiners on August 21, 1973. He worked ten years in internal medicine at Maricopa County Hospital, a large inner-city teaching facility. In 1983, Goodwin transitioned into occupational medicine, working for Samaritan Health Services – a multi-hospital system in the greater Phoenix area. He was instrumental in developing employee health programs within the system and occupational medicine services to private industry. During this time, he was accepted into a physician’s Occupational Medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati (1988-89). With the residency completed, in 1990 Goodwin started Occupational Assessments & Services (OAS). He has provided services to municipalities, utilities, uniformed services, semiconductor, aerospace, nuclear power, construction companies, and even daycare centers. He also provided medical care and support to communication satellite launch teams in domestic and international locations.
In the early years of the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants (ASAPA), Goodwin became a lobbyist for ASAPA, where he interacted with the state legislature and other professional associations. He was instrumental in many of the early Arizona PA legislative successes, including legislative endorsement and support for developing Arizona PA training programs, effecting change of PA scope of practice from regulatory to delegatory language, and establishing a representative PA regulatory board. Appointed by the Governor, Michael served on the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (ARBoPA) for two terms.
In 2004, he moved into academia, becoming the program director for the A.T. Still University PA program at the Arizona School of Health Sciences. In 2012, he left academia and returned to occupational medicine, where he continues to practice.
Goodwin hails from Chillicothe, Ohio, and graduated from Chillicothe High School, where he played for the Cavaliers football team. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 45 years. They have two children, Sarah and Ben, and one grandson. Goodwin is an avid sailor and an active member of Post 91 of the American Legion in Chandler, Arizona. He enjoys music and “pondering things.”
Acknowledgments: This biography was written by Randy Danielsen with the assistance of Michael Goodwin. It was submitted to the Society in June 2024. All photographs are courtesy of Mr. Goodwin.
When using information from this biography, please provide the proper citation described within the PA History Society Terms of Use.
