Walter Eisenhauer, MMS, MEd, PA-C, DFAAPA, has been a PA educator for over 28 years. He has served his profession and his home state of Pennsylvania in numerous ways, such as on the boards of the Pennsylvania Society of PAs and on the board of the Pennsylvania Rural Health Association. Eisenhauer was appointed as a representative in a “rotating” seat on the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine in 2020. This seat was meant to cycle through other healthcare professions every four years. This was made a permanent seat for PA representation in 2022 as part of the state’s PA Modernization Act, and Eisenhauer was reappointed for another term the same year.
Eisenhauer grew up in Mill Hall Pennsylvania, a rural agricultural community with a population of less than 2000. The youngest of four siblings he spent his adolescence being raised by a single father having lost their mother to cancer in her early 40’s. Following a challenging adolescence Eisenhauer enlisted in the US Navy in 1978 and served as a Hospital Corpsman until his honorable discharge in1982. Serving as a hospital corpsman at the Submarine Naval Hospital Groton Ct. Eisenhauer worked alongside early Navy active-duty PA’s who were influential in developing his passion for medicine and a career path as a physician assistant. Highly motivated from his early patient care experiences in the emergency room, he completed pre-requisite course work and ultimately graduated from the Hahnemann University PA Program in 1984. After graduating from PA school, Eisenhauer participated in a year-long PA surgical residency program at Norwalk Hospital/Yale School of Medicine. He later went on to attain his Master of Medical Science degree from St. Francis College, Loretto, PA, in 1997 and his Master of Education from Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA, in 2006.
Walter Eisenhauer has practiced in family medicine and urgent care for most of his career. His experience in academia at Lock Haven University began in 1996 as clinical coordinator for the PA program and later academic coordinator in 1998. He was director of the program from 2001 until 2015. Since 2015, he has been department chair, full professor in the Department of PA Studies and culminated his academic career serving as the Interim Dean of the College of Natural Behavioral and Health Sciences. Starting in 2020, he is also the owner and CEO of ACE Collaboration LLC, Medical Education Consulting Services. As an inaugural member of the Lock Haven University PA Faculty, and ultimately as the director, Eisenhauer persevered in advancing the program’s mission of preparing providers for service in underserved communities. From the program’s humble beginnings in 1996 with 27 students the program ultimately grew to serve four campus locations utilizing a hybrid distance education/ITV delivery model enrolling 72 students a year. The program enjoyed a high graduation and NCCPA first time pass rate as well as a nationally recognized high placement rate of providers in rural communities.
Eisenhauer’s dedication to volunteer service began in his student days at Hahnemann University where he was secretary/treasurer of the W.W. Oakes Student Society (1982-1983). He then became president of the Society from 1983-1984. Eisenhauer has served the PA profession, PA education, and healthcare within his state in a variety of ways:
- Pennsylvania Society of PAs director at large, 1998-2001
- Pennsylvania Rural Health Association board of directors, 2002-2008.
- Pennsylvania Rural Health Association president, 2007
- PA Education Association (then the Association of PA Programs) director at large, 2002-2006
- Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital board of directors, 2008-2017
- Accreditation Review Commission on the Education of the PA (ARC-PA) commissioner, 2013-2018
- ARC-PA treasurer, 2016-2018
- Federation of State Medical Boards fellow, 2020-present
- Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine appointed member, 2020-present
Eisenhauer has been recognized for his work numerous times. He received Hanemann University’s Steven Batzer PA Award (1984), Norwalk Hospital/Yale School of Medicine’s Scallon Alumni Achievement Award (2003), the Pennsylvania Society of PAs’ Educator of the Year award (2007), and Lock Haven University Linda J. Emanuel Teaching and Learning Center’s Peers Choice Award: Excellence in Mentoring (2010).
Walter Eisenhauer is married to Doreen McCarthy Eisenhauer, who is also in the healthcare profession as a registered nurse. They have three children together: Patrick, Ian, and Leigh Ann and have been blessed with three grandchildren McCauley, William (Patrick) and Bennett (Ian). While Patrick pursued a career in Forestry, Environmental Science and data Analytics, and Leigh Ann in economics, Ian followed in his parents footsteps by pursuing a career in Navy Medicine as an Undersea Dive Medical Officer recently completing his residency ion Emergency Medicine from Denver Health. In addition to his service on the PA State Board of Medicine Eisenhauer continues to promote the delivery of primary care to underserved populations and his consulting worked has focused on assisting PA programs who have encountered challenges with accreditation coming into full compliance with ARC-PA Standards.
Acknowledgments
This biographical sketch was prepared by PA History Society staff with the assistance of Walter Eisenhauer and was submitted to the Society in November 2025. Photographs are courtesy of Mr. Eisenhauer.
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