Captain Susan Bonfiglio served a distinguished career spanning decades in multiple clinical and leadership roles, from private practice to isolated rural communities, before retiring from the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). Growing up in a medical family in Wisconsin, the experience of watching her father’s dedication to patient care instilled in her a respect for the medical profession and a desire to balance career with family. Initially pursuing pre-med studies at the University of Wisconsin, Bonfiglio learned of the newly formed physician assistant (PA) program within the medical school. She recognized that the PA role offered a flexible, hands-on path to medicine that could accommodate raising a family while still providing meaningful clinical care.
Bonfiglio was accepted into the inaugural PA class at the University of Wisconsin, the only woman in a cohort of 16 students. At that time, the program had yet to achieve board certification, but by the time she graduated, it was fully accredited. The curriculum paralleled that of medical students, offering a rigorous foundation in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and other core disciplines. These formative years established a high level of clinical competence and adaptability that would define her career.
Upon graduation, Bonfiglio faced the challenge of establishing the PA role in a state where few people, including medical colleagues and the public, understood the profession. She educated communities and healthcare teams about PA capabilities, demonstrating both competence and professionalism to overcome skepticism especially as a young woman in a male-dominated field.
Bonfiglio’s first professional role was in private practice in Colorado Springs, working closely with a pediatrician who had lost his practice partner. This mentorship allowed her to rapidly expand her clinical skills and autonomy, including hospital rounds and extensive procedural work. She became the first PA in the city to secure privileges at all three hospitals, gaining broad exposure to inpatient and outpatient care. Over time, she became a sought-after provider for hard-to-fill positions in rural and isolated areas, leveraging her private practice experience and extensive professional network to deliver high-quality care in challenging environments.
Bonfiglio’s clinical work included pediatric care, adolescent medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, oncology, and radiation oncology. She later served as a sole provider in Fairplay, Colorado, covering a 1,700-square-mile ranching and mining community at 10,000 feet elevation. In this role, she managed emergencies ranging from near amputations to term pregnancies without prenatal care, relying on a network of specialists from Colorado Springs for guidance and support. She also established the community’s first child protection team, integrating schools, public health, and social services, and functioned as the emergency placement authority for children in need.
CAPT Bonfiglio was commissioned into the US Public Health Service as a PA in 1991. Her first duty station was with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in Whiteriver, Arizona, with the Apache Tribe. She was recruited out of the Community Health Center in Colorado Springs by a physician who was doing payback in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) who had been reassigned to Whiteriver.
Bonfiglio then moved to Fairplay, Colorado, with the NHSC to support an isolated hardship location when they lost their physician to serve as the sole provider. She transitioned to the inactive reserve after almost three years in Fairplay. She completed a Masters in Public Administration during her inactive reserve time. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bonfiglio advocated for a waiver to re-enter active duty. She then served on the Navajo reservation in Gallup, New Mexico. Her work included rural healthcare delivery, mentoring other PAs, and establishing systems to improve care in isolated areas. She consistently demonstrated adaptability and leadership, balancing direct patient care with public health initiatives and policy implementation. From Gallup she moved to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florence, Colorado. Her next and final duty station move was to Phoenix, Colorado, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a position she held for 10 years.
Beyond clinical practice, Bonfiglio has been deeply involved in leadership, education, and advocacy for the PA profession. She has served on advisory boards for immunizations and vaccination-related reimbursement policies, helped establish rural primary care tracks for the University of Colorado, and participated in statewide initiatives to improve scope-of-practice regulations. She has also contributed to disease containment protocols in correctional facilities, developed strategies to reduce methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection rates, and led programs to improve care for seniors with chronic conditions.
Bonfiglio’s leadership approach emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and advocacy. She has supported countless PA students and colleagues in navigating clinical challenges and advancing their careers. Her efforts have strengthened professional networks, improved healthcare delivery systems, and enhanced access to care for underserved populations.
Throughout her career, Bonfiglio has received numerous awards recognizing clinical excellence, research contributions, and leadership. Notable recognitions include:
- Awards for teaching international fellows in National Institutes of Health metabolic chamber research
- Awards for containment of MRSA within correctional facilities
- Recognition for pioneering rural healthcare initiatives in Colorado
- Multiple commendations for leadership and service in the U.S. Public Health Service
After retiring from the uniformed service, Susan Bonfiglio returned to Colorado Springs, where she focused on family care and community service. She supported her mother with dementia, renovated her home for accessibility, and pursued personal health recovery. Today, Susan remains active in the community, providing patient advocacy for seniors, assisting with medical navigation, and volunteering with hospice care. She also works with her service dog to provide comfort and support to seniors and assisted-living residents.
Acknowledgments:
This biography was written by Robin Hunter-Buskey, DHSc, CPHQ, CCHP, CDCES, PA-C, CAPT USPHS, with the assistance of Susan Bonfiglio. It was submitted to the Society in June 2026. Photographs are courtesy of CAPT Bonfiglio.
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