Edward A. Amberg, DMSc, MPH, PA-C, is a former chair of the National Commission on Certification of PAs (NCCPA). In addition to serving as chair of the Board, Amberg also served and chaired several committees including the Board Development Committee, Review Committee, and Nominating Committee. He was instrumental in the conceptualization of the Pilot Alternative to PANRE and PANRE LA. Amberg also completed a term of concurrent service on the nccPA Health Foundation Board of Directors.
He is passionate about working in emergency and acute care, especially in rural settings. Amberg currently works in the emergency departments of both Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains, MT, and St. James Healthcare in Butte, MT, where the nearest Level 1 Trauma Center is several states away.
After graduating high school, Amberg took an EMT class to become a ski patroller. He then started working for a local ambulance service where he realized his calling to medicine. The local medical director was a good friend of Amberg’s. When Amberg shared that he wished to pursue a career in medicine but was concerned about the costs of school, his friend suggested that he look into the PA profession. The flexibility of the profession appealed to Amberg, and he has never regretted following his path.
Amberg graduated in 2007 from the University of Montana with a BS in Occupational Health and Safety. In 2009, he attained his Master of Medical Science degree from Midwestern University’s PA program, in Glendale, AZ. After graduation, Amberg worked at the Community Hospital of Anaconda, Montana (2009-2014) and he continues to be a provider at the Reiter Foundation in Addiction and Adolescent Medicine (2009-present).
After receiving his certification in emergency medicine from West Virginia University in 2011, Amberg began working in the emergency departments at various institutions: Pine Ridge Indian Health Services (2012-2016), Sleeping Giant Ambulance Service (2012-2015), St. James Healthcare (2016-present) and Clark Ford Valley Hospital (2022-present). Amberg also served as the Granite County Medical Center Director of Advance Practice Providers and as their Rural Health Clinic Director (2014-2022) where he provided emergency room care and worked with staff to improve trauma and emergency patient care.
Amberg always knew that he wanted to work in rural healthcare. Working in emergency medicine in a rural area let him give health care a more “friendly, human approach”. It also offered variety in his practice as often in rural areas the emergency department covers other departments as well. Rural medicine has provided him with opportunities to become involved with his community to ensure access to quality health care in areas that would otherwise not have access.
In 2015, Amberg received his Master of Public Health from the University of Montana, and in 2022, his Doctorate of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg. He has been a clinical preceptor for Rocky Mountain College, Midwestern University, and the University of Washington PA programs. Since 2013, Amberg has been an adjunct facility clinical instructor for his alma mater, Midwestern University.
Amberg has volunteered as the medical director at several organizations: the Georgetown Lake Volunteer Fire Department since 2011; Discovery Ski Patrol since 2012; and the Philipsburg Ambulance Service since 2014. Amberg has also given back to the PA profession by serving on the nccPA Health Foundation’s Board of Directors (2018-2020) and on the NCCPA’s Board of Directors (2017-present). He was the Chair of the NCCPA Board in 2021 and to date is the youngest board chair to have served.
Amberg is a member of the Montana Academy of PAs, the American Academy of PAs (AAPA), the National Ski Patrol Association, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
In his free time, Amberg enjoys the outdoors and working to expose people to new things and experiences. He likes talking to high school classes about the PA profession, teaching new EMT students and volunteering for the Special Olympics. He always tells the PA students he precepts that “the best way to thank someone is to get involved to make your corner of the world a better place. Does not have to be on a national level or professional level but just volunteer in your community to make it better, which is what I try to do as that was the message that was given to me by a preceptor years ago.”
Acknowledgments: This biography was prepared by the PA History Society Staff with the assistance of Dr. Amberg and submitted to the Society in November 2023. The photographs are courtesy of Dr. Amberg.
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