Gerald Simons, MPAS, DFAAPA, PA-C, is a surgical physician assistant/physician associate (PA), tickborne disease expert, educator, and lecturer.
Early Years
Born and raised on the tip of Long Island in East Hampton, New York, Simons grew up in a tight-knit coastal community, where his family traces its roots back to 1685. As a child, he enjoyed spending time on his cousin’s fishing and lobster boat and learning car mechanics at his father’s auto shop. He was first introduced to the PA profession when he met Kenneth Dodge, PA, a Marine Corpsman and one of the first PAs in New York at his father’s auto shop—a chance encounter that sparked his interest in pursuing a medical career.
In his teenage years, Simons worked as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) and later pursued his critical care paramedic certification while cross‑training as a volunteer firefighter. Simons completed his undergraduate education at Stony Brook University and subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Science with honors from the Stony Brook University Cardiorespiratory Science Program in 1993. Despite an initial interest in the perfusionist track, Simons ultimately pursued the respiratory therapist route. After working as a Respiratory therapist and encountering many surgical PAs, he decided that he wanted to become a surgical assistant and enrolled in the Cornell Surgical Assistant Program. In the middle of his training, however, he learned that there were plans to convert the program into a PA program. Assured that he would still be able to work in surgery as a PA, Simons completed the program, graduating from the new Weill Cornell PA Program with both a surgical assistant certificate and his PA degree. In PA school, Simons enjoyed his time in surgery the most and also served as his cohort’s student society president and New York State Society of PAs (NYSSPA) PA Student Director.
Clinical Work
After graduation, Gerald Simons was immediately asked to work in general and laparoscopic surgery and lecture at the Weill Cornell PA Program. In addition to surgery, he worked part-time in urgent care and primary care in Long Island, which sparked his interest in tickborne diseases. He helped launch the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Physician Training Program in East Hampton, which involved research, lectures, and training providers in endemic areas to better recognize and treat tickborne diseases. Through the Empire State Lyme Disease Association, he both gave lectures and visited support groups. Simons was also featured on a local monthly television program about tickborne infections and authored the Lyme Times “From the Expert” series by the California Lyme Disease Association (CALDA). In 2010, Simons was the national recipient of the National Humanitarian award by the Turn the Corner Foundation (now Global Lyme Alliance) for his work. He has also been featured in national media, including the New York Times Science section, Redbook, Experience Life, Shape, National Public Radio (NPR), and WUSB 90.1 FM radio station.
PA Educator
In addition to his clinical work, Simons has held several academic leadership roles, including didactic year and preclinical year coordinator of the Weill Cornell PA Program and Clinical Assistant Professor at the Stony Brook PA Program, Southampton campus. His lectures cover a variety of topics like surgery, the gut-brain connection, psychiatry, physical diagnosis, and many bedside and surgical skills. His favorite part about teaching is encouraging students to move beyond the slides and learn hands-on skills. Simons has also lectured at Long Island University (LIU), Touro University, and the Montefiore PA Residency Program. During his time as an educator, he helped to develop PA training in the Netherlands, helping to bring the PA profession to Europe, as recorded here in a PAHX interview: https://pahx.pastperfectonline.com/Archive/02D676DA-A31A-4492-ACD5-549203369131.
Service
In regards to professional leadership and advocacy, Simons has been a recurring American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) lecturer since 1997. He has also been heavily involved in the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants (AASPA), through which he served as two-time president and chief delegate, helped spearhead the concept of a pre‑PA track, and led procedural skills workshops. Within the NYSSPA, Simons has served as secretary, CME lecturer, and Student Affairs Committee chair.
Recognitions
Throughout his career, Simons has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the March of Dimes Health Career Award; Kirklin Award for Excellence in Surgical Skills; NYSSPA 2008 Educator of the Year; 2008 National PA Leadership Award; Turn the Corner Foundation 2010 National Humanitarian Award; AASPA 2024 National Preceptor of the Year; NYSSPA 2024 Award for Original Research; and numerous university teaching awards.
Reflections and Personal Life
Gerald Simons playfully calls himself “the accidental PA,” as his original plan was to be a mechanic, followed by aspirations to become a respiratory therapist, then a surgical assistant, before ultimately becoming a surgical PA. When asked about the most rewarding part of his career, Simons notes students recounting one of his lectures or techniques vividly and sharing how it influenced their care, as well as the positive impacts that he has had on patients and their families.
In his free time, Simons enjoys spending time with his wife of 26 years, as well as on his boat, fishing, and social media outreach via his Instagram and YouTube channel.
Some of his professional papers can be found here in the PAHX archives: https://pahx.pastperfectonline.com/archive/8BDFF25B-7746-4300-AE6D-736522772746
Acknowledgements
This biography was prepared by Phoebe Kubo with the assistance of Gerald Simons. It was submitted to the Society in September 2025. Photographs are provided courtesy of Mr. Simons.
When using information from this biography, please provide the proper citation as described within the PA History Society Terms of Use.
To request the use of the photographs that accompany this biography, please contact the PA History Society to request permission as some photographs might have restrictions on their use.
