Kari S. Bernard has made significant contributions to the physician assistant (PA) profession through her work in education, research, and advocacy for provider well-being. Her groundbreaking research on PA burnout and professional fulfillment, combined with her leadership in PA education and commitment to clinician wellness, has helped shape the conversation around healthcare provider mental health and career development.
Born and educated in New Mexico, Bernard completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Eastern New Mexico University, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1998. Her early interest in healthcare and service was evident during her summer internship at Kenyatta National Hospice in Nairobi, Kenya, where she assisted in delivering care to cancer patients in various settings. This experience helped shape her future career path in healthcare.
Bernard went on to attend the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS) PA Program at A.T. Still University, where she excelled academically, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA in 2004. Her outstanding performance earned her the Class of 2004 Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award and the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants (ASAPA) Senior PA Student of the Year Award. During her clinical career, she gained diverse experiences in electrophysiology, urgent care, emergency medicine, and psychiatry, primarily practicing in Arizona and Colorado before moving to Alaska.
Throughout her career, Bernard has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the PA profession through leadership and education. She served in various roles with the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants, including president (2007-2008), and later with the Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants. Her passion for education led her to become the Remote Campus Director for the University of Washington MEDEX NW Physician Assistant Program’s Anchorage campus, where she managed operations and supported students and faculty. She notably incorporated a mindfulness-based wellness curriculum, developed at Midwestern University Glendale PA program, across five MEDEX campuses, demonstrating her early commitment to provider well-being.
Bernard’s dedication to understanding and addressing healthcare provider wellness led her to pursue a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University, completing her dissertation on “Physician Assistant Burnout and Fulfillment Related to Career Development and Physician Relationship” in 2020. Her research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of PAs, where she serves as Clinical and Research Affairs Editor. Bernard further developed her clinician wellness expertise as the American Academy of Physician Associates’ (AAPA) 2019-2020 Research Fellow, created PA-specific wellness recommendations on the AAPA’s Joint Taskforce on PA Burnout, and was invited to join the National Academy of Medicine’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-being and Resilience. Between 2022 and 2024, Bernard developed, launched, and supported a staff wellness program supporting the mental health and well-being of 2000 clinical and nonclinical staff and served as the Director of Critical Incident Stress Management at the Alaska Native Medical Center.
Currently, Bernard serves as the Director and Graduate Associate Professor of The College of Idaho’s Doctor of Medical Science program (DMSc), where she is founding the college’s first doctorate program. She continues contributing to the field through her research, publications, and presentations on provider well-being, psychological safety in healthcare, and professional development.
Beyond her professional achievements, Bernard has maintained a commitment to global health and community service. She participated in medical volunteer work in Ghana through Peacework Medical Projects, which was supported by a PA Foundation IMPACT grant. Her comprehensive approach to healthcare education, provider wellness, and professional development continues to influence the PA profession and healthcare delivery.
Bernard lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband Nathan Pooler and two rescue dogs, named Eldo and Altai. Bernard enjoys dog walks on the Anchorage coastal and mountain trails, biking, rock climbing, skiing, and travel.
Acknowledgments: This biography was written by Randy Danielsen, DHL (h), PhD, PA-C Emeritus, DFAAPA, with the assistance of Kari Bernard. It was submitted to the Society in December 2024. All photographs are courtesy of Dr. Bernard.
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