Skip to content
  • Trustee Login
  • Associate Login
  • Trustee Login
  • Associate Login
  • Trustee Login
  • Associate Login
PA logo
DONATE

search

  • About The Society

    Who Are We

    Dedicated to the history and legacy of the physician assistant profession

    Collection Description

    Chronicles the development of various professional organizations

    Founding Members

    Individuals who joined us during our first year

    Mission, Vision & Values

    Learn about our mission, vision & values

    PA Veterans Garden

    Visit the McElligott PA Veterans Garden

    PAHx History & Projects

    Explore our history and projects

    News & Events

    See what’s new at PAHx
    X icon
  • Information & Links

    Initial State Recognition of Physician Assistants

    Find out when your state started recognizing the PA profession

    Our Associates

    View the Associates of the PA History Society

    Past Presidents of the National Organizations

    View our past presidents

    National Conference

    View the locations & dates for the National Conference

    PA Glossary

    Abbreviations, acronyms & titles associated with the physician assistant profession

    Preserving History

    Find several resources for preserving, documenting & archiving historical documents and materials

    Trivia

    Test your PA history knowledge

    Newsletter

    Read the most recent issue

    Helpful Links

    Find links and additional resources

    Search Options

    View our different search options

  • Illustrated History

    Archival Research

    Use finding aids for our collections

    Biographies

    Read our numerous biographies

    Collection & Exhibits

    Our collection features artwork, artifacts and exhibitions

    Oral Histories

    Listen or watch oral history interviews from PAs or those close to the profession's history

    Research Library & References

    Library collections, books and serials

    Videos

    Our moving image collection includes film and video

    Photos

    Slides, photographs, negatives & others

    Historical Perspectives

    Essays, personal narratives and long articles on aspects of PA history

    PA Timeline

    View important milestones and events

    International PA Timeline

    View international milestones and events

    Historical Highlights

    Orgs that are saving and preserving their history

    Celebrating 50

    PA programs that have celebrated their 50th anniversaries

  • Support The Society

    How To Support Us

    Help our staff work with organizations, institutions, researchers and archivists

    Friends of the Society

    View our friends and find out how to become one

    Our Associates

    Become an active partner

    First Class Photos

    First class photos of our Associates

    PA History Books

    Find out how to order your copy

    PA History Products

    Lapel pins, posters, and art prints

    Become an Active Participant

    Learn how to support us
    X icon
  • Contact

James E. Konopa, PA, DFAAPA

X icon

A pioneering graduate of the Duke University Physician Assistant Program (Class 1970), James “Jim” Konopa is recognized as a national leader and distinguished educator.  He became an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) during its formative years, serving as the organization’s president from 1978-1979.  This was the year that the House of Delegates (HOD) became the policy making body for AAPA.  Konopa was a founding member of AAPA’s Education Research Foundation (ERF, now the PA Foundation) established in 1977.  The ERF’s initial focus was “research on behalf of the federal government in the health field” and “grants to educational programs.”  Konopa served as the organization’s president from 1977-1979, 1981-83 and 1985-86.  He also has the distinction of being a founding member and former president of both the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA president 1975 – 1976) and the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA president   1979 -1980).  In addition, Konopa has served as a National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Question Evaluator and Examination Proctor and as a PA Program Evaluator for the Joint Review Committee for Educational Programs for the Assistant to Primary Care Physician (JRC-PA, now ARC-PA).

Konopa was born in Rockford, IL.   After completing high school, he joined the US Navy and was trained as a Hospital Corpsman.  He worked primarily as an Operating Room Technician and as a Critical Care Air Evacuation Corpsman while stationed at the US Marine Corp Base Camp LeJeune, NC from 1960 – 1964.  During the Cuban Crisis, he help establish a Field Hospital in preparation for a potential invasion of the island; receiving the Navy Commendation Medal for his exceptional service.  After being discharged, Konopa attended and received an Associate’s degree (1966) from Rock Valley College, Rockford, IL before enrolling in the Duke University PA Program in 1968.  He continued his education, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Miami (1977) and a Master’s Degree from the University of Texas at Dallas (1982).

Konopa was among one of the first PAs to be employed by the Veterans Administration to work in their Hospital in Muskogee, OK.   He worked there from 1970 – 1974.  The hospital was affiliated with the Oklahoma University PA Program located in Oklahoma City and served as a clinical training site for PA students.  Like many of the early PAs, Konopa became interested in helping establish and developing PA programs throughout the United States.  From 1974 to 1978, he was a member of the University of Florida PA Program located in Gainesville, FL serving as the program’s Clinical Coordinator and later as the Assistant Director.  In 1978, he was recruited to the University of Texas Health Science Center to serve as the PA Program’s Director.  He retired from this position in 1982.

For his distinguished service to the PA Profession, Konopa is recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA.

Following his retirement in 1984, Konopa joined the local community theatre group where he did stage and film work which led to him establishing his stage company Murder Mystery Players, Inc. in the Dallas Fort Worth area.  After selling his company he grew a beard and entertained the children as Santa.

Acknowledgments:  This biography was prepared by Reginald Carter with the assistance of Mr. Konopa and submitted to the Society in December, 2020. The photographs are courtesy of the PA History Society and Mr. Konopa.

When using information from this biography, please provide the proper citation as described within the PA History Society Terms of Use.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
biography
biography
biography
PA logo
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram

About Us

  • Who Are We
  • Collection Description
  • Founding Members
  • Our Mission, Vision & Values
  • PAHx History & Projects
  • Newsletter

Information

  • Initial State Recognition Of PAs
  • Past Presidents
  • National Conference
  • PA Glossary
  • Preserving History
  • Helpful Links

Support Us

  • How To Support Us
  • Friends Of The Society
  • Our Associates
  • PA History Books

Contact Us

(678) 417-8682

Contactus@pahx.org

12000 Findley Road Suite 100
Johns Creek, GA 30097-1409

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Notice
  • Collection Development Policy

© 2023 Physician Assistant History Society® All Rights Reserved