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Oral Histories

Audiotapes, Videos and DVDs

The Oral History Collection contains audiotapes, videos and DVDs with corresponding transcripts produced either by the Society or by others and then gifted to the Society. Holdings from this collection have been digitized and placed in the Society’s digital archival collection using PastPerfect™ software.

Entire Collection
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While there is no substitute for original correspondence and other primary source materials, interviews help us understand better the context in which decisions were made, offer fresh insights, and suggest directions for further research. The Society continues to identify, collect, catalog and preserve existing audio and video oral histories and is conducting additional interviews with key individuals to fill in gaps of missing information.

Featured Oral Histories

Paola Gonzalez

Paola Gonzalez, MPAS, PA-C, currently works in oncology. She also is a leader in PAs for Latino Health, the AAPA, and her community. She shares her most memorable patient interaction, why she was drawn to her leadership roles, and the importance of advocacy in the PA profession.

Christina Hurley

Christina Hurley, BSES, MPAS, PA-C, shares how she joined the PA profession, her journey to healing after losing her leg, and the founding of her organization - Less Leg More Heart - to help others experiencing limb loss.

Jose Fernandez

Jose Fernandez, PA-C, MPAS, practices aviation medicine within the US Navy. He speaks about his vital role as a member of the aviation healthcare team and what he likes best about his field of practice.

Shani Fleming (2024)

Shani Fleming, PhD, MSHS, MPH, PA-C, shares her recent experiences working on PAEA's Diversity Mission Advancement Committee, being a member of the PA Leadership and Learning Academy (PALLA), and her future goals for DEI initiatives.

Grace Dreyer

Grace Dreyer, PA-C, has been working in hospital medicine since graduating from Duke University's PA Program. She shares what a typical day is like for here, what she likes best about her field, and a message to those interested in working in hospital medicine.

Kathryn Reed

Kathryn Reed, MSPAS, PA-C, shares her enthusiasm for PA education, the reason why she founded the National Society of Black PAs, and what projects the group is working on.

Tunde Oshikoya

Tunde Oshikoya, MPAS, PA-C, speaks about working in addiction medicine via telehealth, what a typical day is like for him, and the qualities he feels are necessary to work in his field.

Amanda DiPiazza

Amanda DiPiazza, MCMSC, PA-C, DFAAPA, talks on how she became interested in neurosurgery, what a typical day is like for her, and what she likes best about working in her field.

Featured Audio Interviews

Maryann Ramos

Maryann F. Ramos participates in a biographical sketch interview given by PA students. Highlights of her interview include: What the PA program was like in the 1970s, her work as a PA at the Pentagon during 9/11, and her work to help pass PA legislation in Puerto Rico. She also gives advice to students in the PA program and her thoughts on where the field is heading.
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Barney McCollough

Leila Ledbetter's interview of Barney McCollough on being the first PA in Florida, working with Bill Clinton in Arkansas to use PAs to help rural communities, and working in Arkansas, Iowa and Florida to set up rural health clinics. McCollough also graduated from the first class of PAs from the University of Alabama.
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Ann Bliss

Recording is by John Cavenagh who interviewed Ann Bliss during his days as a student in 1976. They discuss the founding of the PA program at Yale.
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George F. Hillegas III

George F. "Rick" Hillegas III, EdD, MPH, PA-C, DFAAPA, comes back for a second interview. This time he focuses on his time spent in the Coast Guard, what decided him on becoming a PA, and how he lobbied for commissioning of PAs.
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Oral History Collections

PAs and The HIV/AIDS Epidemic

This oral history series highlights the role PAs and the AAPA LBGT Caucus played in healthcare during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s.
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Medic and Corpsmen

This project was originally in collaboration with the Maine Military Museum. This is a collection of interviews with PAs who began their health practitioner careers as either military medics or corpsmen.
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The PA Profession In The Netherlands

This series interviews those who helped start and shape the PA profession in the Netherlands.
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Additional Resources

Search Guide

If you need help searching our Oral Histories, visit our Search Guide.
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Additional Videos

To see more of our video Oral Histories, please visit our Vimeo account.
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Voices of the PA profession

Please use the suggestion box to recommend individuals who should be interviewed about specific events in their own or our collective professional history.
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