Richard Dehn, MPA, PA-C

Richard Dehn was appointed Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies in November 2010. He received a BA in history from the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1973, a BS in medicine in 1976 from the University of Iowa College of Medicine PA Program, and a MPA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA, in 1991. His medical teaching career began in 1979 as a faculty member for the UC-Davis FNP/PA Program Merced satellite, and for many years he worked as a PA in the UC-Davis Merced Family Practice Residency. In 1993 he became the Assistant Director of the University of Iowa PA Program. In 2003 he was named a Teaching Scholar by the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. From 2008-2010 he was the program director of the UC-Davis FNP/PA Program. He holds the rank of emeritus professor at the University of Iowa.

He has been very active in state and national professional organizations over most of his career. He also has served as President of the PA History Society, and the Chair of the Physician Assistant Education Association Research Institute. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants where he is the feature editor of Research Corner and Brief Reports, and he is a member of the Physician Assistant Education Association subcommittee on Data and Research. He has served on numerous grant review committees, as well as currently serving as a site visitor for the Accreditation Review Committee for Physician Assistants. He was awarded the American Academy of Physician Assistants PAragon Publishing Award in 2001, the Association of PA Programs Research Achievement Award in 2003, and the Iowa PA Society PA of the Year award in 2006.

He has published extensively, authoring dozens of book chapters, editing two books, and authoring over 100 journal articles. He has presented national workshops on performing research and scholarly work, designing of PA program curriculum, and writing for publication.

He has over thirty years of clinical experience as a PA in family medicine, where he has long advocated for the provision of primary care services in underserved populations. Additionally he has been a foster parent, advocating for the rights of children to grow up in a nurturing environment. His favorite pastimes are reading, playing musical instruments, and walking.