Robert J. Lapham Outstanding Service Award

This award for outstanding service is presented each year to a Maine Physician Assistant in recognition of outstanding service to the PA profession, demonstrating strong leadership skills and has representation at the state, national and/or international levels.

Outstanding Health Care Professional Award

This award is presented each year to a health care professional who has demonstrated exceptional clinical knowledge and teaching skills, pro-moting the PA profession and contributing to the improvement of health care in the state of Maine.

Physician of the Year Award

This award was presented from 2001 to 2011 to the Maine physician who has demonstrated outstanding support of physician assistants and the PA profession by precepting, educating, and legislating; or by exemplifying the PA/physician team approach to medicine.

2013 Service Award Winners

Outstanding Maine Physician Assistant Award

Kenneth Nadeau, PA-C

Ken Nadeau grew up in the small town of Frenchville in Aroostook County, Maine. He attended the University of Maine and then went on to Hahnemann University in Philadelphia where he earned his BS in Physician Assistant studies. He has worked in various places, including MMC, EMMC, spent many years with Old Town Family Practice and worked at the University of Maine, Cutler Health Center for 13 years.

Ken developed an expertise in performing minor surgical procedures and apparently became a true leader not only in his practice but also under Penobscot Community Health Care as an organization. He championed the EMR for this organization. Ken's concern for quality and standardization has led to his involvement on the Clinical Excellence Committee. Ken is the first Physician Assistant to earn the office of Medical Director at PCHC which testifies to his effective advocacy and leadership skills.

In 2012, Ken was selected as the only Physician Assistant to participate on the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership's Foundational Course under the Physicians Executive Leadership Institute. Ken is not only known as a true patient advocate, but also as an outstanding mentor for Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner students who holds both himself and his trainees to a very high standard. He is highly regarded by his colleagues and is loved by patients and staff alike. Ken is a Fellow of the AAPA and member of DEAPA.

Another interesting professional involvement of Ken's is that of Master Gardener. He has taught classes on gardening to grade school students and even constructed a literature garden at the Pendleton School in Brewer. He lives with his wife, Brenda, and two sons, Ryan and Evan and puppy, Miska in Brewer. Ken enjoys relaxing, gardening, photography, and being involved in his sons’ sporting events.

This award is presented each year to a Maine Physician Assistant in recognition of dedicated service to the community in which they work, both as a health care provider and as a citizen. The awarded individual is known to have done work that has inspired other Physician Assistants to greater involvement and opportunities to serve in their communities, here and/or abroad. Penobscot Community Health Care is honored to nominate Ken Nadeau and we are happy to select Ken as the recipient of The Outstanding Maine Physician Assistant Award for 2013!

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Robert J. Lapham Outstanding Service Award

F. Alan Hull, PA-C

Alan Hull attended Wake Forest University where he received his BA in Biology in 1979. He then attended Bowman Gray School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, receiving his certificate in 1981. Since graduation he has been employed in different specialties, including Orthopedics, Family Practice and more recently in Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery. Presently he is employed with Maine Spine Surgery, a Division of Mercy Hospital in Portland.

Alan has been an integral part of moving forward the PA profession in the state of Maine and nationally. He has served with AAPA in the House of Delegates going back to 2001, served as Second-Vice Speaker, First-Vice Speaker and then Speaker of AAPA House of Delegates and Vice President AAPA 2010-2012. He served on the AAPA BOD from 2005-2012. Alan also served on our DEAPA BOD filling elected offices of Treasurer, Secretary and President between the years, 1991-1995.

Alan Lives in Portland with wife, Susan and their 15 year old daughter Linnea. Alan and Susan enjoy living vicariously through their daughter’s accomplishments. When he has free time, Alan enjoys cooking and reading - but only after the yard work is done. Policy is his current hobby and he hopes to take up sailing again in the future.

Alan has received the AAPA House of Delegates Outstanding Service Award in 2002 and twice has received the DEAPA Robert J. Lapham Outstanding Service Award in 1992 and 2001. This award is offered each year to a Physician Assistant recognized for their outstanding service to the PA profession, demonstrating strong leadership skills and has representation at the state, national and/or International levels. It being 12 years since this award was last given to Alan, and the fact that he continues to serve our PA profession so diligently, he is once again gratefully awarded the Robert J. Lapham Outstanding Service Award for 2013.

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Outstanding Health Care Professional Award

Tracy Bennett, PA-C

Tracy Bennett received her BS from West Virginia Wesleyan College, graduating with honors. Following graduation, she worked for the WVWC’s football program as a Division II Head Athletic Trainer. She then went on the complete her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies at UNE, graduating in 2007. She then went to work at Penobscot Surgical Care, a division of Spectrum Medical Group in Bangor, with Dr. Michael Starks. She continues to work in this same practice.

Dr. Starks had the following accolades for Tracy which he shared in her nomination letter: Over the past six years, Tracy has become an essential part of our surgical practice where she fills the gaps that existed in a very busy surgical practice, much to the benefit of the patients she serves. She does this with a perpetually positive attitude, frequently sacrificing her time to care for others she deems more needy than she. She is a strong advocate for the PA Profession. She has actively lead in teaching efforts for PA students, routinely taking students from UNE and Mass College of Pharmacy, as well as family practice residents from EMMC. She has developed her skills with dermatology and the surgical treatment of minor skin and subcutaneous surgical problems. This has allowed her to develop a service line that improves access to timely care for patients as well as freeing up Dr. Starks to the more complex surgical needs of the practice.

This month she will be the first PA to present to the Maine Chapter of the ACS, as she and Dr. Starks will present a lecture on successful integration of PA’s into surgical practice.

She is complemented not only for her professionalism but also for her compassion as she provides care to her patients. She is well appreciated by patients and staff alike. Among the staff, she encouraged the participation in a biggest loser weight loss program that was well received. She is involved in her community, promoting physical fitness, supporting local causes through triathlons and benefit walks, such as the Susan Koman Race for the Cure. Tracy is married, has a three year old daughter named Quinn and as she says, she “couldn’t be happier”!

This award is presented each year to a health care professional who has demonstrated exceptional clinical knowledge and teaching skills, promoting the PA profession and contributing to the improvement of health care in the state of Maine. It is with great appreciation for all that she does, that we present The Outstanding Health Care Professional Award for 2013 to Tracy Bennett!

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