Patricia R. Jennings, Dr.PH, program director for the Surgical Physician Assistant Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, received the 2010 Master Faculty Award from the Physician Assistant Education Association. The award recognizes educators who inspire, stimulate and challenge their students and colleagues and who have made outstanding contributions to education and the profession in at least three areas: teaching, scholarship, administration and professional service.
Jennings is a nationally recognized authority on infectious disease and has been principal investigator for five consecutive Health Resources and Services Administration grants dealing with STD/HIV training for PA education, totaling more than $3 million and running through 2015. She has been project director and investigator for the Alabama/North Carolina STD Prevention and Training Center, part of the CDC National Network of STD Prevention and Training Centers, and is a frequent lecturer on sexually transmitted diseases.