Moves and Milestones
Jones Named Piper Professor
Gene Jones, PhD, PA-C, professor and director of PA studies at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center’s School of Health Professions and editor-in-chief of PAEA’s Journal of Physician Assistant Education, was recently named a Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation of San Antonio. Jones is the ninth UT Southwestern faculty member to be named a Piper Professor; the award is a first for the School of Health Professions. Begun in 1958, the Piper awards are made annually to professors for superior teaching at the college level in Texas. Selection is made on the basis of nominations submitted by the president’s office of the college or university.
Jones came to teaching early in his career and in a most unexpected way while on active duty with the U.S. Navy. Shortly before he was due to be transferred to an aircraft carrier, he was notified that he’d been reassigned: “They called and said, ‘Hey, you have a master’s degree. We need an instructor,’ ” Jones remembers. “I had no classroom teaching experience but I began to get the hang of it and eventually reached a comfort level where I became excited about it.”
Jones earned a master’s in health services management from Webster University in St. Louis and a master of arts and PhD in education from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. He now teaches one class each semester in the PA program, co-directs the postgraduate PA dermatology training program, and oversees the largest department within the School of Health Professions. He said that he has stayed in education for one reason: “I love being around the students.” He added, “I can’t think of a more fulfilling career than what I do now.”
Piper Professors receive a certificate of merit, a gold pin, and a $5,000 honorarium.
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PAEA Networker's Moves and Milestones column is designed to keep members informed about their colleagues’ activities. The column features information on faculty moves and promotions and on significant changes and achievements at member programs. Examples are faculty moving to new positions within the program or elsewhere, grants received, articles or books published, a new track or satellite campus established. We also welcome curricular innovations that may not have the research basis for peer-reviewed publication but that would be of anecdotal interest to PA faculty.
If you have news you would like to share, please send it to Eileen Evans, PAEA Networker managing editor, at eevans@PAEAonline.org; (703) 548-5538, ext. 307. News must be received by the 20th of the month for inclusion in the following month’s issue.
