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Dana Villmore, Ph.D., PA-C, assistant clinical professor in the University of New England’s Physician Assistant department in the Westbrook College of Health Professions, has been named the 2024 Outstanding Health Care Professional of the Year by the Maine Academy of Physician Associates (MEAPA), formerly the Maine Association of Physician Assistants.

The award is presented annually to “a health care professional who, through their efforts, have demonstrated exceptional clinical knowledge and teaching skills in support of the PA profession and contributed to the improvement of health care in the state of Maine,” according to the MEAPA.

Villmore was honored at the MEAPA Annual Conference at the Harborside Resort in Bar Harbor on Oct. 4. She was anonymously nominated by two students in ɫ����Ƶ’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant (M.S.P.A.) degree program, the only physician assistant training program in Maine, who said she “goes above and beyond to ensure her students are engaged” and brings humor to courses in difficult subjects.

“Prof. Villmore has been an extremely positive influence in my early experiences in PA school at ɫ����Ƶ,” wrote one of the students. “She is not only very knowledgeable in her areas of expertise and always eager to answer questions, but she constantly promotes student mental health and well-being.”

Villmore joined the ɫ����Ƶ Physician Assistant department in January 2019. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Florida Gulf Coast University and completed her doctorate in immunology and microbiology at the University of Florida in 2012. 

While doing research at the University of Florida on inflammatory-mediated bone loss in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Villmore became interested in pursuing a clinical career to treat these complicated diseases. She then attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston and earned a master’s degree in physician assistant studies in 2015. She currently practices at Intermed’s workplace health services on-site clinic at IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook. 

Since 2019, Villmore has taught courses in the principles of bioscience and evidence-based medicine, and she coordinates ɫ����Ƶ’s M.S.P.A. program’s Interprofessional Geriatrics Education Program in addition to teaching courses in specialty disciplines. She is also chair of Admissions for the M.S.P.A. degree program. 

“Being an educator is one of my true passions in life, and to be recognized for my teaching and to be nominated by my students was just icing on the cake,” Villmore said of her award.