Faculty

Mr. Dehn took over the program directorship in April 2008. 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 1991. His medical teaching career began in 1979 as a faculty member for the UC-Davis 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, where he was the first PA to be promoted to full professor. In 2003 he was named a Teaching Scholar by the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.  He has been very active in state and national professional organizations over most of his career. He was awarded the American Academy of Physician Assistants 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 currently serves as Past President of the PA History Society, the Chair of the Physician Assistant Education Association Research Institute, and on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. He has served on numerous grant review committees, as well as served as a site visitor for the Accreditation Review Committee for Physician Assistants. He has published extensively, authoring dozens of book chapters as well as 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 maintains a clinical practice 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 for the past decade, advocating for the rights of children to grow up in a nurturing environment. His favorite pastimes are reading, playing musical instruments, and walking.

Ms. Stewart has been the Associate Director of the Program since 2003.  She has been the coordinator of the Modesto and Fresno Teaching Centers since the early 1980s.  She has maintained clinical practice in Stanislaus County Family Practice Clinic as an FNP for more than 20 years. After graduating with a BSN from Sacramento State College in 1971, she worked at Scenic General Hospital and the Stanislaus County Public Health Department for 10 years.  In 1979 she completed the UC Davis FNP/PA Program and in 1981 received a master's degree in Health Services from the UC Davis School of Medicine.  She completed a master’s degree in Nursing at California State University, Sacramento in 1995.  She has a 100 percent UC Davis faculty position, which involves teaching PA and NP students, clinical provider in Family Practice clinic and teaching medical students. Currently she serves on the UCDMC Continuing Medical Education Committee, local and state Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant professions organizations. She has provided health care at family practice, college student health centers, jails, migrant farm-worker camps, and in pediatric and geriatric clinics.  Her special interests include health care needs of underserved populations, decentralized education, distance learning, farmworker and public health issues.  She is a member of the program’s Admissions Committee, Curriculum Committee, and Executive Committee.

Mr. DeAmicis is the Coordinator of the Sacramento Teaching Center.  He graduated from UCSF School of Nursing in 1981, six years after earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology from UC Davis.  He earned his MSN in 1986 with certification as an adult nurse practitioner and specialization in occupational health. He has subsequently completed the requirements for FNP certification.  Prior to joining the faculty at UC Davis he was an assistant clinical professor at the UCSF School of Nursing.  In addition to the 100 percent UC Davis faculty position in the Sacramento Teaching Center, he teaches and precepts first-year medical students and FNP/PA students. He maintains clinical practice as an NP in the Family Practice Clinic, UC Davis Medical Center.  Duane is chair of the Admissions Committee, co-chair of the Curriculum Committee, and a member of the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.  In addition, he is the liaison with CSUS for the Master of Science in Nursing track for UC Davis FNP students. He enjoys listening to music, reading biographies and participating in outdoor activities.

Dr. Hass joined the faculty in July 1997, after receiving her FNP and PA certifications from the UC Davis program.  Virginia earned an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1982 from Sacramento City College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from CSU, Sacramento in 1992.  Her nursing background is in the emergency department and critical care.  Virginia completed her Master of Science in Nursing at CSUS in 1999; and in 2008 earned a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Rush University.  She practices as a FNP in the Family Practic Clinic at UC Davis Medical Center.  Her clinical interests include chronic illness and pain managment, and promoting self-care and wellness.  Virginia's creative and leisure pursuits include quilting, gardening, hiking and travel.

Ms. Himmerick joined the faculty of the UCD FNP/PA program in 2009.  She earned her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Iowa in 2004, where she was a National Health Service Corps Scholar.  As a student she was awarded The Association of Physician Assistant Programs Student Writing Award and the Marty Holmes Memorial Award for altruism in medicine.  She began her PA career in pediatrics in rural Colorado for 2 years before moving to California to work in family practice with the medically underserved and migrant farm worker population in Napa County at Community Health Clinic Ole.  Currently she practices as a PA in the Family Practice clinic at UC Davis Medical Center.  She continues to precept PA, FNP and MD students in her clinical practice, work part-time in emergency medicine and publish in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.  Prior to her career as a PA, Ms. Himmerick earned a BS in Biology from PLNU and a Master of Science in Biomedical Basic Science from the University of Colorado.  In her leisure time she enjoys road and mountain biking, visiting the library and exploring with her 2 dogs.

Mr. Long began his medical career as an Army “Medic”, 1973-1976.  He then received his Associate of Arts Licensed Vocational Nurse degree in 1981 from Shasta College and got his Associate of Science Registered Nurse degree in 1985 from Butte College.  In 1997 he completed the UC Davis FNP/PA Program. In 2000 he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Charter Oak State College and in 2005 he completed his Master of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt College.  He spent 16 years working hospitals in critical care, emergency room and nursing administration. He spent 8 years in FNP practice in public health primary care centers and homeless clinics.  He actively precepted students as Volunteer Clinical Faculty for UC Davis for 6 years prior to becoming full-time faculty in 2005.  He currently practices in the Family Practice Clinic at UCDMC and in the emergency room at Mather VA Hospital . Forrest serves on the Admission Committee, Curriculum Committee, and APC Committee.  In 2006 he accepted the position of Clinical Coordinator for the program. In 2007 he was appointed to the California Association of Nurse Practitioners (CANP) as the Educational Affairs Committee Chair, and served one year on the Board of Directors for CANP.  In 2008 he was elected to a two term as the Northern California Representative for the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Ms. Milton started her medical career as a medical specialist in the United States Army from 1974-1977.  She then received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 1980 from UC Davis.  During her commissioned service in the United States Air Force she completed her Master of Public Administration in Health Services Management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.  She received her PA certification from the UC Davis FNP/PA Program in 2001.  After graduation, she practiced as a PA at Las Palmas and Meadowview clinics for the non-profit, community corporation, Health for All, located in Sacramento.  Mindy joined the program faculty in September 2002.  She practices as a PA in the Family Practice clinic at UC Davis Medical Center, where she also teaches and precepts UC Davis medical students and FNP/PA students.  She is Chair of the Academic Progress Committee, member of the Admissions Committee, Curriculum Committee, and UCD Health Systems IDP committee.  She also serves as a member of the UCDMC Interdisciplinary Practices Committee and the CSI/EMR Committees for Family Practice.  She is the faculty advisor for the PA/NP Student Society at UC Davis.

Ms. O'Rourke received a bachelor of science in Nursing in 1978 from San Jose State University and her FNP and master’s degree in Nursing in 1999 from the University of San Francisco. After 20 years experience in nursing and five years experience as a family nurse practitioner, Michelle began her teaching career at UCSF in the Masters Entry Program in Nursing as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing from 2003 to 2006 and joined the faculty at UC Davis in October of 2007. She practices as an FNP in the Family Practice Clinic at UC Davis Medical Center, where she also teaches and precepts UC Davis FNP/PA students. She is a member of the Admissions, Curriculum, and Testing Committees within the program and will be joining the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Michelle is excited to reconnect with adult children as they have relocated to our area and pursue some of my past favorite hobbies:  sewing and gardening.

Conrad received his certificates as an FNP and PA from the UC Davis FNP/PA program in 1997.  He has an associate degree in liberal arts from Fresno City College and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from California State University, Fresno. He received his master of science degree in Nursing from the UCSF in June 2000.  He is a member of the American College of Nurse Practitioners, the California Association of Physician Assistants, and the California Association for Nurse Practitioners.  Mr. Rios joined the faculty in August 1997 and holds a 10 percent UC Davis faculty position.  He is in clinical practice in a medically underserved site in Fresno and is involved in minority recruitment efforts in the central valley.  He is a member of the program’s Academic Progress Committee and Admissions Committee. He was appointed by the Governor in 2003 to be a Commissioner for the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (Song Brown Commission).  In 2006, Mr. Rios was selected NP of the Year by the California Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Ms. Slater spent 15 years working in public health prior to becoming a PA.  She obtained her MPH from UC Berkeley in 1987 after spending two years in the Peace Corps in West Africa.  Graduated from UC Davis FNP/PA Program in 2004, she was the recipient of the Correne Treguboff Memorial Student Award.  Following graduation she worked at the Salud clinic in West Sacramento for 3 years.  Before that Marcia worked as a health educator of migrant farmworking populations, a Director of Planning and Preventive Health Services for Community Medical Centers where she was responsible for all counseling, case management, health education and perinatal services in San Joaquin and Solano Counties.  After 7 years in this capacity she moved to the local public health department working in the areas of AIDS, TB, and health education.  She was quickly promoted to Deputy Director where she conducted extensive work with local organizations, coalitions, and worked in grant development and management.  She also worked as an area-wide manager for Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento and was responsible for the management of the Health Education Department for the Sacramento area including facilities in Roseville, Sacramento, Davis, Rancho Cordova, and South Sacramento