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Dr.Kelly has been involved in physician assistant education for over 10 years. She was the Associate Director of the Mercer University Physician Assistant Program in Atlanta, Georgia before accepting the position of program director at the new physician assistant program at UAMS.  She had experience with provisional and continuing accreditation and curriculum development for the PA program.  Before joining Mercer, she was a clinical preceptor, didactic PA student mentor and didactic lecturer for the Emory University physician assistant program.  Dr. Kelly initially graduated from Iowa State University in sports medicine/ athletic training and then completed a master’s degree at Northern Illinois University.  She worked as a university athletic trainer with both men’s and women’s collegiate sports teams, and with Olympic and Paralympic athletes. She was also involved in teaching sports medicine courses and curriculum development in a university setting.  She received a master’s degree in physiology from Ball State University and a Master’s of Medical Science from Emory University in physician assistant studies. After graduating from Emory University she worked in outpatient internal medicine as a physician assistant for approximately six years before returning to academia full time.  Her clinical interests involved sports medicine, diabetes mellitus and hypertension.  While working at Mercer University in PA education, she obtained a PhD in Educational Leadership in Higher Education.  Dr. Kelly’s research interests include cultural competency, Scholarship for Teaching & Learning, and inter-professional education.  She is very excited about the vast opportunities and collaboration available for the PA Program at UAMS.  Dr. Kelly is looking forward to developing an innovative curriculum and a program of excellence to continue the tradition at UAMS.

Richard Turnage, MD
Medical Director of Physician Assistant Studies

Dr. Richard Turnage graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1983 and received his Bachelors of Science Degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1979.  He completed his surgery internship, residency, and research fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Turnage was chief resident of surgery and then became a faculty member at the University of Michigan for two years.  He also served on the faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center for 9 years and then at the University of Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport for eight years.  While at LSU he served as the medical director for the Physician Assistant Program.

Dr. Turnage joined UAMS in 2008 as Professor of Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Surgery.  He has was actively involved with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants (ARCPA) from 2001 until 2007 as commissioner, site visitor and served on various related committees.  Since 2007, he has also served on several committees for the National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistant’s and is currently still active with the commission. 

Timothy Booker, MCMSc, PA-C
Assistant Professor

Mr. Booker completed undergraduate studies at Florida State University graduating with a degree in biochemistry in 1997.  He continued on at FSU with postgraduate studies that included research in the area of neuroscience dealing with neuro plasticity.  In 1997 He was accepted to the Physician Assistant Program at Barry University where in 1999 he graduated with a master’s degree in Clinical Medical Science and Physician Assistant studies.  For the last 13 years he practiced as a neurological PA with specialization in the areas of movement disorder, balance and vestibular disorders and Neuro-Ophtamology.  In 2001 he was granted faculty appointment to FSU’s College of Medicine where he was instrumental in development of the neuro-anatomy and neurology courses and was involved in facilitating small group discussions.  He has been a preceptor of both medical students and residents and mentored medical students completing summer research projects. 

Nadja Button, MPAS, PA-C
Assistant Professor

Before becoming a Physician Assistant, Ms. Vawryk Button worked for twenty years in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic, was an EMS educator, and regional EMS Quality Improvement Coordinator.   She graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in Emergency Health Services.  She completed a Master of Science degree at Towson University in Instructional Technology. 
Nadja attended the Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania where she attained a Master of Health Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies.  Upon graduation she practiced in family practice as a National Health Services Corps (NHSC) tuition reimbursement recipient in rural St. Francis Kansas.  She stayed on beyond her service obligation, practicing for six years, and continues to serve a NHSC Ambassador.  While there, she implemented and managed the clinic’s Electronic Medical Records program.
Upon leaving Kansas, Ms. Vawryk Button became involved in Physician Assistant education for four years at the Mercer University PA Program where she served as the Clinical Coordinator and Quality Enhancement and Technology coordinator, managing the PA program educational administration and testing databases.  Most recently, before joining UAMS, Nadja practiced clinically as an Emergency Department PA in rural Georgia. 
Ms. Vawryk Button is excited to now join the UAMS Physician Assistant faculty and hopes to share her clinical knowledge of family practice and emergency medicine, her interest in quality enhancement and technology, and her calling to care for citizens in rural communities.  She looks forward to participating in the growth of this developing program into what will undoubtedly be one of the premier PA programs in the nation. 

Theresa A. Morris, MPAS, PA-C
Assistant Professor

Ms. Morris is delighted to return to the state of her birth to join the faculty of the UAMS Physician Assistant Program. Prior to coming to UAMS she was the Online Clinical Education Specialist at the South University Physician Assistant Program, Savannah, Georgia, where she was responsible for the design and development of a new portion of the clinical year experience in an online learning environment.
She has a passion for process improvement, adamant that most problems are process problems, not people problems. She’s proud to add that she served over four years active duty and two years active reserves in the United States Marine Corps, and is a Desert Storm veteran.
Ms. Morris’ practice background includes serving as a PA in emergency medicine, family medicine and urgent care, with the most recent six years in a military treatment facility serving primarily Marine Corps and Navy members and their families. Her efforts to provide improved access to care for clinic patients contributed to the creation of an urgent care clinic at that facility.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Physician Assistant Studies from South University and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She’s a member of Pi Alpha, National Honor Society for Physician Assistants, American Academy of Physician Assistants, and Society of Emergency Medical Physician Assistants.
Ms. Morris is very excited about helping mold future Physician Assistants at UAMS who will make wonderful contributions to the health care of the people of the great State of Arkansas for years to come. Her mantra is, “The art of diagnosing is the understanding of humanity.” Anonymous

Linda Haubenstein
Assistant to the Chair

 
Linda joined the UAMS Physician Assistant staff in January 2013.  She moved to Little Rock from Davenport, IA where she worked for Genesis Health Services Foundation, Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, IA for 12 years.