Bryan Boyle’s introduction to professio-nal opportunities in health care did not occur by happenstance.
Instead, it was a series of misfortunes by family members that enabled the Jermyn native to witness the impact compet- ent, empathetic clinicians have on patient care and those nervous relatives waiting for diagnoses.
Whether it was a relative battling cancer, recovering from a heart attack or having a broken bone reset, Boyle, witnessed how physician assistants “cared for and treated my family.” That paradigm set him on his own career path to becoming a physician assistant.
Today, Boyle, MPAS, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant at The Wright Center for Community Health, where he gives back to his regional community and profession by accepting new challenges and responsibilities born from circumstance and opportunity.
Most recently, he was named regional director for physician assistant education with The Wright Center’s partner institution, A.T. Still University College for Healthy Communities Central Coast Physician Assistant program in California.
His role as a preceptor for the eight students from ATSU-CCPA enables Boyle to introduce them to various electronic medical records, facilitate and enrich student learning, proctor written and practical examinations and plan clinical experiences in family medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, internal medicine and behavioral health.
“I agreed to be a student leader in order to both give back to the profession and help guide anyone of any age that wants to become a physician assistant,” said Boyle, who recently received a letter from a student that outlined the positive impact he had as a mentor. “It is extremely rewarding to help these people reach their full potential and guide them to achieve their goals.”
His experience in community medicine also ensured that medically underserved urban and rural communities receive the high-quality care they deserve and need.
Aboard The Wright Center for Community Health’s mobile medical unit, known as Driving Better Health, Boyle and his clinical colleagues deliver primary and preventive health care throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.
“Working in community medicine, especially for a nonprofit organization, helps ensure I am able to reach out to the underserved and provide them the proper medical care they deserve,” said Boyle, who also serves The Wright Center as the co- director of certified registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants. “Driving Better Health allows us to reach out to those in rural communities that may have not had access to vaccines or routine health care assessments.”
At the Mid Valley Practice, Boyle sees patients of all ages and takes great satisfaction in forming strong relationships with his patients and developing a sustainable pipeline for the next physician assistant workforce.
“They (student clinicians) let me know that due to their positive experience with me they accepted a job in community medicine,” Boyle said, recalling the letter he received from one of his mentees. “I will forever be grateful for someone telling me that I am their role model. It was such a rewarding and eye-opening experience.”