In 1946, Jesse Edwards, a fresh-faced kid from Mineral Wells, Tex.,
stood on the parade ground at his U.S. Air Force boot camp and wondered
what he would be assigned for specialized training. The top sergeant
called out Edwards name and 74 others and said, Congratulations, gentlemen,
youre all going to be medics.
By simple military luck of the draw, Edwards began a health career that
covers 21 years in the military, and more than 33 years with the University
of Nebraska Medical Center. Edwards is Associate Director and co-founder
of the UNMC Physician Assistant program, and now the namesake of the Jesse
Edwards Award, the U.S. Air Force award given to the Company Grade Officer
Physician Assistant of the Year Award.
Edwards received a direct commission to the officer corps in 1955.
Using his military education benefits, by 1962 he earned a BA and a Masters
in Business Management. While stationed at Offutt Air Base in 1967, Edwards
retired from the U.S. Air Force. Looking for work, he answered an ad for
administrative personnel in the department of pediatrics at UNMC.
Edwards experienced and dedication led to several promotions in the
College of Medicine administration. But when he was asked to develop
a physicians assistant program at UNMC in 1972, he felt he finally found
the long-range career opportunity he desired. Edwards quickly urged that
prestige and national respect for any UNMC physician assistant program
warranted appointing a doctorate level director. That is how he came
co-found the program with Thomas Gallagher, M.D. Dr. Gallagher was
director until 1992, when James Somers, P.A.-C, Ph.D, was appointed director.
From the very beginning of UNMCs program, Edwards simultaneously urged
the U.S. Air Force to build up its own physician assistant program.
Edwards has played a lions role in the development and implementation
of the militarys PA curriculum and ability of the military PAs
to obtain a baccalaureate degree from the University of Nebraska.
The degree is required to become a commissioned officer.
Today, Edwards continues to serve as consultant to the military PA program,
and is guiding efforts to upgrade that program from a BA to a post-graduate
degree. He is an Honorary Member of the American Academy of
Physician Assistants, a member of the Nebraska Academy of Physician
Assistants and the Society of Air Force Physician Assistants.
I cant express what the Air Force award means, Edward said.
As a retired medical service person, I know from experience that awards
at this level are usually named after generals and men of great reputation.
I was stunned. I accept this honor as a capstone for all the work
Ive done to further the profession of physician assistant.