Seattle's Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau receives 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award from AAPA

American Academy of Physician Assistants Names Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau, PhD, PA-C, Humanitarian PA of the Year

Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau, PhD, PA-C, of Seattle, Wash., received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday. Bounkeau, of Lao and Thai descent, co-founded the CME training project, a program that provides funding for rural Lao health workers to travel from their villages to the large city of Luang Prabang, Laos, to participate in much-needed continuing medical education.

"My roots are in Laos and Thailand, and I know all too well that, especially in rural areas, this part of the world is often underserved by modern health care," said Bounkeau. "By extending a hand to those who have the desire to learn and serve, we broaden the reach of the best health care practices across the globe. I am honored that AAPA has chosen to recognize this important and necessary work."

Bounkeau's CME training project provides curriculum on patient history, physician assessment, emergency medicine, ultrasound technology, reproductive health and pediatrics, as well as medical leadership for hospital administrators and medical English for hospital workers. The program, which is funded in part by the PA Foundation, provides Lao health workers an opportunity to strengthen and update their clinical skills.

Bounkeau is a Distinguished AAPA Fellow, former president of the Washington State Academy of Physician Assistants and co-founder of AAPA's Asian and Pacific Islander PA Caucus. He is currently employed by the VA Puget Sound Healthcare System. On weekends and evenings, Bounkeau volunteers at Seattle International Community Health Services providing culturally competent health care services to patients speaking Southeast Asian languages.

In recognition for his accomplishments, Bounkeau received the Humanitarian PA of the Year Award, which honors a PA who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to human rights and exemplifies the PA profession's philosophy of providing accessible and quality health care in geographic locations inside and outside of the United States. The award is one of five PAragon Awards, made possible with support from Pfizer Inc., that are presented annually by AAPA to recognize members who have demonstrated distinguished service to patients, the community and the profession. Other awards include: Federal Service PA of the Year, Outstanding PA of the Year, PA Service to the Underserved Award and the Physician-PA Partnership Award.

SOURCE American Academy of Physician Assistants