Melinda Blazar, MHS, PA-C, assistant professor of community and family medicine, has been named director of clinical education of the Duke Physician Assistant Program. Blazar is a 2007 graduate of the Duke PA program and has served as clinical coordinator for the program since 2011.
Blazar has a clinical background in obstetrics and gynecology — currently seeing patients at the Duke Family Medicine Center — and her interest in women’s health led to the creation of a Women’s Health Activity Day to better prepare PA students for the women’s health rotation. She has been involved in curricular innovation including incorporating E*Value into the clinical year curriculum as a tool to support clinical year activities, and developing the Bridge Course to facilitate student transition from the classroom to the clinic.
Blazar has actively supported many curricular and programmatic efforts in the PA program, as well as serving the greater Duke medical community in various interprofessional teaching capacities, including serving as a clinical preceptor to M.D., PA, PharmD and NP students. She is an active member of Duke AHEAD, and also serves on various committees and task forces at the PA program and the School of Medicine.
Blazar frequently serves the greater academic PA community through research, scholarly presentations and committee service, including currently serving as chair of the Physician Assistant Education Association PACKRAT™ Exam Development Board and as director at large of the Association for Physician Assistants in Obstetrics and Gynecology.