Celebrating PA Week: Honoring More Who Make SSP Exceptional!

Each year, National Physician Assistant Week reminds us why we do what we do. It’s a celebration of the incredible professionals who dedicate their careers to improving patient care, advancing medical education, and shaping the future of healthcare.

For me, PA Week is also a moment of reflection—a chance to recognize the educators, mentors, and consultants whose quiet dedication makes lasting change possible. At Student Success Programs (SSP), I’m privileged to work alongside remarkable professionals who bring experience, empathy, and innovation to every project they touch.

For PA Week last year, I had the pleasure of using my weekly blog to let you meet consultants like Antionette Polito, EdD, PA-C, Jennifer Eames, MPAS, DHSc, PA-C, Vivian Moynihan, MD, MPH, and Stephanie Bowlin, PhD., and to our coaches Lili Chan, MMS, PA-C, Mary Minto, MHS, PA-C, and Echo Kopplin, DMSc, PA-C.

This year, I have the privilege of introducing you to three more of our outstanding team. They are consultants Tina Butler, MPAS, PA-C, and Cathy Ruff, MS, PA-C, and coach Kelley Hulihan, MS, PA-C. Each represents a different dimension of being a PA educator, yet all share the same mission: to help programs and students thrive.

Tina Butler, MPAS, PA-C

Dr. Tina Butler’s path to becoming one of our valued consultants is paved with rich, multifaceted experiences. Her clinical background spans cardiology, urgent care, and family medicine, providing a robust foundation for her academic and consulting work. This diverse expertise allows her to bring real-world insight to every classroom, meeting, and program she supports.

As the Program Director for the Hardin-Simmons University Physician Assistant Program, Tina is more than an educator—she’s shaping the future of PA education. “Like many others, I initially planned on becoming a medical doctor,” Tina reflects. “But once I discovered the PA profession, I was sold. I’ve always described myself as a great ‘right-hand man,’ loving the idea of working on a team and caring for patients, while knowing I always had someone to turn to for help.”

Tina’s dedication extends beyond the classroom. She serves on state and national committees, authors publications, and continually advocates for excellence in PA education. Her consulting work reveals the same balance of rigor and compassion. “It truly takes a village to create and maintain a successful PA program,” she says. Tina embodies that belief through mentorship, collaboration, and care.

That compassionate approach defines her role at SSP. “Scott truly cares for PA programs and students,” she adds. “He finds people who are the best in their field to help improve programs, focusing on helping others instead of claiming recognition for himself.”

Tina enjoys caring for her other large community outside of her professional life—her seven dogs, including five Great Danes! It’s a reminder that balance, humor, and heart are as important in life as they are in education.

Cathy Ruff, MS, PA-C

Following that same spirit of excellence, Cathy Ruff brings nearly 25 years of experience to the forefront of PA education. A nationally and internationally recognized speaker, Cathy is known for her groundbreaking work integrating Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and competencies into PA curricula.

Her expertise shines in student assessment, curriculum design, and competency-based education. One of her proudest achievements is developing the PA program at Rocky Vista University, where she successfully guided it through continuing accreditation.

As a consultant, Cathy is both a strategist and an innovator. “Consultants bring fresh perspectives and expertise that can help PA educators refine their curriculum, enhance teaching methods, and ensure alignment with current standards and best practices,” she explains.

Her decision to join SSP stemmed from shared values: “I have been impressed by the impactful results they achieve for programs and students.” Through her collaboration with our team, Cathy continues to push the boundaries of educational innovation—proving that PA education excellence is achievable and sustainable when guided by vision and data-driven insight.

Kelley Hulihan, MS, PA-C

Just as Cathy has expanded what’s possible in curriculum and competency design, Kelley Hulihan has transformed how students approach learning. A PA since 1991, Kelley’s curiosity about medicine remains undimmed. “I still find medicine fascinating,” she says. “I’ve been amazed by the vast variety of things PAs can do—and how grateful patients are for the care they receive.”

That same curiosity fuels her passion for education. As an SSP PA Coach and Remediation Specialist, Kelley draws on her clinical and academic experience to help students rediscover confidence and mastery. “Many students struggle with End of Rotation Exams because they haven’t developed active learning habits,” she explains. “They were passive learners in the didactic phase and never learned to build structured study schedules.”

Kelley proudly calls herself “an education geek,” fascinated by how people learn. She says coaching has changed her perspective: “I didn’t have these skills in PA school—it would have made things so much easier!”

After connecting with me through a PAEA conference consultation, Kelley realized SSP was the perfect fit. “I asked Scott how one goes about becoming a coach for his company—and here I am,” she recalls with a laugh. She admires SSP’s evidence-based learning tools and the dedication of its coaches, describing the team as “a group focused entirely on helping students reach their fullest potential.”

Kelley believes that communication sets great PAs apart: “Truly listening to patients and asking thoughtful questions is the key to excellent care.” Now stepping away from clinical and traditional faculty work, she finds joy in focusing on coaching, helping students learn how to learn.

Beyond the world of medicine, Kelley stays grounded in her roots as a farm girl at heart, raising and training animals and teaching others to do the same. Her love of growth, both human and animal, is a perfect reflection of her spirit as a lifelong educator.

Shared Values, Shared Purpose

Tina, Cathy, and Kelley each bring something unique to the SSP family: leadership, innovation, and mentorship. Yet what unites them is a shared belief that education is a calling—and that the success of every PA student represents the future of healthcare.

So, as we celebrate PA Week, I extend my heartfelt thanks to these remarkable women—and to all the Physician Assistants, educators, and mentors who continue to shape this profession with skill, dedication, and heart.

Happy PA Week to our colleagues, partners, and friends. Here’s to another year of learning, growing, and making a difference—together.