Introduction to Research and Medical Literature for Health Professionals

Dennis Blessing is a graduate of Sam Houston State University (BS 1973), Wichita State University (MHS 1985), and Kansas State University (PhD 1989). He has been a physician assistant educator since 1983, holding faculty appointments at Wichita State University, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He recently retired as a distinguished teaching Professor of Physician Assistant Studies and Associate Dean, School of Health Professions, at UT Health Science Center San Antonio. He has worked clinically part time during his educational career and has experience in family medicine, rural health, Native American health, indigent health, emergency medicine, transplantation, surgery, and urology. He is a Vietnam veteran.Dr. Blessing's contributions include serving on the boards and committees of the North Carolina and Kansas academies and committees of the Texas Academy. He was president of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs and is a member of several committees, and the advisory board for the Pedersen Research Institute. He has been a delegate to the American Academy of Physician Assistants House of Delegates, served on reference committees, the Education Council, and a research committee. Dr. Blessing has held a number of educational offices and served on a number of educational committees. He is the editor of two books; Physician Assistant's Guide to Research and Medical Literature and Clinical Problem Solving for Physician Assistants. He has over 100 publications and he has received almost a million dollars in research and training grant funds.Dr. Blessing's honors and recognitions include; teaching awards, faculty excellence awards, leaderships awards, honor society appointments, service awards, and appointment to a faculty fellowship in the Professional Capacity Building Program of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Blessing has received the Outstanding Research Award (first recipient) from the Association of Physician Assistant Programs, Gold Award for the Best Regular Column/Contributed from the American Society for Health Care Publishers and Editors, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Duke University Physician Assistant Program, Outstanding Service Award from the Association of Physician Assistant Programs, and an Army Commendation Medal. Dr. Blessing is active in faculty development and research.