Ms. Ballweg is an esteemed physician assistant and has served in a number of directorial roles throughout her illustrious career.
SEATTLE, WA, August 23, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Ruth Ballweg with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Ms. Ballweg celebrates many years' experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Amassing 40 years of professional excellence in the health care industry, Ms. Ballweg is an esteemed physician assistant and has served in a number of directorial roles throughout her illustrious career. Most recently serving as the director of international affairs at the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants from 2004 to 2018, where she has hosted multiple international networking meetings and has been directly involved with PA development in Canada, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ghana, and the Republic of Ireland, she previously was a board member and trustee of the Group Health Cooperative from 1997 to 2016 and the board chair of the Group Health Cooperative from 2015 to 2016. Ms. Ballweg further held multiple positions for MEDEX Northwest, including as the director of the Physician Assistant Program with the University of Washington from 1985 to 2014, and the section chief in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington from 2006 to 2014.
In addition to these prominent roles, Ms. Ballweg was an admissions committee and executive committee member in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington from 2006 to 2014, a member of various Pew Commission committees and task forces on dental health therapists from 2000 to 2014, and an executive committee member in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington from 1995 to 2014. Likewise, she was the adviser of the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission from 1991 to 2014, a commissioner of the PEW Commission on the Health Professions from 1997 to 1999, and an HRSA Title-7 Advisory Committee member from 1995 to 1996. Furthermore, she served on the national advisory board with the National Health Service Corps from 1994 to 1996, as well as president of the Physician Assistant Education Association from 1991 to 1993 and the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants from 1988 to 1989. Ms. Ballweg began her career as a Physician Assistant in family medicine at the practice of M.K. Gooding, MD, in Ashland, Oregon from 1978 to 1980, and an assistant at the Bremerton Kitsap County Health Department from 1980 to 1983.
To prepare for her career, Ms. Ballweg pursued a formal education at the Southern Oregon University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in sociology and a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. She subsequently attended the University of Washington in 1978, graduating from the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program. After obtaining hands-on experience in the field, she earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington in 1997. Ms. Ballweg has since been licensed by the Washington State Board of Medical Examiners and certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
A prolific author and editor, Ms. Ballweg has contributed myriad articles to professional journals. Additionally, she has been an editorial board member of Physician Assistant from 1989 to 1990 and since 1996, as well as Clinician Reviews in 1996. In her role as Historian for the PA History Society, Ms. Ballweg was the co-editor of the 50th anniversary articles in the Journal of Physician Assistants from 2016 to 2017, and Physician Assistant: A Guide to Clinical Practice in 1994, 1999, and 2017. She has been the senior editor for the first textbook for PAs, Physician Assistant: A Guide to Clinical Practice first published in 1994 and now in its sixth edition. She is also the author of MEDEX Northwest published by Arcadia Press and the co-author of The Preceptor's Handbook for Supervising Physician Assistants, The Physician Assistant: An Illustrated History, by the PA History Society, and Mercy Flights also by Arcadia Press.
In an effort to remain aware of recent changes within the health care industry, Ms. Ballweg has maintained affiliation with several organizations, including the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants, where she served as the Health Policy Council chair since 1993, president-elect from 1998 to 2004, president from 1994 to 1995, vice president from 1986 to 1988, and board member from 1984 to 1986. In addition, she was associated with the Physician Assistant Education Association, where she served as president from 1990 to 1992. Ms. Ballweg is also active as a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
In light of her exceptional undertakings, Ms. Ballweg has accrued numerous accolades throughout her impressive career. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Physician Assistant Education Association in 2015, as well as the Eugene Stead Award from the American Academy of Physician Assistants in 2013, which is the highest honor the organization can bestow upon a member. The recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the MEDEX Alumni Association in 1997, she received the UPJOHN Presidential Award from the Physician Assistant Education Association in 1991, the Special Recognition Award from the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants in 1988, and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Indian Health Board in 1987. Notably, Ms. Ballweg was deemed a Primary Care Health Policy Fellow by the Bureau of Health Professions in 1992 and was presented with an honorary doctorate from Barry University in 1999.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to her profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Ms. Ballweg has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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