Fahringer is 2023 UK Global Impact Award Recipient
by Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2023) — David Fahringer, MSPH, PA-C and professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 UK Global Impact Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievements in Internationalizing the Curriculum.
Presented on behalf of the University of Kentucky International Center (UKIC) and the University of Kentucky International Advisory Council (IAC), the award will be given to Fahringer during a reception on Oct. 4.
The UK Global Impact Awards seek to recognize alumni, faculty and staff achievements and contributions towards enhancing the University of Kentucky’s global engagement through research, education, and service, as well as fostering a culturally diverse, welcoming environment that is conducive to comprehensive campus internationalization.
“Your career-spanning efforts to establish and link PAS programs around the world, and to embed opportunities for clinical experiences abroad for our PAS students, embodies this global contextualization,” wrote Susan M. Roberts, Ph.D. and Associate Provost for Internationalization for the University of Kentucky.
“Here in the UK International Center, we have a shared vision of a ‘University of Kentucky where a global mindset is integral to our teaching, research, service, and operations; where diverse cultural perspectives are included and valued, and global learning is broadly accessible,’” she continued. “Again, congratulations on this significant achievement, and my most sincere thanks to you for all that you do to contribute towards making this vision a reality.”
For Fahringer, who has been teaching at Kentucky since 1994 and plans to retire this year, the award came as a surprise.
“Thirty-five years ago, coming out of Africa to come to the PA program here in CHS, never did I dream that after developing the PA international study abroad, I would be honored with this wonderful award,” he said. “My whole PA career has been here at UK; it is what I wanted to give back to UK.”
From 1995 to 2010, Fahringer worked with faculty and leadership at the University of Wolverhampton in England to develop the PA profession and education in the United Kingdom. In 2010 he took a two-year work leave of absence to start the first PA program in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia with George Washington University-Medical Faculty Associates at Prince Sultan Military College of Health Science. He is also one of the four founders of the International Academy for Physician Associate Education.
He then returned to the University of Kentucky in Aug of 2012 and became the Associate Program Director until June 2020. Now he serves as the Program Director of Post Graduate Education for PAS.
“He has a passionate dedication to developing PAS programs around the world,” said Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. “And in that sense, he has been helping people and patients around the world for his entire career. I can think of no one who better deserves this honor.”
“In the College of Health Sciences, we have a mission to help the people of our Commonwealth and region achieve the highest possible levels of good health,” said Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College. “The amazing thing about David’s career is that he expanded that goal; he decided that he wanted to help people around the world — and then he actually did it. There are few people who better represent exactly what we’re trying to do in this College. I greatly admire him for all that he is accomplished and congratulate him on this great honor.”
For Fahringer, he credits the University and College for helping him with his vision.
“The opportunities that UK gave me to flourish have been incredible,” Fahringer said. “With UK’s help, I was involved in developing the PA profession in Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and now in Poland. This is the place to BE!"
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