Diane Bruessow, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA
Cards
About
Titles
Assistant Professor Adjunct of Medicine (Physician Assistant Online Program); Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, PA Online Program
Biography
Diane Bruessow divides her time between academia, clinical practice, and service. She has graduate and post-graduate teaching experience, over 30 years of clinical practice experience, and extensive leadership experience in mid-size non-profit corporations within the healthcare sector with annual operating budgets of $25m+. She is experienced in best practices of governance and oversight, and moving culture toward inclusion and belonging by reducing systemic bias.
Bruessow has received honors, awards, and legislative proclamations for academic, clinical, humanitarian, and leadership excellence - including the New York State Society of PAs as the PA of the Year (2019), New Jersey State Society of PAs as the outstanding Humanitarian of the Year (2017), as well as the designation of Distinguished Fellow, a recognition of exceptional professional achievement, leadership, professional interaction, learning, and community service by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA). Less than two percent of PAs earn this designation. She is nationally certified by the NCCPA with excellence awarded in Primary Care (reflecting scores within the top 5th percentile).
Her professional interests include healthcare disparities, workforce, policy, and leadership. Bruessow has been an invited speaker and has authored original research and other published articles and medical textbook chapters.
She has held elected and appointed positions on multiple national boards, councils, and commissions. She formerly served as a board officer for GLMA (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) and is a past president of the LBGT PA Caucus. In 2020, after serving in the roles of Director at Large and Secretary-Treasurer, she was elected President-elect of the American Academy of PAs. She has served on the editorial advisory board of the Transgender Health Journal since its inception and is serving a 3-year term on the board of directors of the US Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH).
Bruessow graduated from the LIU Brooklyn PA program in 1993. In 2023, she was inducted into Pi Alpha, the national PA honor society, as a distinguished alumnus. She has been practicing clinically for over 30 years and has over 20 years of experience in transgender medicine across the lifespan. She is licensed to practice autonomously in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts and independently in Wyoming.
Bruessow joined the Yale University PA Online Program in 2018 and gave the keynote address for the inaugural class White Coat ceremony. She currently serves as the director of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and an assistant professor adjunct in the Department of General Internal Medicine.
She regularly participates in committees at the program and institutional levels, including academic affairs and the YSM Diversity Champions Advisory Council. She previously served on the PA Online program mission committee and the joint diversity, equity, and inclusion mission committee. She has served as a core member of the YSM Dean's Advisory Council (DAC) on LGBTQI+ Affairs and has chaired the DAC's LGBT health policy working group.
Her faculty responsibilities include serving as course director of Preparing Future PAs 1, co-course director for Clinical Medicine and Capstone, an academic advisor, and facilitator for Problem-Based Learning 1-3, which includes small group work 3 days each week. She has been a lecturer in pulmonary, musculoskeletal, psychiatry, geriatric, and sexual history, taking lectures within Patient Assessments 1 and 2. She developed a virtual clinical elective in Sexual and Gender Minority Health that launched in 2020 and ran for 3 years during COVID.
During the program's intensive residencies, Bruessow also teaches hands-on skill development in patient assessment and clinical procedures. She developed standardized patient case scenarios involving transgender patients which was implemented in 2021, and supported the development of a Virtual Inter-Professional Education (VIPE) scenario that included a transgender patient.
Appointments
Departments & Organizations
- Internal Medicine
- PA Online Program
- Yale Medicine Outlist
Education & Training
- MPAS
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, PA Studies
- BS
- Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, PA Program (1993)
- BS
- Long Island University, CW Post Campus, Biology, Chemistry Minor (1991)
Board Certifications
Physician Assistant Certified
- Certification Organization
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
- Latest Certification Date
- 2024
- Original Certification Date
- 1993
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News & Links
Media
- Erin Hillis, PA-S2(1), Diane M. Bruessow, MPAS, PA-C(1) 1Yale School of Medicine, PA Online Program, New Haven, CT, USA Presented at the ConnAPA Annual Spring CME meeting, April 3, 2022 Disclosures: Erin Hillis is a student in the Yale School of Medicine, PA Online Program, Class of 2022, and a 2021 alumni of the PAEA SHPF. Diane Bruessow is an Assistant Professor Adjunct, Yale School of Medicine, PA Online Program. PA Education Association’s Student Health Policy Fellowship (SHPF) objectives are to enhance PA students’ understanding of the political process and health policy while inspiring and preparing fellowship alumni for lifelong grassroots advocacy, both in Washington and at home, and promoting the PA profession as an integral part of the health care system.
- presented at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) November, 2020
- presented at the PA Education Association forum in 2019
Journal of the America Academy of PAs: Commentary
Keeping up with LGBT health: Why it matters to your Patients
March 2011
News
- May 10, 2024
Building Capacity in Medical Students to Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Patients
- December 15, 2023
PA Online Alumna Nicole Hoff Receives PA Foundation IMPACT Grant
- October 24, 2023
Bruessow Elected To US Professional Association For Transgender Health Board
- March 17, 2023
Yale PA Online Students Gather for White Coat Rite of Passage