Mary Showstark, BA, MPAS, FAWM, PhD, PA-C

Mary Showstark is a physician associate (PA) who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Florida and is licensed by the NCCPA. She also holds a PhD in Security and Intelligence Studies and is dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering leadership across diverse disciplines, emphasizing the importance of breaking down silos to tackle wicked problems. Showstark began her career at University of Florida Health-Shands Hospital in trauma surgery and shortly after became chief PA. Showstark’s clinical experience is in trauma surgery, emergency medicine, urgent care and disaster preparedness for the federal government in numerous locations, including Los Angeles (LAC+USC), Maui, New York City and Miami Beach. Showstark has extensive experience in event medicine and concierge services, having collaborated with organizations like the World Surf League, Burning Man, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Tough Mudder, the Indies Trader, SEA Paddle, Paris Olympics, and the New York City and Paris Marathons.

Showstark has worked in rural and austere environments, responding to natural disasters in Haiti, Nepal, Maui, and numerous hurricane-affected regions. She also has consulted in remote areas, including Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, the Marshall Islands, and the Philippines, where she conducts medical needs assessments and supports clinic development, setup, and sustainability initiatives.

Showstark began working in PA education in an accredited PA program in New York City, where she served as clinical coordinator, and taught Psychosocial, Physical Diagnosis, Clinical Skills, SIM, OSCES and Lab Medicine, and was course coordinator for Emergency Medicine II. Showstark first joined Yale as an instructor in the Yale Physician Assistant Online Program and was promoted to Assistant Professor (Adjunct). Showstark was the course director for Pharmacology I, II, III, Anatomy I, II, III, and Physical Assessment I, II and III. She served on the admissions, progress, and student success committees, and was an academic, CEED, and capstone advisor to incoming students.

Showstark is the creator and chair of the Virtual IPE (VIPE) Committee and program, which has engaged over 80 universities across 30 countries in an interprofessional virtual education initiative. The VIPE program emphasizes breaking down silos within healthcare and across sectors, addressing wicked problems and advancing the global health security agenda.

Showstark is also affiliate faculty at the Yale Institute of Global Health. Showstark spearheaded virtual reality projects utilizing the Stanford Heart and Augmented Reality platform, teaching students proper hand hygiene through SureWash Go technology. She is also a member of Yale's XR in Medicine group and The Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) working group. She was the leader of the Global Health Student Interest Group which collaborates with PAs for Global Health; and Showstark was the faculty lead for the Wilderness Student Interest Group, which created Wild Med Wednesday, an international speaker series in collaboration with the Wilderness Medical Society.

Showstark is dedicated to advancing the global healthcare workforce for the PA profession. She serves as a Global Ambassador for the AAPA, has previously led communications for the International Association of PA Educators, and has collaborated with the World Health Organization on the Global Framework for Universal Healthcare. She also collaborates with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote the growth and recognition of the PA profession worldwide. She is also the creator of the International Federation of Physician Assistant/Physician Associate and Clinical Officer/Clinical Associate/Comparable Students’ Association (IFPACS) and PAs for Climate Action, a Special Interest Group with the AAPA. She is also a current member of PAEA, AAPA, and Interprofessional.Global.

Mary’s global advocacy work is reflected in her leadership roles:

• Vice President, Physician Assistants for Global Health
• Global Ambassador, AAPA
• Creator of JAAPA’s Global Insights
• Editor JPAE Global Perspectives
• Liaison, Euro-PAC (past position)
• Honorary Member, Global Association of PA/CO Association (GACOPA)
• Communications Team, International Academy of PA Educators (IAPAE) (past position)
• Creator, International Federation of Physician Assistant/Physician Associate and Clinical Officer/Clinical Associate/Comparable Students’ Association (IFPACS)
• Federal Disaster FAST team responder (past)/National Disaster Medical System
• Executive director of Surfer’s Medical Association (past)
• Consultant for the education board for Welch Allyn (past)
• Chief Liaison Officer for Health Tech Without Borders

A certified massage therapist, yoga practitioner, and security specialist, Showstark is dedicated to lifelong learning and innovation, with a focus on online education, group learning, organizational culture, psychological safety, and the integration of extended reality and AI.

Her passion for education and connection has taken her to over 100 countries across all seven continents.