Mary Showstark, BA, MPAS, FAWM, PhD, PA-C
Assistant Professor Adjunct; Affiliate Faculty, Yale Institute for Global HealthCards
Additional Titles
Affiliate Faculty, Yale Institute of Global Health
Contact Info
About
Titles
Assistant Professor Adjunct; Affiliate Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Affiliate Faculty, Yale Institute of Global Health
Biography
- Chief, Physician Assistant Trauma Surgery (2004–2006)
- Director/Creator Taste of Gramercy (2012–2013)
- Director, Surfer’s Medical Association (2010–2020)
- Vice President of Physician Assistants for Global Health
- Director of New Development Physician Assistants for Global Health (2018–2020)
- Liaison to Euro-PAC (2019-Present)
- Global Ambassador to AAPA (2019-Present)
- Honorary Member of Global Association of PA/CO Association (GACOPA) (2019-Present)
- Communications Director International Academy of PA Educators IAPAE (2019-Present)
- Creator of International Federation of Physician Assistant/Physician Associate and Clinical Officer/Clinical Associate/Correlate Students’ Association (IFPACS) (2020-Present)
- Liaison to International PA Organization (IPAO) (2020-Present)
- Yale Institute of Global Health Affiliate Faculty Member (2020-Present)
- Welch Allyn Advisory Board Member (2018–2022)
Mary Showstark is a physician assistant (PA) who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2001 and a master’s degree in 2004 from the University of Florida. She started her career working 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 at LAC+USC, Maui, New York City and Miami Beach. Showstark has also spent many years working in event medicine and concierge services around the world from Johannesburg to Sydney with multiple cities in between. She has worked and consulted with private events and athletic organizations, including the World Surf League, Burning Man, U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Tough Mudder, the Indies Trader, SEA Paddle and the New York City and Paris Marathons. Showstark is licensed by the NCCPA. She also works with the federal disaster FAST teams, previously served as one of the executive directors on the board of Surfer’s Medical Association, and was a consultant for the education board for Welch Allyn.
Showstark has worked in Haiti and Nepal, responding to natural disasters and providing medical care in rural and austere environments. She also consults in remote areas, such as Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Marshall Islands, and the Philippines, performing medical needs assessments and helping with clinic development, setup and sustainability projects.
Showstark began working in PA education in an accredited PA program in New York City in 2012, 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 joined Yale as an instructor in the Yale Physician Assistant Online Program in 2017 and was promoted to Assistant Professor (Adjunct) in 2020. Showstark was the course director for Pharmacology I, II, III, Anatomy I, II, III, and previously 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 as of July 2024 hosted over 80 universities in 30 countries with an interprofessional, virtual, education experience and focuses in on breaking down silos within healthcare and across sectors dealing with complex-wicked problems and the global health security agenda.
Showstark also 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 and ERIC working group. Showstark is also affiliate faculty at the Yale Institute of Global Health. 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, a speaker series in collaboration with the Wilderness Medical Society.
Showstark is involved in growing the healthcare workforce for the profession globally. She is a global ambassador to AAPA, communications lead for International Association of PA Educators, and consults with the World Health Organization on the Global Framework for Universal Healthcare. 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. In addition to her PA work, Showstark is certified in massage therapy, yoga, and security. She is also a current member of PAEA, AAPA, and Interprofessional.Global.
In her free time, Showstark enjoys traveling and has explored more than 100 countries on all seven continents.
Appointments
Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of Buckingham, Security and Intelligence
- Non Degree Program
- Wilderness Medical Society, Fellowship in Wilderness Medicine (2022)
- Fellowship in Wilderness Medicine
- Wilderness Medical Society (2019)
- Non Degree Program
- Atmananda Yoga, Yoga 500 hours (2016)
- Yoga Teacher
- Atmananda Yoga 500 hours (2016)
- Massage Therapy
- South Bay Massage College (2012)
- MPAS
- University of Florida, Physician Assistant
- PA-C
- University of Florida, PA Studies (2004)
- BA
- University of Florida, English
Research
Overview
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0003-1768-9580
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Benjamin Tolchin, MD, MS, FAAN (Neurology), FAES
Carol Oladele, PhD, MPH
Nitu Kashyap, MD, FAMIA
Diane Bruessow, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA
Karen Jubanyik, MD
Problem-Based Learning
Interprofessional Relations
Publications
2024
Virtual interprofessional education for the African continent: AFRI-VIPE
Showstark M, Wiss A, Joosten‐Hagye D, Sappio E, Slusser M, Cavezza R, Nyathi N, Nyoni C, Filies G, Pattershall‐Geide J, Embry E, Zschaebitz E, Mcginnis P, Resnik C, An I, Delawala F, Pitout H, Schweickerdt L, Muller J, Africa L, Kholvadia A, Ntsekhe T, Tshotetsi L, Ricks E, Biernacki P. Virtual interprofessional education for the African continent: AFRI-VIPE. African Journal Of Health Professions Education 2024, 16: e2486-e2486. DOI: 10.7196/ajhpe.2024.v16i2b.2486.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAuthentic case studiesProblem-based learningInterprofessional Education CollaborativeStudent attritionSynchronous sessionsEducation networkEducation CollaborativeAsynchronous materialStudentsCompetency attainmentMultiple universitiesCore competenciesCompetenceInterprofessional educationProfessional groupsCase studyProgrammeInterprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment SurveyInterprofessional experiencesEducationLearningUniversityAttainmentProfessionInterprofessionalInternational Humanitarian Aid and Physician Assistants in Global Health
Showstark M, Bruza-Augatis M. International Humanitarian Aid and Physician Assistants in Global Health. Physician Assistant Clinics 2024, 9: 229-242. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpha.2023.08.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-native English-speaking applicants and the likelihood of physician assistant program matriculation
Najmabadi S, Valentin V, Rolls J, Showstark M, Elrod L, Barry C, Broughton A, Bessette M, Honda T. Non-native English-speaking applicants and the likelihood of physician assistant program matriculation. Medical Education Online 2024, 29: 2312713. PMID: 38324669, PMCID: PMC10851801, DOI: 10.1080/10872981.2024.2312713.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPhysician assistantsPA programsESL statusCentral Application Service for Physician AssistantsPatient care experiencesImprove health carePatient care hoursTrained physician assistantLikelihood of matriculationProgram admissions processImprove patient outcomesCare experiencesLanguage concordanceCare hoursUnderserved populationsMultivariate regression modelHealth careMedical providersPatient careInvestigate associationsAdjusted modelsLogistic regressionPatient outcomesOddsEffective communicationCurricula Mapping of Physician Associate/Physician Assistant-Comparable Professions Worldwide Using the Learning Opportunities, Objectives, and Outcomes Platform
Smalley S, Bruza-Augatis M, Colletti T, Heistermann P, Mahmud A, Song D, Juarez L, Tshotetsi L, Fahringer D, Smith J, Ahlers O, Showstark M. Curricula Mapping of Physician Associate/Physician Assistant-Comparable Professions Worldwide Using the Learning Opportunities, Objectives, and Outcomes Platform. The Journal Of Physician Assistant Education 2024, 35: 108-115. PMID: 38251929, DOI: 10.1097/jpa.0000000000000571.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMilitary Veteran Matriculation in US Physician Associate/Assistant Programs
Broughton A, Landry A, Showstark M, Barry C, Najmabadi S, Rolls J, Honda T. Military Veteran Matriculation in US Physician Associate/Assistant Programs. The Journal Of Physician Assistant Education 2024, 35: 156-161. PMID: 38227642, DOI: 10.1097/jpa.0000000000000568.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLikelihood of matriculationProportion of veteransPA programsMatriculant poolsNonveteran peersMilitary veteransAssociated with higher oddsMilitary statusActive-duty military personnelActive-duty statusAssociated with oddsMultivariate logistic regressionStudy time frameUnadjusted modelsVeteran statusHigher oddsInvestigate associationsActive dutyVeteransExperience hoursLogistic regressionLookback periodActive-dutyMilitary personnelBonferroni correction
2023
Gender minority PA applicants and matriculation likelihood
Rolls J, Naimabadi S, Barry C, Showstark M, Hamilton C, Quella A, Honda T. Gender minority PA applicants and matriculation likelihood. JAAPA 2023, 36: 1-1. PMID: 37989188, DOI: 10.1097/01.jaa.0000995008.84015.3c.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchClimate change curricula in physician associate and physician associate-comparable professional clinical programs
Showstark M, Tempel A, Honda T. Climate change curricula in physician associate and physician associate-comparable professional clinical programs. The Journal Of Climate Change And Health 2023, 14: 100268. DOI: 10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100268.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsHealth impactsHealth professional training programsSix-month periodHealth educationCommunicable diseasesHealth competenciesHealth disparitiesClinical programsMental healthPhysician associatesConvenience sampleHealth topicsMost respondentsHealthDescriptive statisticsTraining programEnvironmental epidemiologists382 Moral Distress in Resuscitation Policy Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study
Jubanyik K, Vergara-Greeno R, Welch R, Kim N, Showstark M, Kashyap N, Herbst J, Tolchin B. 382 Moral Distress in Resuscitation Policy Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study. Annals Of Emergency Medicine 2023, 82: s167-s168. DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.08.410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUnderstanding the scope of practice of physician associate/physician associate comparable professions using the World Health Organization global competency and outcomes framework for universal health coverage
Showstark M, Smith J, Honda T. Understanding the scope of practice of physician associate/physician associate comparable professions using the World Health Organization global competency and outcomes framework for universal health coverage. Human Resources For Health 2023, 21: 50. PMID: 37353808, PMCID: PMC10290387, DOI: 10.1186/s12960-023-00828-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsScope of practiceWorld Health OrganizationUniversal health coverageWHO frameworkIndividual health servicesHealth coverageCommunity health programsCommunity health needsType of procedurePublic health communicationFisher's exactHealth workersOutcomes FrameworkIndependent reviewersPractice activitiesParamedical practitionersHealth needsHealth servicesSignificant associationHealth programsHealth workforceClinical encountersPercent agreementLow-income countriesHealth OrganizationVirtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE)–The VIPE Program: VIPE Security, a Multi-sectoral Approach to Dealing with Complex Wicked Problems
Showstark M, Wiss A, Cavezza R, Joosten-Hagye D, Richards J, Brooks P, Wulfplimpton J, Acheson I, Kelshall C, Gray L, Zschaebitz E, Embry E, Resnik C, An I, Sutherland M, Arcos R, Kenley D, Bennett D, Dobson M, Bergler S. Virtual Interprofessional Education (VIPE)–The VIPE Program: VIPE Security, a Multi-sectoral Approach to Dealing with Complex Wicked Problems. Prehospital And Disaster Medicine 2023, 38: s24-s24. DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x23001036.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWicked problemsActive teaching strategiesInterprofessional education programCase-based learningCommunication of studentsInterprofessional collaborative practiceTransdisciplinary approachResult of participationHealthcare training programsTeaching strategiesInterprofessional educationEarly educationAsynchronous materialsEducation programsHealthcare studentsCollaborative practiceStudentsTraining programVirtual experiencePsychological safetyTeam experienceDeck approachEducationSignificant gainsUniversity
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity NicaBeat; medical clinic in Hacienda Iguana Region, Nicaragua
Public ServiceConsultantDetailsconsultant to medical clinic set-up2018 - Presentactivity Medical Needs Assessment: Invitation from Siargao Island, Philipines
Public ServiceConsultantDetailsconsultant to help set up clinic in remote island, working on initiative for an EMS system, introducing an EMS bill, partnership with WMS and other universities2018 - Presentactivity Virtual IPE Committee (VIPE)
CommitteesChairDetailspartnering with 7 different universities and multiple specialties to create an online IPE, continuously expanding2018 - Presentactivity Interprofessional.Global
Professional OrganizationsCommittee MemberDetailsPolicy Working Group, Situational Analysis Group, Communications Working Group and Academic Workforce Group2019 - Presentactivity Physician Assistants for Global Health: Speaker Series
Meeting Planning and ParticipationBoard of DirectorsDetailscreated online speaker series in the realm of Global Health2019 - Present
Links & Media
News
- December 15, 2023
PA Online Alumna Nicole Hoff Receives PA Foundation IMPACT Grant
- March 17, 2023
Yale PA Online Students Gather for White Coat Rite of Passage
- May 09, 2022
Three Classes Celebrate at Inaugural YSM PA Online Commencement Ceremony
- August 12, 2021
Addressing the Global Health Care Workforce Crisis: A Medical Anthropological Approach