2024 Educator of the Year - Nicholas Kopacki
I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. Without a doubt, I can attest that Nick Kopacki was put into my life during my journey to becoming a Physician Assistant for a reason: to be the most monumental educator, mentor, and supporter during the hardest years of my life. To say that Nick is deserving of this award would be an understatement.
Nick has influenced me to become the provider I will be in 6 short months in more ways than I can fit into 500 words. Yes, he is a phenomenal professor that leaves me excited to explore medicine beyond the academics and keep me engaged in every lecture. However, he continues to do so much more than that. As someone who has always struggled with confidence in my abilities, Nick is always the first person to reassure me that I am more capable than I give myself credit for and that it is okay to not know everything. He has encouraged me to look at every clinical situation, break it down into simple concepts, think through the pathophysiology, and use everything I have learned thus far to come up with a reasonable solution. As he likes to say with a smile on his face, “he’s just making it up as he goes.” In addition to this, Nick is one of my biggest supporters through my journey, which has not come without its challenges. At some of my lowest points, Nick was there to hand me tissues, offer a listening ear, encourage me to keep going when I didn’t think I could, and remind me that I was put on this path for a reason. Without Nick’s unwavering support, I can’t say that my journey to becoming a PA would have continued past some of the most tolling days.
When I think about the characteristics that I feel makes Nick deserving of this award, I am reminded of all that he is as a person: the one to come in early to make pots of coffee for everyone, the one to bring all 12 of us a piece of chocolate and a flower after a difficult week, the one to stay hours past his work day to help us with concepts we were struggling with, the one to beam the most enthusiastic energy during every one of his lectures, the one to whole-heartedly adhere to his “open-door policy” no matter how busy he was, the one to go out of his way to check on his students because he genuinely cares about our success and well-being, and the one that has the most comforting presence by just walking into a room. Shockingly, this list is not even close to exhaustive. I have said “thank you” to Nick more times than I can count, but it never feels like enough. Please consider Nick for this award so he can get the recognition that he deserves and so my appreciation is given on a scale bigger than a “thank you.”
Submitted by: Ashley Anderson
Dr. Kopacki is the epitome of the provider that I plan to be for many reasons. He is thoughtful, kind, courageous, and puts every one of his students before himself. When reflecting on my whole journey before, and during Physician Assistant (PA) school, Dr. Kopacki was the reason I chose Grand Valley, and was the motivation to keep pushing through when I thought I was not going to make it through PA school. He has played a monumental role in building the Grand Valley PA program in Traverse City, Michigan and continues to embrace a culture of learning, growth, and family. I am thankful that our paths crossed during my undergraduate education, as this was the driving force in my decision to attend the program he teaches at, rather than accepting my spot in other programs across the state of Michigan. Taking all of that into account, it is his personal characteristics that have influenced me to become a PA, continue to influence me to become a provider like he is, and make him undoubtedly deserving of this reward.
During my time in PA school, Dr. Kopacki has played more than just a role in my academic career, but in so many other ways. To be completely honest, grasping material during lecture has always been hard for me. However, Dr. Kopacki lectures in a way that I grew very fond of. He provides pathophysiology, real world examples, and engages students throughout the lecture with various practice questions, funny songs, etcetera. His lecture style may not separate him from other amazing professors, but what I believe makes him stand out is his attributes to students outside of the classroom. Dr. Kopacki preaches an open-door policy on our campus, which provided me the ability to develop trust and was an outlet for many students to seek support. He will hand Kleenexes to students that cry after receiving a bad grade, he will give us reasoning as to why he believes we are each capable of making it through this difficult program, and always is ready for a good laugh to cheer us up. In addition, Dr. Kopacki puts so much time and effort into being present for his students. He will show up well before the first lecture of the day to make pots of coffee, and he will stay after lectures are completed to help answer questions and teach disease processes, even if it is not his module at that time.
As the director of the Traverse City campus, Dr. Kopacki has become more than a professor to me. He brightened the darkest of my days and has taught me many valuable life lessons centered around leadership, friendship, and personal growth. He has always seen something in me, even when I don’t see it for myself, and without his unwavering support, I truly don’t know where I would be today.
Submitted by: LeighAnn Endres