2024 Ron L. Nelson Award Winner - William Fenn

Accepting the award on behalf of her husband, Glyni Fenn, with Ron Stavale and Rebecca Cronin.

For all his adult life, William H. Fenn, Ph.D., PA, DFAAPA was dedicated to serving his community, his profession and our nation. As a young man, Bill worked as an EMT in a community in New York state, where he first became interested in becoming a PA. That interest led him to enlist in the US Air Force in 1975. He received his PA education in the Air Force, receiving his PA education and his BS degree from the University of Oklahoma. After serving in Operation Desert Storm, he left active duty, but remained in the Air Force Reserve, retiring from that service as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1995.

Settling in Michigan after his military service, Bill pursued his master’s and doctoral degrees while teaching in the Western Michigan University PA Program, both as Director of the Program, and later as a tenured professor. During his time at Western Michigan, Bill taught hundreds of our colleagues who now serve their patients with dedication and skill, not just in Michigan, but across the country and even overseas. He has been described by his students as an outstanding teacher who made their success his top priority.

In addition to his educational contributions to our profession, Bill was very active in the leadership of our professional organizations, both MAPA and AAPA. In MAPA, he served as a delegate and Chief Delegate to the AAPA House of Delegates, leading Michigan PAs in their roles in the governance of our national professional organization. In 2003, AAPA recognized him as PA of the Year, and in 2007, he received the House Outstanding Service Award. He subsequently became Third, Second and First Vice-Speaker of the AAPA House of Delegates, eventually being elected Speaker by his peers. As Speaker, he served as Vice-President of the AAPA under three different Presidents, all of whom lauded his knowledge, leadership skills, and intelligence, as well as his ability to find consensus among his fellow members of the Board of Directors with reason and consistent good humor.

Here in Michigan, Dr. Fenn served as a member of the Allopathic Board of Medicine and the PA Task Force on licensing of our profession.

For all of the above contributions to our profession and many more that went unnoticed, but were both vital and truly appreciated, it is my honor to nominate Dr. Willam H. Fenn for the Ron Nelson Award of Achievement by the Michigan Academy of Physician Associates.

Submitted by Gregor F. Bennett, MA, PA-C Emeritus