Malcolm Cutchin, chair of the Department of Health Care Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, announces the appointment of John G. McGinnity as Director of Program Planning and Development for the Department. McGinnity is an associate professor (clinical) in the Physician Assistant Studies Program and continues as a full-time represented faculty member in the program.

"This is a new position and requires John to assume additional responsibilities to assist the programs in ongoing academic activities," Cutchin said. "He will be working with the program directors in the Health Care Sciences to assess their program's activities, coordinate efforts, solve problems, and create better futures." In this role, McGinnity also will produce analyses for better department strategic decision-making. The appointment became effective Nov. 1.

In addition to his director and faculty responsibilities, McGinnity is a practicing physician assistant at Residential Home Healthcare, Inc., Warren, MI. He serves on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Physician Assistants and is president-elect for the organization. McGinnity is a past president of the Michigan Academy of Physician Assistants and has served as a member of the National Institutes of Health, National Heart Attack Alert Program Coordinating Committee.

Among his editorial and peer reviewer responsibilities, McGinnity serves on the editorial board of Advance for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. He is well published, having authored or co-authored more than 56 papers, CME courses, monographs, abstracts and poster presentations. He is a frequent speaker at regional and national professional meetings and has delivered more than 150 national or regional presentations. His work is published in such journals as the American Journal of Cardiology, Circulation Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistant, and Advance for Physician Assistants.

McGinnity earned a bachelor of science from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI, and master of science from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Release Date: November 5, 2013