Grace Anne Siekman, PA-C, MPAS, BSN, of Stratton, Colo., started her health care career as an licensed practical nurse in 1974. Nearly 35 years later, Siekman, the 2007 Family Practice Physician Assistant of the Year, now is the sole provider at a clinic she founded herself.

Board members of the Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants have selected Siekman in a competition sponsored by ADVANCE for Physician Assistants, the AFPPA and AAPA Insurance Services/CM&F.

Siekman has provided health care in Stratton, a rural agricultural community of about 700, for nearly 20 years, first as an registered nurse and an OB/ER/OR supervisor, and then as a PA at Stratton Medical Clinic since 1998, when she graduated from the University of North Dakota PA program.

In fact, Siekman went to PA school specifically to open the clinic, which services far more people than just Stratton residents: her patients come from as much as 45 miles away. Before Siekman's clinic opened, there had been no clinic in the area, and Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington, which is 17 miles away, agreed to open and staff Stratton Medical Clinic if Siekman became a PA and could find a location.

"My husband and I searched and searched and found a site in town, and we raised about $80,000 of donation money to get the building moved in and refitted and ready to go," Siekman says.

The clinic is open Monday through Thursday, and Siekman usually works full days, except for some Wednesdays. "I'm typically there by 8:00 a.m. and rarely out of there before 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.," she says.

Siekman is the only provider most days, and her supervising physician, Sacramento Pimentel, MD, is available by phone. "He is especially supportive with my patients and will allow me to assume the primary role," she says.

The clinic also employs a medical assistant and a receptionist. Siekman sees a variety of patients, from 25 to 30 each day. Every day is different-among many responsibilities, Siekman performs physicals for patients of all ages, delivers babies, takes care of emergencies and makes house calls at an assisted-living facility.

"It can be anything, the whole realm of urgent care and family practice that comes in," she says.

On some Wednesdays, Dr. Pimentel or one of two other physician partners travel to Stratton from Parke Health and Wellness Center in Burlington to cover the Stratton clinic, and Siekman travels to work at the Burlington clinic. In addition, Siekman covers the emergency room at Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital one night a week and one weekend a month as part of her contract.

Siekman also is involved in her community in many other ways. Some of her other health care responsibilities, for example, include providing family planning for the public health department, recertifying and updating local CPR instructors as a regional faculty member for the American Heart Association, and being a medical advisor on the hospital's policy review committee.

Siekman says one of the most important organizations in which she's involved is the Diabetes Coalition-she is an instructor and medical liaison.

"The Health and Human Services Department started this through a grant to address diabetes in our community," she says. "We got certified as a diabetes educating group, so we're officially doing diabetes education, and every other month we run a series of four classes, which are currently free."

Siekman also helped organize two "Biggest Loser" contests, one in the community and one at the hospital, which are modeled on the popular reality TV show, with cash prizes for the winners who lose the most weight. Entrants in the community contest lost a total of about 350 pounds, and entrants in the hospital contest lost a total of more than 700 pounds. And although the contests are over, Siekman continues to monitor the weight of patients at the clinic who are still trying to shed more pounds-they can visit the clinic at any time for a weigh-in.

To round out Siekman's many responsibilities is her co-chair position of the Stratton Activities Organization, formed to plan holiday parties for the community children and a Fourth of July softball tournament. To raise money for these events, Siekman enjoys helping to organize roller-skating parties in a new town building with a large indoor open area.

"We do it three, four times a year, and the kids just have a blast," she says. "They come for two to three hours and just wear themselves out."

In her spare time, Siekman and her husband, who also is the mayor of Stratton, like to ride their motorcycles, often taking trips to visit their two grandchildren. Siekman also enjoys playing the organ and piano and singing at church.

And although Siekman ultimately doesn't get much free time, she is quite happy to fill her days caring for her community.

"I love what I do and I love my patients and their families," Siekman says. "The biggest reward is seeing the kids grow up and knowing I had a part in their birth, growth and development and health care."

The Annual Family Practice PA of the Year competition is cosponsored by ADVANCE, AFPPA and AAPA Insurance Services/CM&F. Other sponsors are Brymill Cryogenic Systems, Epocrates, Healthcare Providers Service Organization, Omron blood pressure monitors and Palomar. Siekman will receive a plaque, cash prize and gift certificate to the ADVANCE Healthcare Shop, along with airfare, one night's hotel stay and registration fees for the AFPPA conference in Las Vegas, which takes place Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. Siekman will be presented with her award during the welcome address on Oct. 31.

ADVANCE is the official publication of AFPPA.

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Winners of the Family Practice PA of the Year award

2005 Donna Johnson
2006 Pedro Gonzalez
2007 Grace Anne Siekman