09/29/2025
Excellence Rewarded: Meet the 2025 OAPA Award Winners
One of the most rewarding activities for a membership community like OAPA is celebrating member achievements. OAPA's awards recognize those who have made a significant positive impact on the PA profession in Ohio.
We are excited to announce the 2025 OAPA Awardees!
The Charles L. Hudson, MD Award is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated exemplary service to the PA profession and the community and has furthered the image of PAs.
The 2025 awardee is Creighton B. Wright, Sr., MD, MBA, FACS, FAHA, FACPE, Founding Medical Director of the Mount St. Joseph University Physician Assistant Program.
Dr. Wright's nominators describe his commitment as follows:
"Dr. Wright’s reputation in the medical community is nothing short of legendary. A board-certified Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, he is widely respected for both his clinical excellence and his unwavering integrity. He is also a decorated war veteran, retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of Colonel. He was honored with the inaugural Creighton B. Wright Leadership Impact Award from the American Heart Association—an acknowledgment of his lifelong commitment to service and leadership. His dedication to PA students has been exceptional. His involvement extends beyond the classroom, as he frequently connects students to valuable mentorship and career-building opportunities. Dr. Wright has been a steadfast advocate for the PA profession, and his efforts have significantly shaped the professional landscape for PAs."
"Beyond the classroom, he consistently uses his extensive professional network to help students identify mentors and build their careers. He is a trusted advocate for PAs. His influence extends beyond our program to the broader healthcare community, where he has been a tireless champion for PAs. His leadership has helped to establish and elevate the role of PAs in the region, and his retirement will create a void that will be difficult to fill."
Creighton B. Wright Sr., MD, MBA, FACS, FAHA, FACPE, has dedicated his career to advancing medicine, education, and service. A veteran of the Vietnam and Gulf Wars, Colonel Wright was awarded the Bronze Star. He is the founding Medical Director of the Physician Assistant Program at Mount St. Joseph University and continues to volunteer as a Professor at UC and UK medical schools. Dr. Wright has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the Daniel Drake Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Medicine in 2015. He is consistently recognized for his leadership, research, and more than 200 publications.
"I am incredibly surprised and somewhat overwhelmed to win this award. Dr. Eugene Anson Stead was my mentor at Duke University, and I was there when the initial PA program started. When asked to help Mount St. Joseph initiate a program in Cincinnati, I felt an obligation and an emotional "push" from Dr. Stead to get this done. I hope to continue serving the university and PA community into the future."
The Jerry A. Greco, PA-C Memorial PA Educator of the Year Award is given to a person who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to PA education in the state of Ohio.
The 2025 awardee is Margaret (Maggie) McKernan, DMSc, PA-C, a dermatology PA at Apex Skin.
Maggie's nominators shared these supportive remarks:
"Throughout my training, she consistently demonstrated a remarkable depth of clinical knowledge, a passion for teaching, and a sincere investment in the success of my learning and growth in dermatology. What stood out most to me was her ability to teach complex medical concepts in a way that was both approachable and empowering. She cultivated a learning environment that was both challenging and supportive, always encouraging questions, clinical reasoning, and critical thinking.Her feedback was thoughtful, constructive, and instrumental in helping me grow both as a clinician and a professional. I am sincerely grateful for the mentorship I received under Margaret’s guidance."
"From the national stage at AAPA to local OAPA and PSPA conferences, Maggie enjoys finding time to develop meaningful dermatology content for her peers. She understands the importance of continuing education for PAs. She is dedicated to mentoring and training PAs to continue to promote the PA profession. Whether she’s mentoring new hires, speaking at a conference, or pushing for stronger PA education, Margaret is always looking for ways to make things better for the profession. Her drive, creativity, and follow-through are exactly what this award is about."
Maggie McKernan, DMSc, PA-C, is a dermatology PA based in Cleveland, Ohio, with a passion for clinical care and advancing the PA profession. She serves as Director of PA/NP Education and Training at Apex Skin, where she mentors and develops PAs in dermatology. Maggie is also President of the Ohio Society of Dermatology PAs and State Affiliate Liaison for the SDPA, strengthening connections between the state and national dermatology PA organizations. She has lectured at a number of conferences, including the annual PSPA, OAPA, Diversity in Dermatology, and SDPA educational courses. Outside of work, Maggie enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with family, and exploring Cleveland with her husband.
"Receiving this award is an incredible honor that reaffirms my commitment to advancing the PA profession. It inspires me to continue empowering future PAs with the knowledge, skills, and passion they need to serve patients and strengthen our field."
The John Trimbath Award for Exceptional Preceptorship is awarded to a person who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to precepting PA students in the State of Ohio.
The 2025 awardee is Barbara (Barbie) Stefanini, PA-C, an emergency medicine PA at Mid-Ohio Emergency Services.
Her kindness, patience, and the way she connects with patients is something I admire. She’s the type of provider I hope to be one day, and truly the definition of a role model.”
“Simply put, Barbie is the best. She has an amazing gift for teaching. Many of the skills I witnessed during my time with her have shaped my approach to medicine and how I have chosen to practice. Even 2 years after being her student, there have been many times in my office that I have thought, 'What would Barbie do?'”
Barbie Stefanini, PA-C, is an emergency medicine physician assistant with over 15 years of experience at Mid-Ohio Emergency Services in Columbus, Ohio. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the Ohio University PA program. Barbie has been precepting PA students for well over a decade and has created numerous educational resources, including the "Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation Guide" and the "Stepwise Approach to ECG Interpretation" pocket guide. She also developed a multitude of clinical case studies to promote hands-on, simulation-based learning. Her passion for providing high quality and empathetic patient care is rivaled only by her passion to help the next generation of PAs do the same!
"I am truly honored to receive this award. Mentoring students has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career as a physician assistant! Through preceptorship, I have had the opportunity to witness the growth and development of students, helping them build confidence and competence in their clinical skills. It is immensely rewarding to see them apply what they have learned in real-world scenarios, knowing that I have played a part in their professional development."
Our congratulations to Creighton, Margaret, and Barbara for their accomplishments and service to the Ohio PA community!
These awardees will be honored on stage at the 2025 OAPA Annual Conference on Friday, October 24.
Nominations for the next round of OAPA Awards will open in the summer of 2026. Please consider nominating a deserving colleague for these honors.