Tyler Sommer, MPAS, PA-C, has been appointed as the new Program Director for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP), effective November 1, 2021.
Sommer is a Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) with experience in neurosurgery, spine surgery, emergency medicine, and family medicine. He received a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Brigham Young University and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from AT Still University of Health Sciences. He is currently working toward completion of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Sciences degree, with a concentration in Health Promotion and Wellness. As a PA, Sommer practiced primarily with the Mayo Clinic Health System in Minnesota before joining Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2015 as one of the founding faculty members in the PA program.
During his time at RMUoHP, Sommer has served as the Director of Didactic Education, Assistant Program Director, and most recently as the Academic Director and Associate Program Director. In those roles, Sommer has been an integral part of the MPAS program’s success, contributing to the program being granted Accreditation-Continued status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) in 2019.
Michael Nelson, DHSc, DMSc, PA-C, Dean of the College of Medical and Professional Sciences and former MPAS Program Director, said, “Tyler Sommer has been an integral part of the MPAS program from the very first cohort and is ready to lead the MPAS program. I have full confidence that he will support the faculty, staff, and students with continued success.”
As MPAS Program Director, Sommer is responsible for serving as a leader to all programmatic constituents and as a liaison between the MPAS program and the university. In cooperation with other academic faculty and administration, the program director ensures the quality of faculty, staff, and student performance standards, under the direction of the ARC-PA, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and the RMUoHP strategic plan and mission.
