Dr. Vanessa Bester is the Director of the School of Health at Augsburg University, overseeing the PA, nursing, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, and social work programs. In addition to her administrative role, Dr. Bester serves as faculty for both the Master of Science in PA Studies (MSPAS) and Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) programs, helping shape the next generation of healthcare leaders.
A former National Health Service Corps Scholar, Dr. Bester has practiced in diverse healthcare settings including community health, HIV primary care, pulmonary and critical care, cardiology, and military medicine as a civilian overseas. She currently provides care for marginalized communities in St. Paul and Minneapolis neighborhoods through the Augsburg Health Commons.
Dr. Bester’s journey in PA education began in 2003 as a preceptor and PA student coordinator with the Graduate Medical Education Office at Shands Jacksonville-University of Florida. In 2012, she transitioned to full-time academia as a founding faculty member at the University of Washington MEDEX-NW Tacoma Site, eventually becoming their site director. In 2017, she joined Augsburg University as an Associate Director with a charge to align the PA program with the values and mission of the University and the needs of its students and surrounding communities. She became PA Program Director in 2021 and is the first tenured PA faculty at Augsburg University, a distinction earned by few PAs in academia.
Dr. Bester’s leadership and research roles are deeply influenced by her commitment to social justice and her experiences in both academia and healthcare. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) and a national PAEA/AAPA Research Fellow, where she focuses her work as a critical race researcher. Dr. Bester has served as Director-at-Large and Secretary on the Minnesota Academy of PAs Board of Directors and has actively participated in the PA Education Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Mission Advancement Commission. She has secured state, federal, and private funding for initiatives and research focused on community health, PA workforce diversity and inclusion, substance use disorders, point-of-care ultrasound, and telemedicine curriculum. Dr. Bester regularly presents her research, community-driven work, and curricular innovations at state and national conferences and has published a significant body of scholarly work in her areas of expertise.
Reflecting on her career, Dr. Bester says, “While I had been asked to serve in leadership and teaching roles as a practicing PA, I never felt fully prepared or confident in taking lead outside of the clinical environment. I wanted a degree that meant more than just additional letters behind my name. I wanted to be able to fully embrace the new roles in front of me as my clinical career evolved. The tangible skills I learned and applied during my doctorate made a real difference. I feel that programs like Augsburg DMSc will prepare other PAs to effectively make an impact.”
Dr. Bester was instrumental in bringing the DMSc program to fruition at Augsburg University. Drawing from her own career experiences and collaborations with many PA leaders, she envisioned a program that would empower PAs to excel in leadership roles, elevate the profession, and make a lasting impact on the world. Her passion for advancing the PA profession drives her work in ensuring that all PAs are recognized for their contributions to healthcare and are equipped to lead in diverse professional settings.
Publications
Veterans as physician assistants
Policy effect on physician assistant education diversity
What is causing this man’s worsening skin lesions?
What’s working? Critical race theory and African American/black PA student success
I Can’t Breathe—Courageous Conversations and Responses to Racism in Physician Assistant Education