Vanessa Bester, EdD, PA-C, DFAAPA serves as the PA Program Director at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With a career spanning since 2003, she began as a National Health Service Corps scholar, specializing in HIV primary care and infectious diseases. Dr. Bester has worked in diverse medical settings, including pulmonary, critical care, emergency medicine, cardiology, and military medicine in Germany. In her current role at the Augsburg University Health Commons, she supports community health and well-being in the Cedar-Riverside and Harrison neighborhoods of Minneapolis.
As Program Director, Dr. Bester teaches across courses at Augsburg University and serves as the Secretary on the Minnesota Academy of PAs Board of Directors, advocating for Minnesota PAs. She is actively involved in justice, diversity, and inclusion initiatives at both local and national levels, contributing to the PAEA Diversity and Inclusion Mission Advancement Commission. Additionally, Dr. Bester is a national PAEA/AAPA Research Fellow and is honored to be recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the AAPA.
Dr. Vanessa Bester is the Principal Investigator for several grants focusing on enhancing PA student training and support. These initiatives also support preparing students to treat substance use disorders, integrate point-of-care ultrasound into daily practice, and provide comprehensive telemedicine care. Her dedication to addressing healthcare disparities and advancing PA education is evident in her work and realizing the mission of Augsburg University and the PA program.
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