Dr. Karen A. Wright is a 1987 graduate of the Howard University School of Allied Health Sciences. She earned a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University in 1998. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology with specialty concentrations in Medical and Urban Sociology from Howard University in 2006. She served as the Academic Coordinator for the Howard University PA Program from 2000 to 2008 at Howard University. Dr. Wright joined the faculty of the George Washington University PA Program in 2008. She was appointed program director in 2015 and served as interim chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies until February 2018. Dr. Wright has over 25 years experience in PA education. She practiced clinically in geriatric medicine, internal medicine, and correctional medicine. Dr. Wright’s research interests include organizational structure, academic support, educational outcomes, academic integrity, PA practice and educational workforce and diversity issues, and health disparities. She has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and presented educational topics and her research at nationa PA meetings. She is a recognized Distinguished Fellow in the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). Her professional contributions include serving on the editorial board for the Journal of Physician Assistant Education (JPAE), serving as a JPAE peer reviewer, medical liaison between the American Academy of Physician Assistants and National Association of Minority Medical Educators (NAMME), scholarship reviewer for the PA Foundation, and grant reviewer for the Health Resources and Services Administration. She was a recipient of jointly sponsored AAPA-PAEA grant which funded research to explore factors influencing physician assistant career specialty choice.