Sarah James, LMP pathologists’ assistant and effective July 1, Quality Manager for Timmins Cluster Hospitals, was recently awarded the first ever Pathologists’ Assistants (PA) Section Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Pathologists (CAP-ACP).
This is the first year the award has ever been given, and Sarah sets the benchmark extremely high with her long standing contributions to CAP-ACP and the PA profession.
Sarah served as the Executive Chair for CAP-ACP PA’s section from 2008 to 2010, has been a lead organizer in its annual conference for the past 11 years, serves as a co-chair for the sections Continuing Education Committee and has played a vital role in establishing standardized PA certification standards for Canada.
“It’s taken 10 years to establish and implement standardization measures for Canadian PA’s,” says Sarah, “but it’s a process that’s given needed recognition to the profession.”
“Patients and physicians across Canada can now have increased confidence in the ability of all PAs and feel certain of the profession’s contribution to patient safety.”
Since this shift, Sarah has also served as Chair of the Appeals Committee for the Canadian Certification Council of Pathologists’ Assistants (CCCPA) which provides certification exams for new PAs.
She says, “What started as a motley crew with no set qualifications, has now grown into a national group of certified health professionals with a standard level of ability.”
Now, in the process of moving to a new role in quality management, Sarah insists she will continue participating in CAP-ACP’s PA section, but looks forward to taking the dedication she has shown the PA community and applying it to a new area.
Being an inaugural award there are no former recipients to compare to, but the PA community can have confidence that this winner is as deserving as they come.
The Pathology Report 
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