Phoenix VA Presents Annual PA of the Year Award

The award is presented annually during the observance of PA Week, Oct. 6-12 and is given to a Physician Assistant in the Phoenix VA HealthCare System, to recognize excellence in clinical care, research, teaching, and administrative contributions.

“I'm humbled and honored to receive this award. I know I've been in good company with the folks who have won it before and all the people who will come after me. I'm happy to honor Catherine, who is a person we should all look forward to trying to emulate and it's my honor to serve the Veterans and be a leader here for the whole PA team,” said Barbaro. 

The award was established in 2020 and is named after Catherine Yanni-Humbles, a Phoenix VA PA who passed away in 2017 after losing her battle with cancer. Humbles had worked for the Phoenix VA for more than 20 years serving Veterans in the Phoenix VA HealthCare System. She served and cared for Veterans in the Dermatology Service, and she is remembered as someone who was always willing to go the extra mile to help Veterans and to assist her fellow PAs and other colleagues.

Barbaro was selected as the PA of the year, due to her exceptional work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond for Veterans.

“I recently had a complicated patient that was going to need a big workup. Nicole had already ordered all the appropriate studies and lab work and had even consulted the specialty that was required to make sure that the Veteran received timely care. This is but one example of how she goes above and beyond,” said Phoenix VA Physician Craig Christensen.

Barbaro’s supervisor, Thomas Bostwick, Phoenix VA Physician said, “Nicole is our newest edition to the Emergency Department PA pool. She came from a surgical background and has done an outstanding job. She is always super excited in seeing patients and goes above and beyond with each patient to be sure they are well taken care of and places all necessary follow ups. She is always so full of energy and willing to help without hesitation.”

Barbaro has worked at the Phoenix VA for six years in surgery, general surgery, and emergency medicine. “I truly enjoy working for Veterans because serving the Veteran population is just like serving family; My husband, father-in-law, and uncles all served in the military which is why I choose to work for the VA and why I’m passionate about what I do,” she said. 

Currently, there are 60 PAs at the Phoenix VA, said Donna Seton, facility lead physician assistant and “we have the most PA staff out of all the VAs in VISN 22 here at the Phoenix VA.” 

Seton also echoed what Christensen and Bostwick said: “Nicole is one PA who has always been a true team player who is ready and willing to go above and beyond to help Veterans and her colleagues. She previously served on our PA Professional Standards Board (prior to the dissolution of the Title 38 Professional Standards Board), which required additional mandatory training and attending regular meetings to review and discuss PA policies to include reviewing preliminary Scopes of Practice (both new and renewals), reviewing PAs for promotion, and reviewing and making recommendations for onboard salaries for new PA staff. She is an exemplary PA for whom this award is well-deserved.” 

“Nicole is smart, dedicated, always willing to help, and a real team player. When she transferred from our Acute Care APP team, we were sorry to lose her. We continued to enjoy working with her when we saw her ER patients and most recently, she has really stepped up and jumped in to help us in the surgical service when we were clinically short-staffed. She is a great clinician and a great person with lots of heart who cares about our Veterans. I don't know anyone more deserving of this honor than Nicole,” said Joy Marvin, Phoenix VA General Surgeon.

To find out more on VA PAs, visit www.patientcare.va.gov/PA/index.asp.