Robert R. Thomas earned his Bachelor of Education in 1980 from Gonzaga University. He then went on to earn his Master of Science in the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Detroit Mercy in 1998. Robert was the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Detroit Lions from 1990 to 1997. After earning his Physician Assistant Certification in 1998, Mr. Thomas moved to Alaska in 2001 and has worked in the orthopedic field since that time. In 2004 Robert joined Dr. Michael McNamara in his practice of surgery for the hand, elbow, and shoulder. Robert provides general orthopedic care of the upper extremity, pre- and post-surgical care as well as First Assist in surgery. In 2007 PA Thomas was elected President of the Allied Health Committee for Alaska Regional Hospital. In 2012, Robert was both awarded “Physician Assistant of the Year” by the Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants and “Distinguished Fellow” by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). In 2013, Robert served as Chairman of the AAPA Conference in Boston, MA. He is also the current Treasurer of Physician Assistants in Orthopedic Surgery (PAOS).