Ted Ruback, MS, PA-C Emeritus

Associate Professor Emeritus

Ted Ruback is a 1979 graduate of the University of Colorado PA Program (CHA/PA). Ted started his PA career practicing pediatrics in a small rural community in Washington State. He then moved his family to Atlanta, Georgia to continue his clinical practice as a member of the pediatric staff of a local group practice. During that time, Ted was invited to guest lecture for the Emory PA Program. He joined their faculty in 1990, serving one year as a Clinical Coordinator and then as Associate Director and Director of Admissions. In 1994, Ted was recruited to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to develop and serve as the founding director for the first PA Program in the state. He served as director and Head of the Division of PA Education in the School of Medicine at OHSU for 22 years before retiring from the program in August 2016. He then served a year on special assignment to the Provost, advising the Provost on the potential expansion of health care education at OHSU. Upon his retirement a year later, Ruback was named Associate Professor Emeritus in the School of Medicine at OHSU.

Ted’s service nationally has included 4 years as a member of the Board of Directors of the PA Education Association (PAEA), serving as President in 2010. His service to PAEA included participating in the design and development of the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). He served 10 years on the CASPA Advisory Committee and as its chair for eight of those years. In 2006, PAEA awarded Ruback the Master Faculty Award for his contributions to PA education. Nationally, Ted also served as Chair of the Education Council of the AAPA and as a site visitor for the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC-PA) for ten years. Ted represented Oregon in the AAPA House of Delegates for 18 years.

In his home state, Ted served as President of Oregon Society of PAs and served on OSPA’s Government Affairs Committee for more than 20 years, contributing to several bills improving the practice of PAs in the state. In 2002, OSPA recognized him as PA of the Year. Ted also served as a member and Chair of the PA Committee of the Oregon Medical Board.

In 2019, Ted’s service to the profession was recognized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) when he was awarded the Eugene A. Stead Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. Ted was only the 7th PA so honored with AAPA’s most prestigious honor.