Faculty & Staff
Scott D. Richards
Director, Master of Science in Physician Assi/Professor
Phone: 315-568-3866
Education
- B.A., University of Massachusetts Boston, 1988
- B.S., Drexel University, 1994
- Ph.D., Walden University, 2012
Biosketch
Scott Richards, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA fulfills the role of founding program director for the Northeast Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. He has served in almost every role in PA programs, including as associate dean overseeing multiple PA programs, founding program director, director of academic education, director of didactic education, director of clinical education, and principal faculty. He also serves as a consultant for other PA programs who are having issues with program development, curriculum development, and/or accreditation and has regularly presented at continuing medical education conferences. Graduating from the Hahnemann University PA program in 1994, Scott's career has focused on caring for the underserved as a rural family and behavioral medicine PA with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and free clinics, serving patients of all ages and with a wide variety of conditions, including complicated chronic disease multimorbidity. To enhance his skills and broaden the services he could offer to his patients, he returned to school, while still maintaining his full-time medical practice, to receive his doctorate in psychology, completing his practicums and internships in clinical psychology. Over his career, he has developed and served in free clinics for migrant workers, unhoused persons, and the working poor who lacked medical insurance; he also served with the Public Health Service, National and State Health Service Corps, and state-specific medical reserve corps. His service work has led to him being recognized as a distinguished fellow by the AAPA in addition to multiple other awards.