Courtesy photo Kelci Bright, left, Wayne McEwen, center, and Hali Disbrow pose for a photo after McEwen was named the 2025 Preceptor of the Year

ALPENA – Thunder Bay Community Health Service (TBCHS) is proud to announce that Medical Director Wayne McEwen, PA-C, has been awarded as the 2025 Preceptor of the Year by Grand Valley State University’s Physician Assistant Studies Program. The honor was presented during the program’s December 2025 White Coat Ceremony, a milestone event where the class of 2025 pledged their commitment to patient care.

Reflecting on the award, McEwen states, “Working with future PAs is a privilege, and I couldn’t do it without my team here at Thunder Bay. Their commitment to rural health is what makes this experience so valuable for students.”

TBCHS established the partnership with GVSU’s PA Studies Program in 2024, granting students three-month long extended internships at TBCHS’s Atlanta site under McEwen’s tutelage to learn the complexities of rural medicine. With typical PA student rotations being less than one month, TBCHS’ immersive experience allowed students to follow patients through ongoing care and understand the unique flow of rural clinics.

Physician Assistants are Advanced Practice Providers who diagnose, treat, prescribe, and collaborate with physicians. At TBCHS, APPs, including PAs and Nurse Practitioners, serve patients across all clinic sites and School-Based Health Centers. Thunder Bay Community Health Service is honored to have McEwen serving Northern Michigan communities for more than 23 years and looks forward to seeing him continue to shape the next generation of healthcare providers in our region.