Celebrating National Physician Assistant Week: Amanda Clark’s Dedication to Good Samaritan Gwinnett and Mentoring Future PAs
In celebration of National Physician Assistant Week, we are proud to spotlight Amanda Clark, a Certified Physician Assistant (PA) and Director of Clinical Education at Mercer University.
Mercer University’s PA program has long partnered with Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett to provide students with invaluable clinical experience. When Amanda joined Mercer University as a Clinical Assistant Professor in 2021, she sought to add more clinical practice experience alongside her new faculty role. She reached out to Laura Martino, Director of Clinical Operations at Good Samaritan Gwinnett, to explore opportunities for clinical work in 2022.
“I loved the atmosphere at Good Samaritan Gwinnett. The mission, the passion for serving the underserved, and the dedication to evidence-based medicine were all things that resonated with me,” Amanda recalled. “Good Samaritan Gwinnett is a unique environment, and the collaboration among providers is unlike anything I’ve experienced in other clinical settings.”
Since joining Good Samaritan Gwinnett in 2022, Amanda has provided care to patients on an as-needed basis, balancing her time between her role at Mercer and her work at the clinic. Her involvement with Good Samaritan Gwinnett has deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by underserved populations, and she continues to value the opportunity to provide high-quality care to patients in need.
A Passion for Mentoring Future Physician Assistants
Amanda is deeply committed to shaping the future of the PA profession. As the Director of Clinical Education at Mercer University’s PA program, she oversees the clinical training of PA students, many of whom complete rotations at Good Samaritan Gwinnett. Amanda believes that mentorship is about more than just imparting medical knowledge; it’s about understanding the individual behind the stethoscope.
“PAs are not just providers – they’re people. Our backgrounds shape who we are, how we practice, and what kind of practitioners we become,” Amanda explained. “As an educator, I see it as my responsibility to meet students where they are and guide them in their growth.”
One of the most rewarding parts of Amanda’s role is watching her students gain confidence and realize their potential as future healthcare providers. “I love seeing that moment when they recognize, ‘I can do this. I can be a PA.’ That’s one of the best parts of what I do,” Amanda shared.
The Mercer University and Good Samaritan Gwinnett Partnership
Mercer University’s PA program is a 28-month journey that includes both a rigorous didactic year and a 14-month clinical rotation. One of the highlights for many Mercer PA students is their clinical rotation at Good Samaritan Gwinnett, where they spend approximately five weeks learning from the clinic’s experienced providers.
“The partnership with Good Samaritan Gwinnett is a sought-after experience for our students,” Amanda said. “They work first-hand with patients, deal with real-world situations, and receive excellent guidance from the providers at Good Samaritan Gwinnett. Students consistently come back with positive feedback about their time at the clinic, and it’s been passed down from class to class that Good Samaritan Gwinnett is a place where they will have a meaningful and impactful experience.”
The hands-on experience provided by Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s medical preceptors is critical to the development of future PAs. With oversight and mentorship, students learn to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, all while serving a population that faces significant healthcare barriers.
Serving the Underserved: A Personal and Professional Mission
For Amanda, the patient cases at Good Samaritan Gwinnett can sometimes be complex but are always incredibly fulfilling. “Many times, the medications or treatments we would typically recommend are cost-prohibitive for our patients,” she explained. “It forces you to be creative and think outside the box, but the goal is always the same – to provide the best, evidence-based care possible.”
Finding solutions for patients who don’t have access to healthcare is at the heart of Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s mission, and Amanda is proud to be part of that effort. Whether through her clinical work or her mentorship of PA students, she is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most.
As we celebrate National Physician Assistant Week, we are honored to recognize Amanda Clark for her dedication to both her profession and the community at Good Samaritan Gwinnett. Her work exemplifies the compassionate, patient-centered care that is at the core of the PA profession, and her leadership in educating future PAs ensures that this legacy will continue for generations to come.
