Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Kenya Samuels, an associate professor in UNT Health Fort Worth’s Physician Assistant Studies program, has been elected as a member-at-large to the Society for PAs in Pediatrics, or SPAP,
board of directors, marking a significant step in her career and bringing national
recognition to the program.
Samuels, who joined SPAP in 2019, said the appointment fulfills a longtime goal of combining her passion for teaching with leadership in a national professional organization.
“I’ve applied for this position two or three times before,” Samuels said. “This year, I told myself if it’s meant to be, it will be. For me, this is an important step toward a career goal I’ve had for years.”
SPAP is a nonprofit specialty organization of the American Academy of Physician Associates, or AAPA. It represents physician assistants, PA residents and students, and others committed to pediatric medicine. Its mission is to improve the health of children by supporting PAs and healthcare teams providing cost-effective, high-quality care, while also fostering networking, education and advocacy among providers.
Samuels brings to the board more than a decade of experience in pediatrics, including six years in pediatric critical care at Texas Children’s Hospital and pediatric urgent care at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She has taught at UNT Health since 2017, where she leads courses in pediatrics and physical examination skills, mentors students, and serves in key leadership roles within the program.
Her new role, she said, will give her the chance to shape the organization’s direction and expand its reach. One priority for SPAP’s board in the coming year will be growing membership and encouraging greater attendance at conferences — goals Samuels hopes to support by promoting the society among students and early-career PAs.
“Having a faculty member on the board shows students that our program is engaged on a national level,” Samuels said. “When I read student applications, I see how much they value faculty experience — not just clinically, but in leadership and professional service. This is going to help both me and the program.”
UNT Health's Kenya Samuels, leading an interactive session at Alice Carlson Elementary School
Samuels’ appointment has drawn praise from her colleagues, including PA Lauren Dobbs, chair of the Physician Assistant Studies program.
“PA Samuels has a heart for service,” Dobbs said. “She will be a great addition to the SPAP board of directors and will represent pediatric PAs and our department well.”
Her commitment to pediatrics is rooted not only in her clinical background but also in her belief in the unique rewards of working with children and their families.
“Pediatrics is similar to veterinary medicine in some ways,” Samuels said with a laugh. “Your patients often can’t tell you what’s wrong, so you rely on parents or caregivers. You have to have patience and strong interpersonal skills. Parents can be anxious or protective — and understandably so. But if you approach it with genuine concern and empathy, it goes a long way.”
She encourages her students to look beyond those challenges and consider the joys of the specialty.
“The kids are fun,” Samuels said. “You get to be playful while doing exams, build their trust and watch them hit milestones. Over time, you build relationships and see them grow up. It’s a wholesome, humbling experience.”
Samuels’ two-year term on the SPAP board is renewable for a second term. She sees it as not only an opportunity to advance her own professional goals but also to elevate UNT Health’s Physician Assistant Studies program on a national stage.
“I want to represent our students and faculty well,” Samuels said. “This role is about service — to my profession, to my peers, and ultimately to the patients we all care for.”
From UNT Health Newsroom - Community by Eric Griffey