This year, the NCAPA Membership and Marketing Committee received a number of submissions and the committee conducted a thorough review of the nominations for this year’s group of very deserving PAs. We are so excited to announce that the 2025 PA of the Year is…
Sarah J. O’Neal, MS, MPAS, PA-C
PA O’Neal has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, scholarship, mentorship, and service to both the PA profession and her community. As Associate Professor and Associate Program Director at Wake Forest PA Studies, she has shaped curriculum, led key committees, and earned national recognition for her research and teaching, including the Brooks Scholarship and Best of Curricular Innovations Award. Her work with the PAEA as an exam developer impacts nearly every PA program in the nation, helping to advance the standard of PA education.
Beyond her academic and professional achievements, PA O’Neal’s dedication to service shines through her community involvement. During Hurricane Helene, she and her husband were trapped on Beech Mountain, yet she continued to serve as a volunteer firefighter and clinician, providing medical care, distributing food, and assisting neighbors in clearing damaged homes and roads. Her compassion and courage ensured the safety and well-being of her community during a time of crisis.
NCAPA’s PA of the Year Award honors a PA who exemplifies leadership, advocacy, and service to both the profession and the people of North Carolina. Sarah O’Neal’s unwavering commitment to education, mentorship, and community care makes her a most deserving recipient of this honor.
NCAPA’s PA of the Year award honors a PA who has demonstrated exemplary service to the profession and the community, and who has furthered the image of the PA profession while providing significant contributions to the health of the citizens of North Carolina.
