Dr. Holly West, DHEd, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA is a proud UTMB alum and has built a distinguished career spanning academia, clinical practice, research, and leadership. She is a trained Physician Assistant and earned a Doctorate in Health Education to pursue her passion for teaching. She was faculty in the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Studies Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, and more recently, the Office of Educational Development, where she provided expert consultation in curriculum development, learner assessment, and faculty development. Following the implementation and success of a newly launched interprofessional, institution-wide faculty development and mentoring initiative within the UTMB Office of Faculty Affairs, Dr. West assumed the role of Director of Mentoring Programs- Education in September 2025. In this capacity, she continues her commitment to supporting faculty across the academic continuum.
Dr. West is recognized for excellence in education and leadership, receiving numerous teaching awards, four named educational endowments, and designation as a UT Distinguished Teaching Professor and Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Associates. She was inducted into the University of Texas Kenneth I. Shine Academy of Health Science Education and the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers. Recently, she was awarded the UTMB PA Distinguished Alumni award in recognition of her achievements. She chairs educational committees at the national, state, and local levels and served as the elected Director of the 75+ member UTMB Academy of Master Teachers. Dr. West has authored or co-authored 20 peer-reviewed publications and seven textbook chapters. She has delivered over 100 invited and peer-reviewed presentations, workshops, and posters internationally, nationally, state-wide, and locally.
Speaking and Content Expertise
Program Building
- Faculty Mentoring Programs
- Faculty Recognition Programs
- Faculty Development Programs
- Educator Development Programs
Leadership
- Leadership of Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Faculty (e.g., Steering Committees, Advisory Boards, Academies, Task Forces)
- Leadership of Educational Conferences and Symposia
- Building Mentoring Relationships
- Change Management
- Professional Identity Formation of Faculty Across the Continuum
- Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback
Career Development
- Faculty Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Coaching
- Advancement and Promotion Processes
- Writing Personal Statements/Narratives
- Creating Educator Portfolios and Teaching Philosophy Statements
- Developing the Academic CV
Health Professions Education
- Learner Assessment (e.g., examinations, rubrics, evaluations)
- Curriculum Design and Development
- Instructional Design
- Teaching Pedagogy (i.e., Team-Based and Problem-Based Learning)
- Mentoring, Advising, Coaching Learners
- Peer Observation of Teaching
- Providing Learner Feedback
- Residents as Teachers
- Professional Identity Formation