In honor of Heart Month and as we continue to spotlight APPs who have been recognized by their colleagues, we are pleased to highlight Kathleen Vasquez, a physician assistant from the division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. In his nomination letter for Excellence in Clinical Practice, Dr. Scott Lick wrote: 

Kathleen trained here as a PA 20-some years ago, and she has stayed as our CT Surgery PA ever since. She has superb operating hands and good surgical instincts. She has been a trusted first assistant the whole time. She is a technical wiz at endoscopic saphenous vein harvest, a service she sometimes does for Vascular Surgery upon request. 

Kathleen watches out for our patients' interest pre-and post-op, for inpatients and outpatients, catching medication errors, overlooked complicating factors, or early signs of complications. 

She is tireless, hard-working, amicable, witty and wise. She quietly spots holes in patient care and fills them. When assisting on a case, whether as first- or second- assistant, she has been described as "the BASF of cardiac surgery: she doesn't make the operation -- she makes the operation better." Heart operations go more smoothly when Kathleen is around. In a teaching program such as ours, she provides a continuity not seen with residents and fellows.