SANDRA L. LARSEN, PA-C
1946 - 1999

On Wednesday, March 3, 1999, the physician assistant profession and the Gainesville community lost a highly skilled and respected colleague when Sandra Larsen, PA-C, accepted the final challenge of cholangiocarcinoma with dignity and grace.

Sandra was a 1982 graduate of the University of Florida Physician Assistant Program. Upon graduating she began her lifelong work in Family Medicine and Women's Health. After 15 years of working in private practice, Sandra accepted a position on the medical staff at the University of Florida's Student Health Care Center. There, she enhanced the center with her clinical expertise in women's health and her uncompromising dedication to excellence and the art of healing.

Her professional work included clinical research, lecturing, preceptoring physician assistant students, and mentoring candidates who were seeking entry into a physician assistant program. Throughout her career she was an avid supporter of our Academy and our profession. In 1992, she chaired FAPA's Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee which spearheaded the successful passage of our prescriptive practice law.

After learning of her diagnosis, members of FAPA made donations to a fund designed to defray her medical, travel, and home care expenses. She asked that the fund be used to renew her AAPA and FAPA membership, because it was especially meaningful for to continue being a member of her profession. She found a source of renewed strength knowing that she would continue to share in our vision of professional excellence and quality health care.

In addition to her busy professional life, Sandra was an active member of the Willis Bodine Chorale. To those of us who worked with Sandra or knew her as a colleague or friend, we miss her smiling face and quiet competence. She enriched our lives and the lives of her patients. Her spirit will always hold a special place in our hearts.

(Information for this Memorial on Sandra Larsen was taken from an article in the PAper, March 1999 issue, written by Anthony Mennella, PA-C.)

If you know of other physician assistants from Florida who have passed away, please send information to us on them as well for inclusion in this Memorial section. If you would like to add to the article, or provide a picture for publication you are encouraged to submit that to the Webmaster.

We need your support to make this effort more meaningful and to show the proper respect to our colleagues who are no longer with us. Thank you.

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