JOHN L. SHANKLIN, PA-C
August 20, 1942 - December 24, 2005

John L. Shanklin, PA-C passed away on December 24th, 2005, after a lengthy illness. John was a long time member of the Florida Academy and we just learned of his death in June 2006.

John was a retired naval service physician assistant who had a very distinguished career. He completed his naval service at Naval Regional Medical Center Orlando and retired to the Orlando area where he practiced until illness forced him to retire from active clinical practice. He is sadly missed by his many friends and patients, and his loving family. His wife preceded him in death, and he has two surviving daughters.

It was my pleasure to serve with John in the Navy, and again later we worked together in clinical practice in Orange City till our careers parted. He was a great clinician and his patients loved him. He was good to work with and always willing to help out. He was a great Navy man and loved his career in the service. He was well respected by his peers and was one of those quiet types who just got the job done, and did it well every time. He was an avid supporter of the Florida Academy and frequently attended local dinner meetings, and the FAPA CME conferences.

But the thing I remember most about John was how strong a family man he was, and how much he loved his wife and kids. He was so proud of his daughters and their accomplishments. You could see his face light up when he talked about them, and he always put them first above anyone and everything else. I remember thinking when we worked together in Orange City that I knew of very few men who were so genuinely committed to his family as this man was. I last spoke with him about four or five months before his death while he was in the nursing home and he was still committed to getting back on his feet and back to work. He never gave up hope but to those of us who knew him, that was part hope and part of a stubborn streak he was known to have also.

John was laid to rest with full military honors here in Orlando. He had spent some of his last months at the VA Nursing Home here in Florida, before moving back to his home to spend his remaining days there.

Written by:
Ron Pace, PA-C
CWO4 USN (Ret)

On July 13, 2007, the Novasoutheastern University Program, Orlando Campus, held its' inaugural White Coat Ceremony for the fifty students of Class 2009. As part of this ceremony, the Student Society was introduced and named the "John Shanklin Student Society" in honor of John L. Shanklin, PA-C. His daughters were present for this ceremony. Ron Pace, PA-C delivered the dedication address for the Student Society, and presented the PA Program with a framed photograph of John to be permanently displayed at the school. Below are the comments presented in this address:

White Coat Ceremony
Nova Southeastern University PA Program
Orlando Campus
July 13, 2007

JAMES R. (RON) PACE, PA-C
CWO4 USN (RET)

A few months ago Professor Kotun called me to discuss the possibility of naming the Student Society here in honor of a Florida physician assistant. We discussed a couple of possibilities. It was with great pleasure that I later learned that my friend and colleague John Shanklin was chosen for this honor. John would be proud of this honor I know. It is most appropriate that an honor like this affiliated with a PA training program is being accorded to John.

John was a retired naval service physician assistant who had a very distinguished PA career. He completed his naval service at Naval Regional Medical Center Orlando and retired to the Orlando area where he practiced until illness forced him to retire from active clinical practice. In a Letter of Commendation presented earlier in his career to John upon his transfer from Naval Hospital Orlando to Naval Hospital Rota Spain, his commanding officer made note of his medical expertise, his empathy, and the quality health care he provided to all his patients.

But he also made note of John’s willingness to give to others in teaching, counseling, and encouraging the enlisted Clinical Screeners to enhance their abilities to do their job. His efforts contributed to maintaining high staff morale and job satisfaction among the enlisted staff.

It was my pleasure to serve with John in the Navy, and again later we worked together in clinical practice in Orange City till our careers parted. He was a great clinician and his patients loved him. He was good to work with and always willing to help out. He was a great Navy man and loved his career in the service. He was well respected by his peers and was one of those quiet types who just got the job done, and did it well every time. He was an avid supporter of the Florida Academy and frequently attended local dinner meetings, and seldom missed the FAPA CME state conferences. And he actually went to the lectures I noted.

But the thing I remember most about John was how strong a family man he was, and how much he loved his wife and kids. He was so proud of his daughters and their accomplishments. You could see his face light up when he talked about them, and he always put them first above anyone and everything else. I remember thinking when we worked together in Orange City that I knew of very few men who were so genuinely committed to his family as this man was. His daughters, Erma Maribi, and Dr. Ilka Fahey are here with us today to witness this honor.

His daughter, Ilka, who is a physician and I am honored to say, now my primary supervising physician. I won’t say she makes me feel old, but I had been seeing patients for two years before she was born. Every time I think of that another joint starts to hurt. And an interesting side note here is that Ilka was born four hours before John began the first day of PA school in Wichita Falls, Texas. Ilka wrote an essay many years ago entitled “Portrait of a Father”. She stated the greatest teacher that she ever learned from was not encountered in high school or college, but was her father who taught her much more in lifelong values and standards. Through out her life he gave her a template of honesty, integrity, loyalty and dedication from which to grow. He taught her to apply the utmost ethical standards to everyday life situations.

John was committed to education of himself and others. He was a Hospital Corpsman, a registered x-ray technician, a licensed vocational nurse, and then he became a Physician Assistant. And later he earned his Masters Degree. All this while in the Navy, raising a family, and fulfilling his military career obligations. That shows true dedication and commitment.

Ilka noted one other thing about John when she visited him in his work place – his patients had the utmost respect and admiration for him as well. And I can verify that as well. Many times patients would come in and if he was not there, they did not want to see any one else, just John and they would make an appointment to see him later. And they were all the time bringing gifts to say thank you, especially baked goods knowing the sweet tooth that he had. And as you can see from me, he enjoyed sharing those gifts dammit.

John also had a great sense of humor. I recall one specific incident when we were working together in Orange City. It was late one afternoon and we were all sitting at the nursing station finishing up our charts and reviewing labs and all that fun paperwork that has to be done each and everyday. I had purchased a technological wonder gadget which could be technically referred to as, shall we say, a “Flatulence Acoustical Simulator”, complete with remote control that would work from 40-50 feet away. I had left this “Flatulence Acoustical Simulator” in the office that John and I shared. He went back to the office to hang up his coat and get his briefcase and I just happened to have the remote in my pocket for some reason. I quickly told all the nurses to be quiet and listen. I gave him time to get back to the office and pressed the button on the remote control. The simulator did its job extremely well and very loudly in a quiet office. Five seconds later John was back at the desk mad as a hornet. He looked at me and said, “Damn you Pace, you son of a biscuit eater. That damn thing went off and I thought I farted and didn’t know it.” Of course we were all cracking up by now, and John just walked away shaking his head and talking under his breath about revenge. Navy guys are known for getting revenge, see we don’t get mad, we get even and when necessary we get ahead.

I last spoke with John about four or five months before his death while he was in the nursing home. He was still committed to getting back on his feet and back to work, and getting his CME to keep up his license and certification. He never gave up hope. But to those of us who knew him, that was part hope and part of a stubborn streak he was known to have also.

After his death in December 2005 John was laid to rest with full military honors here in Orlando. He had spent some of his last months at the VA Nursing Home here in Florida, before moving back to his home to spend his remaining days there. He is greatly missed by his family, friends, and patients. In his behalf and that of the family, I would like to thank the school for remembering this great man, father, and clinician with this honor.

I would like to close with a couple of words of advice from my thirty five years of clinical and academic practice that I know John would share with you all as well as you embark upon your career as a PA.

Never be afraid to say “I don’t know.” No one can know it all, and if you find someone who thinks they do, run from them as fast as you can.

Don’t fake it. It will show thru and damage your credibility and reputation with your colleagues, staff and patients. Just say, “I don’t know that, but I will find out and get back to you.” That is why we have books, the internet, and supervising physicians.

Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Only you can make it a good one.

Know your personal limitations and never be afraid to ask for help or refer to someone else more knowledgeable on the subject matter. This will earn you the respect of your colleagues, staff and your patients. And it may very well save your career and your license, as well as that of your supervising physician.

I have followed these simple rules for my entire career and it has saved me on many occasions. But the one that keeps me on track most and one I very frequently share with patients is this, I always treat my patients as if they were members of my family, taking into account there are a couple of folks in my family I don’t like. Remember your patients are people and not a disease. Treat them with respect, courtesy, and kindness and you cannot go wrong.

And lastly, I got this saying from a course in ethics I took many years ago at the beginning of my career as a PA.

“…that one should attain the right to minister of healing gifts to his fellow man, is a most honorable undertaking; yet never be so singly proud to think that you have healed uniquely; indeed, you are but a tool of healing in the loving hands of your Creator..”

A copy of this saying is being presented to you today with your white coat.

Thank you.

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

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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