For Harmony Johnson, PA-C from Olivia Bockoff, PA-C, MPAS

Dear AAPA,

Although many PAs have influenced my career, there is one PA to whom I
owe much more; Harmony Johnson, PA-C is an amazing PA.  When we were
both in school in Los Angeles, Harmony and I became friends.  I was a
few years behind her and struggling to find the right career for me.
I wanted to travel and learn languages, I loved medicine and working
with people, but I wasn’t sure what field was right for me.  I had
applied to nursing school when Harmony invited me to participate in
the PA Helper program coordinated by Lee Slajer at County USC Hospital
in downtown Los Angeles.

I spent one day working with the PAs at County and immediately knew
that PA was the right field for me.  They could do the hands-on work
that I loved, like suturing and casting, and could work independently,
but were not completely on their own and had the Attending Physician
available when needed.  Within weeks I had changed my course and the
rest is history.  I am now a surgical PA in the state of New Jersey
and I’ve never looked back.

Not only was Harmony Johnson an inspiration, she is also a leader.
Harmony is passionate about global health and last May took on the
position of President for the AAPA caucus Physician Assistants for
Global Health.  In the little more than six months Harmony has been
president of the organization membership has more than doubled and
PAGH has grown in leaps and bounds.  We now have regular conference
calls, monthly e-mails including a CME article, increased member
participation, and last October hosted the first annual PAGH Global
Health Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Harmony is enthusiastic about the PA profession and even more so about
making a difference. Her energy is infectious and she is motivating to
those around her.  She is always positive and goal oriented, inspiring
those around her to do just a little more and reach for the next goal.
Harmony Johnson and those like her make me proud to be in my
profession and honored to share the title PA-C.

Thank you,

Olivia Bockoff, PA-C, MPAS

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