Grad student recognized as top physician assistant

Jan. 14, 2026 – Texas Woman’s graduate student Thuy-Tien Ho was named the 2025 Physician Assistant of the Year by the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants.

While working full-time as a neurocritical care physician assistant, Ho is pursuing a PhD in health studies at TWU with a focus on population health. 

Ho has worked at UT Southwestern’s Neuroscience ICU since 2013. She also serves as course director for UTSW’s monthly Neurocritical Care Lecture Series (NCCLS), which grants stroke and continuing education credits, and participates in UTSW’s Advanced Practice Provider Mentorship program. She volunteered with Dallas nonprofit Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, where she produced 30-minute health talks about achieving a healthy lifestyle. 

Ho saw an opportunity to expand those talks into one-on-one health promotion education interventions. She received a 2023-24 Dallas-Fort Worth Albert Schweitzer Fellowship to turn that idea into reality. The Schweitzer Fellow prepares the next generation of professionals who will serve and empower vulnerable people to live healthier lives and create healthier communities.

After finishing her PhD, Ho plans to develop and implement community outreach projects in the realm of health promotion and disease prevention in underserved communities while continuing to work as a neurocritical care physician assistant.