Rate My Professor James Tkacik

James E. Tkacik, DMSc, PA-C, is the Program Director and Department Chair of the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Thiel College, where he also serves as Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. Appointed to this leadership role in August 2023, Tkacik possesses over 37 years of clinical and academic experience in the physician assistant field. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Medical Science from Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia (1987), a Master of Science in Medical Science from St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania (2001), and a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia (2022). He holds certifications as a Physician Assistant from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), along with Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Prior to joining Thiel College, Tkacik was Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor in the Physician Assistant program at St. Bonaventure University starting in 2018. His extensive clinical career encompasses diverse roles across multiple institutions, including Emergency Department Physician Assistant (Lead PA) at Olean General Hospital (2001-2017 and 2016-2018), TeamHealth (2016-2018), St. James Mercy Hospital (2016-2017), and Bradford Regional Medical Center (2016-2018); Family Practice Physician Assistant and Practice Manager at Allegany Family Medicine (2017-2019) and Foothills Medical Group (2013-2016); Staff Physician Assistant at WellNow Urgent Care (2019-present); Hospitalist Physician Assistant at G&A Physician Services in Washington, D.C. (1988-1990); and owner, CEO, and Practice Manager of Omega Family Healthcare in Olean, New York (2007-2009) and Durbin Health Center in Durbin, West Virginia (1991-1993). In recognition of his professional contributions, Tkacik was elected Director at Large for the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Associates in 2025, a competitive leadership position requiring membership in both the PSPA and the American Academy of Physician Associates. His research includes a 2022 publication in the Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science titled 'Assessment Tools to Predict PANCE Pass Rates,' which investigated predictors of success on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. Tkacik has led medical mission trips, such as a 2026 trip to the Dominican Republic with Thiel College PA students, and published an op-ed in a regional newspaper in 2023. He has also served as President of the Portville Central School District Board of Education (2011-2016).