Ruth Ballweg Ruth Ballweg graduated from the MEDEX program with Class 11 (1978) and returned to practice in Ashland, Oregon as the community’s first PA. Her undergraduate degree is from Southern Oregon State College and a master’s degree in Public Administration rom the University of Washington (1997). Barry University, in Florida, awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1999 in recognition of her political and policy leadership in the PA profession. She joined the MEDEX faculty in 1981 and became the Program Director in 1985. Ms. Ballweg has served as President of the Association of Physician Assistant Programs, the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Society for the Preservation of PA History. Her activities include work with a number of physician organizations to promote the effective utilization of PAs. She is an active participant in the leadership functions of the UW School of Medicine and serves on the Executive Admissions Committee for the school. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Group Health Cooperative. Read More Read Less