Amanda Berg, DMS, PA-C, is no stranger to the fast-paced and unpredictable emergency medicine environment. As a per-diem locum tenens physician assistant (PA) at urgent care centers across eastern Massachusetts, she can see upward of 60–70 patients every day—caring for ailments that range from minor injuries to severe disease.
Many of the patients she sees on a regular basis are members of underserved immigrant communities, and since many do not have access to primary care, Berg takes her position as her patient’s first line of defense against illness seriously. In fact, Berg specifically remembers the time when a child, a Haitian immigrant, presented to the urgent care with headaches that she was able to successfully identify as a brain tumor.
“Witnessing firsthand the healthcare challenges in our country has reinforced my commitment to addressing healthcare disparities,” Berg said. “I strive to provide comprehensive care despite the diagnostic limitations of urgent care settings because I acknowledge that many of my patients do not have access to primary care providers but still deserve the highest quality and most thorough care regardless.”
It’s this dedication to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities that has earned Berg the title of 2024 Locum Tenens Physician Assistant of the Year. This inaugural award, presented annually during PA Week (Oct. 6–12), recognizes one PA who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their profession and patients.
“I’m so honored to have been selected for this award,” Berg said about being named Barton’s 2024 Locum Tenens Physician Assistant of the Year. “Continuity of care is crucial to me, especially for patients needing further evaluation who do not have regular access to primary care. I am relentless in ensuring my patients receive the attention, treatment, and follow-up they deserve. My sole priority, and the reason I chose to pursue medicine as a career in the first place, is to ensure every patient receives the care they need, irrespective of their circumstances.”
Building a Career of Service to Others
Before she became a PA, Berg worked extensively in the medical field, taking on a variety of positions that informed her worldview and solidified her passion for healthcare.
She worked as a COVID-19 clinical researcher in the South Bronx in New York City, a volunteer Spanish interpreter at a free health clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah, and as an emergency medical technician (EMT) in rural areas and Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, and Nevada.
“These experiences instilled in me a deep-seated dedication to underserved communities,” Berg said.
Today, Berg continues her passion for caring for marginalized groups at urgent cares in the Bay State that each serve a distinct patient demographic.
For example, one clinic she works at primarily attends to Haitian immigrants who often lack proper primary care, while another caters predominantly to Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Brazilian immigrants.
“We do not need to travel far at all to witness the immense healthcare disparities that exist in the community,” Berg said.
While Berg recognizes the importance of gaining clinical experience, she’s also taken her education very seriously. Just this past year, she graduated with a Doctor of Medical Science, Physician Assistant degree from Butler University—gaining knowledge that will no doubt improve the lives of the patients she cares for.
The Code Green Campaign
As the 2024 Locum Tenens Physician Assistant of the Year, Berg will receive a $2,500 award for herself, along with an additional $2,500 donation made in her name to a charity of her choice. She has selected The Code Green Campaign, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on addressing mental health challenges faced by first responders.
As a former EMT, Berg said this charity is one that is close to her heart, as it works to educate the public about the various mental health issues first responders face while also advocating for broader access to mental health care for these workers.
