By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

He's had many names throughout his career. 

Some called him a Founder, or an Educator, or a Healthcare provider. Others called him "Mr. International" or "Rafiki," or "Superhuman."

Still others called him Husband, or Father, or Grandfather. 

Each title describes a different aspect of the life of David Fahringer, who on Friday afternoon joined nearly 50 of his family, friends and colleagues at a retirement ceremony to celebrate his 30-plus year career. 

"My whole PA career has been at UK, so I decided I wanted to give back to UK," said Fahringer, MSPH, PA-C and professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. "That's what I've tried to do."

Fahringer began teaching at Kentucky at 1994. From 1995 to 2010, he worked with faculty and leadership at the University of Wolverhampton in England to develop the PA profession and education in the United Kingdom. In 2010 he took a two-year work leave of absence to start the first PA program in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia with George Washington University-Medical Faculty Associates at Prince Sultan Military College of Health Science. He is also one of the four founders of the International Academy for Physician Associate Education.

He returned to the University of Kentucky in Aug of 2012 and became the Associate Program Director until June 2020. Now he serves as the Program Director of Post Graduate Education for PAS and just about a week ago, he was named the recipient of the 2023 UK Global Impact Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievements in Internationalizing the Curriculum.

"He steps up in leadership roles whenever we've needed him — and he's never asked why," said Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences. Lephart went on to talk of the "global impact" Fahringer has had on the College and University. "It's been a pleasure," he said.

Virginia Valentin, DrPH, PA-C, and Department Chair for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, noted that a few years ago, when other professors went home to wait out a pandemic, Fahringer (along with Dr. Sibu Saha, MD, MBA) created an academic residency program.

"Who does this?" she asked, laughing. "David is one of the people who do that." Now, the residency has relationships with hospitals all across the state and region. 

Phil Begg, BSc, MBA, PhD and Program Director at Aston University Medical School's MSc Physician Associate Practice, noted how his long-time friend Fahringer developed a reputation as a globetrotter. 

"He's superhuman," Begg said. "A true Global Influencer for Change."

But those who know him best cannot describe the man without noting his devotion to his family. Nor can they talk about his career without remembering his daughter, Tiffany, who was expecting a child with her husband, Craig, when she died on Dec. 13, 2021.

His friends and colleagues at the University of Kentucky believed the best way to celebrate her life — one filled with kindness and generosity — would be to help others, so they created the Tiffany Fahringer-Underwood Scholarship, which will be awarded to students enrolled in the physician assistant studies program with preference given to students who have provided service to others.

"It's been a journey ... I thank you all," Fahringer told the crowd Friday, before noting how excited he was for the future of the program.

"We have a great future here," he said. "The potential is fabulous. It will take hard work, and passion, but we can do this ... I just wish I had 25 more years to work."

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