About
The James F. Cawley Award recognizes a distinguished individual who has made exceptional contributions to the physician assistant (PA) profession — advancing scholarship, leadership, advocacy, and policy in Maryland and beyond.
This prestigious award is presented annually to someone who is an active member of the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants (MdAPA) who has demonstrated excellence in at least two of the following areas:
- Leadership, service, and advocacy on behalf of the PA profession
- Impactful and sustained contributions to research and scholarship
- Excellence in PA education and health policy
- Outstanding clinical service to the community
- Mentorship and development of future PA leaders and scholars
The award will be presented during the PALLA Alumni and Student Social Event at the 2026 MdAPA CME Conference in Cambridge, Md., in August 2026.
Who Can Be Nominated?
- Current and active membership in MdAPA
Submit a Nomination
Nominations are due Sunday, June 19, 2026. To submit a nomination, .
Contribute to the Award Fund
To contribute to the fund, .
Past Awardees
2025 Award Winner:
Richard "Rick" Rohrs, PA-C, DFAAPA, SFHM
AVP – Provider Operations
Northwest Hospital Center
About Rick:
Rick Rohrs is a 1977 graduate of the Johns Hopkins PA program and has practiced internal medicine in a hospital setting for the last 45 years, transitioning from a clinical to an administrative role during that time. He has held various positions within Northwest Hospital and LifeBridge Health provider leadership.
Rick served as Assistant Vice President of Provider Operations for many years where he was responsible for the administration of employed and contracted provider services such as Hospitalists, Anesthesia, PAs, Emergency Providers, Hospice, and Surgical assistants. He worked in close collaboration with the President, CMO, and medical staff leadership to align provider and hospital goals. He had also overseen the medical education department as well as serving as community liaison for the Magnet School partnerships with Baltimore City and County public schools. He continues to serve as AVP in a consultative capacity with LifeBridge Health on issues related to providers, contractual relationships, and medical education.
In the past twenty years, he has been involved in international workforce development, serving as the first chair of the AAPA International Affairs committee and then working as a consultant to many countries throughout the world. He has led delegations to the Netherlands, Taiwan, Great Britain, China, Canada, Cuba, and Brazil. He has also done humanitarian missions to Africa.
Rick holds multiple faculty appointments including George Washington University and Towson University. He chairs the Towson PA Program Advisory Committee and, in the past, chaired the self-study committee for GWU where he was awarded the Outstanding Community Service award in 2019. He has been actively involved as a lecturer and preceptor for PA and Medical Students for over forty years.
2024 Award Winner:
Jennifer (Grover) Beauchamp, DMSc, MMS, PA-C
(inaugural recipient of JFC award)
About Jennifer:
A Physician Assistant and Healthcare Educator, Dr. Jennifer Grover has transformed medical practice and education through her exceptional leadership. With expertise spanning clinical practice in OB/GYN, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Hospitalist Medicine, she has pioneered innovative healthcare approaches while advancing the physician assistant profession. As a doctoral-level professional and legislative advocate, Dr. Grover has not only improved patient care in Maryland's underserved communities but also reshaped PA education and professional standards, including her pivotal role in the 2024 PA Modernization Law. Her commitment to mentorship and scholarly excellence continues to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.
