Meet NAU’s new Physician Assistant Studies Department Chair, Jacob Gubler
Meet NAU’s new Physician Assistant Studies Department Chair, Jacob Gubler, DMSc, MMS, PA-C. Over his seven years at Northern Arizona University, Dr. Gubler has held multiple leadership roles, including Director of Clinical Education, Director of the Postgraduate Fellowship Program, and Associate Department Chair. Dr. Gubler is a proven academic leader and clinical educator with statewide experience in clinical partnerships, multi-program academic oversight, and a strong focus on advancing health equity through innovative training and workforce development in underserved Arizona communities. Get to know Dr. Gubler!
- What inspired you to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant and eventually move into academic leadership?
I was interested in healthcare at a young age. I explored multiple options, and while I was enrolled as a student in a medical laboratory science program realized I wanted to help more with direct and hands on patient care. Caring for the underserved was a significant interest of mine, and I started my PA career as an NHSC loan repayment recipient working with Gila River Health Care in the Gila River Indian Community. After several years of practice, I wanted to give back more to the profession that had given so much to me and helped me meet my goals with patient care. I thought of my own mentors who helped me become a PA, the professors and instructors who always took the time to help me improve. I wanted to do that too, to pay it forward for the new generations of PAs. My transition to academics was rewarding and challenging. My interests in caring for medically underserved communities evolved into a passion for training future providers through clinical education, statewide partnerships, and postgraduate development. Academic leadership became a natural extension of that work.
- What is your vision for the PA department in the next few years?
I envision strengthening the identity and cohesion of our PA, DMSc, and Fellowship programs while expanding statewide partnerships, faculty mentorship, and student leadership opportunities. By fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration, we will advance our mission and model innovation in health professions education.
- What role do you believe Physician Assistants will play in the future of healthcare?
Physician Assistants will continue to be key drivers of accessible, team-based care; especially in underserved and evolving care settings. As the healthcare landscape grows more complex, PAs with advanced doctoral training will become equipped with advanced knowledge in health systems, policy, population health, and technology. PAs will be positioned to lead improvements in care delivery and operational efficiency. By integrating evidence-based practice, healthcare finance, and inclusive leadership, PAs can address social determinants of health and promote high-value, patient-centered care. Their adaptability and systems-level insight make them essential contributors to a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system.
- What’s one piece of advice you often give to PA students?
Be open to learning and growth. Practice patience and flexibility: with yourself, your education, and your patients. Trust the process. The PA profession demands adaptability to meet the evolving challenges of medicine and the diverse needs of the populations we serve.
- Can you share a memorable experience from your time as a practicing PA?
One memorable experience was with an elderly woman I treated for a non-healing foot wound. Early in our visits, we set goals together as is standard in patient-centered care, but I didn’t realize she was initially telling me only what she thought I wanted to hear. After months of both progress and setbacks, I asked her again about her goals, noting that she had struggled with aspects of her treatment plan, which may have contributed to her condition.
This time, her response was different. She spoke openly and at length, and I listened without interruption. She shared stories of growing up self-sufficient to support her family, of raising generations as a mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and of how much her family relied on her. She spoke about her sense of identity, how she dressed, moved, and interacted with others, and how providers in the past had made her feel like she had to give the “right” answers to maintain their support. She had assumed I was the same.
In that moment, I understood her more deeply. While she wanted to heal, she feared the changes required would disrupt her daily life, her autonomy, and her role within her family. Her real goal was to remain present and helpful to those she loved. Because of the trust we had built over time, she felt safe to tell me the truth. We revised her treatment plan together, balancing medical care with her values and accepting that her wound might never fully heal. But in many ways, something else did: she felt heard.
That experience reminded me that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do as clinicians is simply to listen.
- What drew you to this institution and this role?
The faculty and the mission of the department drew me to NAU. Everyone in the department is committed to our mission and committed to our students. It has been a tremendous honor to be able to work alongside such talented and dedicated colleagues. Every day is a joy to work in an institution that shares my values and goals for the people of Arizona.
- What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love gardening and take advantage of the multiple growing seasons in Phoenix. I also raise chickens. I love cooking and those in the department know I enjoy making hot sauce from my homegrown chiles which I regularly share with them. I cherish spending time with family and friends. I enjoy traveling to new places, experience new cultures and cuisines.
- If you weren’t in healthcare, what would you be doing?
Outside of healthcare, my childhood dream was to become a marine biologist. I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean and marine life; even now, I find peace just standing at the shore, watching the waves and imagining the world beneath. In high school, I even attended a career camp at Sea World. Growing up in landlocked Utah, opportunities in marine biology were limited, so my interests in healthcare had the advantage. My current path wasn’t something I envisioned early on, but as I continued my education, new opportunities emerged and I embraced them, following where they led.
