Page 3 - PA Week - Senior PA Bio Sketches

The Last Women’s Army Corps Physician Assistant Still on
Active Duty: The Story of Colonel Pauline Gross

“If little acts of kindness make our own lives better and do some good for someone else, why in the world
don't we do more of it?”-Author Unknown

COL Pauline Gross, IMCOM Surgeon, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX

Colonel Pauline Gross was born In 1986 she was the first fe- advisor to the IMCOM Com-
and raised in Nebraska. She male PA deployed to Palmerola mander and his staff.
joined the Army in 1974, at- (now Soto Cano) Air Force
tending Basic Combat Training Base, Honduras. During her COL Gross holds a Bachelor of
at Fort Jackson, SC as a mem- assignment to South Korea in Science Degree in Sociology
ber of the Women’s Army Corps 1997 she became the first PA and a Masters of Public Health.
(WAC). After graduating from to be a Clinic OIC. Soon after She is a graduate of the Army
91B Combat Medic training in more PAs took on that role at PA Program and Command,
February 1975, she went on to other clinics there. As the first General Staff College, and the
train as an Operating Room PA assigned to USAREC she Defense Strategy Course.
technician 91D. COL Gross was responsible for assisting Her awards and decorations
was selected to attend the soldiers in the application pro- include the Defense Meritori-
Army Physician Assistant Pro- cess to attend the Interservice ous Service Medal, the Merito-
gram, Fort Sam Houston, TX in PA Program (IPAP). During her rious Service Medal, Army Com-
1982 as one of only two fe- tenure the first USAR Soldiers mendation Medal, Army
males selected for her class. were approved to apply and Achievement Medal, National
During the late 70s and early attend IPAP. Twenty months Defense Service medal, Armed
80s there were few PA posi- later she was selected, then Forces Reserve Medal, Armed
tions open to females, limiting assigned to Personnel Com- Forces Expeditionary Medal,
the number of women who mand (PERSCOM), now Human Global War on Terrorism medal,
could be selected to attend. Resources Command as the Joint Meritorious Unit Award,
Upon completion of Phase 1 first female PA Career Man- Superior Unit Award, Good Con-
and the Warrant Officer Candi- ager/Assignments Officer. This duct Medal, the Combat Action
date Course she was promoted usual two year assignment, Badge, the Order of Military
to WO1. On October 1, 1984 became four and ½ years be- Medical Merit, and the Surgeon
she graduated Phase 2 and cause of Operation Iraqi Free- General’s “9A” Proficiency des-
promoted to Chief Warrant dom (OIF). During this tour ignator.
Officer (CWO) 2. While serving she was promoted to Lieuten-
at the rank of CWO3, the Army ant Colonel (LTC). Her next COL Gross was also recently
transitioned PA warrant officers assignment was at the Office of selected as the 2017 American
to commissioned officers and the Surgeon General-Pentagon Academy of Physician Assis-
she was promoted to Captain as part of the Medical Holdover tants (AAPA) Military Service
on February 4, 1992. Assistance Team working with Awardee based on her contri-
Assistant Secretary of the Army bution to Army Medicine and
As a PA she has worked in a Manpower and Reserve Affairs the PA profession.
variety of assignments to in- (ASA M&RA) traveling to Army
clude: Staff PA, Officer in installations in support of sol- COL Gross and her husband
Charge of troop medical clinics, diers from all three compo- Larry have three daughters,
Phase 2 site clinical coordina- nents (active duty, reserves one son, and three grandchil-
tor, Phase 2 Clinical Coordina- and national guard). During dren.
tor/ Instructor Military PA Pro- her time as Branch Chief, Sen-
gram, Senior Battalion PA, PA ior Army Service Representa-
Program Manager, US Army tive, she oversaw the hiring of
Recruiting Command, Deputy the first civilian PA instructors
Specialist Corps Branch / and the addition of three more
Career Manager/Assignments Phase 2 clinical sites due to
Officer, Human Resources the need to increase student
Command; Special Staff Officer throughput. In 2015, COL
-Office of the Surgeon General; Gross was selected by TSG to
and Medical Advisor Multi- be the Installation Manage-
National Security Transition ment Command (IMCOM) Sur-
Command-Iraq.
geon and as the senior medical