Jake Blazzard, 42, began his 2019 with a brand-new place of employment: Moscow Family Medicine.
Born in Lewiston, Idaho, Blazzard said he’s traveled much of the mid-west over the course of his career.
“I’ve been a (physician’s assistant) for almost 15 years,” said Blazzard, who was hired Jan. 5. “I’ve been in Montana, been in Wyoming, and then recently I’ve been working here in Moscow-Pullman for Palouse Pediatrics before my current position, but Idaho is home, born and raised.”
Blazzard said after high school, he attended Rick’s College, now Brigham Young University-Idaho, to play football before departing for Australia on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Upon arriving home, Blazzard said he went back to study at BYU-I before meeting his wife Debra and returning to his hometown of Lewiston.
“I went to BYU for a while,” Blazzard said. “And I got married. My wife was a nurse and was at (Lewis-Clark State College) in Lewiston. So, we moved back she finished her nursing there.”
Blazzard is the only physician assistant available to students at the medical center. In terms of work-load, Blazzard said he and Kate Maura, a nurse, take on the majority of work for student health.
“Kate and I, we’re it as far as student health,” Blazzard said. “We need more providers to have (Moscow Family Medicine) back on campus.”
Blazzard said between his wife’s own medical practices and being the head volleyball and track coach for Troy High School, their family spends a lot of their free time in the graces of nature.
“My wife is a nurse practitioner and works with mental health all around the area as well,” Blazzard said. “We have four children, and we’re heavily involved in sports together. We love the outside — camping, hiking, fishing and we do a lot of backpacking as a family.”
Blazzard said he became particularly interested in a job in the medical field after his senior-project in high school gave him insight into the benefits of being a physician’s assistant.
“I wanted to study medicine since high school, really,” Blazzard said. “I took a lot of biology, and in my senior year I followed a (physician’s assistant) for my senior project, and I really enjoyed that. I saw what he could do, and I also the diversity. You know, you he could be doing one job for a while and then move to another, and I liked that.”
Blazzard said he enjoys Moscow Family Medicine’s facility but he also has hopes the medical center will return the university soon.
“I’ll be honest, I would love for us to go back to the campus. I really would hope that’s something that’ll happen soon. It’d be better for the students, making us more accessible,” Blazzard said.
Kate Maura, a nurse at Moscow Family Medicine, has worked with Blazzard since his hiring and she’s been very appreciative of his work ethic.
“He’s really helpful,” Maura said. “I like that about a provider. Somebody that is willing to really help out, and not just place everything on the nurse to just, like, get everything done. There is good communication. It’s all a learning process because we’re just starting out, but he’s doing really well.”
Blazzard said although the medical center is off campus, he wants students to be fully aware of the resources available.
“I like where we’re at because we’re close to Gritman,” Blazzard said. “We’re a student health center that is fully functioning. We have everything you need — X-Ray, labs and other providers in the area to consult with. Students have access to all of that, and it needs to be known this a great facility for students and we can help them with a lot of things.”
Blazzard said his goals for the future are simple: learn and expand.
“Personally, the goal right now is to continue to learn, and help people,” Blazzard said. “I enjoy it. You know, we’re busy — we see a lot of students — so learning and getting more (health care) providers would be an awesome goal to hit.”
Andrew Ward can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @WardOfTheWorlds
Hurricane
I agree Rodrick. Jake Blazzard is very rude and an unprofessional hothead. His license should be revoked and he should be fired
Rodrick
I met this PA once, after I was told by another doctor to seek out a specific medical test. He was hostile, belittling, and rude. I won’t lie, I was rude back, but what can you do when someone refuses to listen to your concerns or take your seriously? Tells you that the intermittent chronic issues you are having don’t matter because you aren’t having symptoms today in front of him? I don't recommend anyone see this man for medical treatment. If someone asks me who they should see, I actively tell them not to see this guy. It was surreal to see this article. Based on my interactions with the guy, he doesn’t believe a single word he said in this article. Guess it doesn’t matter who you are a jerk to, if they are the right mix of weak and vulnerable, huh Jacob? Or maybe you were just having an off day? Either way, Jacob, you made a poor impression. Guess all I can really do is hope that you weren’t lying about your goals to “…continue to learn, and help people,” because if you ever treat anyone I know the same way you treated me, I won’t just be leaving a comment. I’ll be sending a letter to the medical review board.
Johnny
I believe the proper spelling of Mr. Blazzard's position is Physician Assistant. No need for the apostrophe s. or you can abbreviate it PA or PA-C