Posted on October 2, 2002 at 2:00 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Edward D. Huechtker, Sr., MPA, has been named chair of the department of critical care in the School of Health Related Professions at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). He previously was chair of the physician assistant studies department at East Carolina University. Huechtker is a certified physician’s assistant.

“Ed Huechtker brings a wealth of experience to UAB,” said Harold Jones, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Related Professions. “He has been an innovative and creative force in the design of new programs and the utilization of technology to provide educational access to students at remote learning sites. I am incredibly excited about the experience and enthusiasm he brings to the position.”

Huechtker founded and developed East Carolina's physician assistant program and guided the physician assistant portion of the Robert Wood Johnson-sponsored Partnerships for Training Program, which brought community-based, PA education to students in rural communities through distance-learning methods.

Besides East Carolina, Huechtker has been a faculty member at the Duke University School of Nursing, the Medical College of Georgia, and Tampa College.

The department of critical care offers bachelor of science degrees in respiratory therapy and surgical physician assistant and a masters degree program in nurse anesthesia.

The UAB School of Health Related Professions has 20 academic programs at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degree levels within six departments: critical care, diagnostic care and therapeutic services, health services administration, nutrition sciences, occupational therapy and physical therapy.