Professor Punt serves as the course director for the Clinical Skills & Assessment and Intro to SCPE courses, where he teaches much of the ‘hands-on’ aspects of patient care including history taking, physical exam skills, and basic procedures.
Before entering academia, he practiced as a PA in orthopedic surgery for seven years, beginning his career at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. His clinical expertise informs his teaching, particularly in musculoskeletal evaluation and procedural skills.
Professor Punt is a recognized leader in artificial intelligence (AI) in PA education, serving as Vice-Chair of the Institutional AI Committee and leading faculty development initiatives on AI integration. He has played a key role in shaping the PA program’s policies on the appropriate use of AI tools in education. Nationally, he serves as the head of a special interest group on AI for PA educators, where he facilitates professional development and collaborative research on AI applications in PA education.
Professor Punt is actively engaged in research on AI in PA education and mentors students in their capstone research projects.
Beyond his AI-focused work, Professor Punt has a strong interest in wilderness and backcountry medicine. He has presented on this topic at regional and national conferences and conducts hands-on workshops in emergency and austere medical care.
Outside of academia, he loves spending time outdoors with his wife and dogs while hiking, backpacking, climbing, and touring the West in their self-made camper van.