ABOUT CATHY:
Ms. Ruff was born in Michigan, but has been in Colorado since the age of 11. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular/Molecular Biology from Fort Lewis College, followed by a Master of Science degree in Cell Biology from University of Denver. She completed her Physician Assistant training at the University of Colorado Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program (CHA/PA) in 1996. In 2001, she joined the faculty of CHA/PA, holding various administrative and teaching roles including Associate Program Director of Didactic Curriculum. She also continued to practice clinically at National Jewish Health in the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic until 2012. She has been actively involved with the Physician Assistant Education Association since 2004, serving as a peer-reviewer, presenter, and chair of its education council over the course of 13 years.
Ms. Ruff’s professional interests are in curriculum design and student and program assessment. She says that she was drawn to RVU because of the challenge of establishing a new PA program, learning all aspects of program development, and for the opportunity to continue to grow the PA profession.
She is married with two children—one is an aspiring author and the other is a gifted bassoon player. She loves spending time with her family, reading, all forms of music, the outdoors, and walking/hiking with her two dogs.
