Jennifer Orozco, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA
Principal
Chicago, IL
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Dr. Jennifer Orozco has over 20 years of progressive leadership and management experience in health systems operations with a focus on physician associate (PA) and advanced practice nursing administration.
Prior to joining HMA, her career had primarily been dedicated to the clinical, operational, and academic leadership teams at Rush University System for Health in Chicago, where she served as the director for more than 400 advanced practice providers. In this role, she provided organizational leadership, financial oversight, strategy, and innovation across the hospital system. She was a member of the operational leadership team, a founding faculty member/former director of clinical education and assistant professor in the department of PA Studies. Dr. Orozco is the president and chair of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) where she provides oversight, visionary leadership, and innovation for the national non-profit healthcare organization representing more than 168,000 physician associates.
Dr. Orozco is a strong advocate for health equity and improving patient access to care through healthcare innovation and is a champion of advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels. In addition to her work as AAPA’s president and chair of the board of directors, she previously served as president and legislative chair of the Illinois Academy of PAs as a national-level advisor on the advanced practice provider workforce. She frequently lectures to PAs, nursing, and physician audiences on current legislative initiatives impacting healthcare.
Dr. Orozco is a multi-time award winner, published author, public speaker, and op-ed contributor. She earned a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Medical Science in PA studies from Midwestern University and a Bachelor of Science in exercise physiology from University of Illinois at Chicago. When not working to advance modern healthcare policy on behalf of patients, she spends most of her free time outdoors as an amateur competitive cyclist and enjoying life with her partner, Kevin, and her three children.