Charles J. Bentz

Dr. Charles J. Bentz serves as Professor and Medical Director of Pacific University's School of Physician Assistant Studies, a role he has held since co-founding the program in the mid-1990s. He maintains active clinical practice through Fanno Creek Clinic (Internal Medicine) and Legacy Go-Health Urgent Care (supervisor/medical reviewer), bridging academic theory with frontline healthcare delivery across primary, urgent, and hospital settings.

His educational foundation includes:

• MD from Medical College of Wisconsin
• Internship, Residency, and Fellowship in Internal Medicine at OHSU
• BA from Franciscan University of Steubenville

Dr. Bentz's scholarly focus integrates clinical medicine with systems-level innovation, spanning Internal Medicine sub-specialties, Emergency/Urgent Care, Preventive and Palliative Medicine, and Health Services Research. His three-decade career uniquely combines direct patient care with healthcare system analysis, emphasizing evidence-based protocols and quality improvement frameworks that prepare students for evolving practice environments.

His professional recognition includes:

• Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP)

As an educator, Dr. Bentz has trained generations of physician assistants while concurrently mentoring medical residents and fellows. His leadership roles at Providence Health System demonstrate commitment to advancing clinical standards through structured peer-review systems and research-driven quality initiatives, directly informing his mentorship philosophy centered on professional accountability and systems thinking.