Jack Runyan

Jack Runyan is a Lecturer at Sam Houston State University (SHSU). He has an extensive career in healthcare and education, including roles as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, Physician Assistant (PA), and academic leader. He holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of New Mexico (1992) and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Cardiac Testing and Rehabilitation. Dr. Runyan has contributed significantly to PA education, serving as Associate Professor and Department Chair at institutions like Baylor College of Medicine, UT-Pan American (UTPA), and Texas Tech University. Over 1,200 PA students graduated under his mentorship, and he pioneered tele-distant learning programs for PA studies.

His career spans clinical practice, research in cardiac rehabilitation, and innovative educational models. Notably, he developed one of the first telemedicine-based PA curricula in the U.S., enabling distance learning for practicing PAs seeking advanced degrees. Dr. Runyan’s work emphasizes improving healthcare access through education and technology.

He retired from UTPA in 2014 with the rank of Associate Professor but continues to contribute through his current role at SHSU.