Rita Rienzo

Rita Rienzo is an Assistant Professor affiliated with the Yale School of Medicine's Physician Associate Program. She retired from her primary faculty role in 2021 but continues in her current roles as Manager of Alumni Engagement and Clinical Coordinator for the PA Online Program. Her academic background includes a BS from Fordham University (1980), MMSc from Emory University (1994), and residency training at Norwalk Hospital/Yale (1998).

Her research focuses on surgical education, clinical skills training, and physician assistant workforce development. Notable contributions include work on preoperative evaluation protocols and the impact of postgraduate residencies on PA career trajectories. She has held leadership roles in multiple institutional committees, including the Educational Policy and Curriculum Committee (EPCC) and the PA Program Admissions Committee since 2013.

Rienzo has received numerous awards, including multiple Jack Cole Society Awards and the Astra Zeneca Surgical Writing Prize. Her recent work emphasizes advancing medical education through curriculum innovation and interprofessional collaboration.