Clarkson Community Members Recognized for Healthcare Impact
Two Clarkson University community members are being recognized for their contributions to healthcare, education and the PA profession across New York state.
Clarkson alumnus Triston Riley, PA-C, and Bruce Grattan, DO, MS, RD, FAAEM, a guest lecturer in Clarkson’s PA Studies program, are among the healthcare professionals selected for the New York State Society of PAs (NYSSPA) 2026 Membership Awards.
“These awards provide an opportunity to highlight the incredible professionals that are making a real difference in healthcare across the state,” says NYSSPA President Maggie Narrigan, MBA, PA-C.
Riley, who earned his Master of Science in PA Studies from Clarkson, was named Emerging PA of the Year by NYSSPA, while Grattan was named Physician Advocate of the Year.
Building a Career in Rural Healthcare
Riley currently practices hospital medicine in New York state’s North Country, where his work extends well beyond the hospital.
Since 2017, he has been actively involved in emergency medical services and currently serves as Training Chief for the Tri-Town Volunteer Rescue Squad, a paramedic-level emergency medical and transport service in Brasher Falls, NY, where he helps educate and develop EMS providers in his community.
Riley’s interests in rural medicine, emergency care and point-of-care ultrasound have also taken him into leadership roles at the local, state and national levels. Riley serves as National Student Director for the Society of Point of Care Ultrasound and Chair of the Legislative Committee for his county EMS Advisory Board. He has also held leadership positions with the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA).
The Emerging PA of the Year award recognizes a rising leader in the profession and reflects a career already centered on expanding expertise and strengthening care in rural communities, according to NYSSPA.
Preparing PAs for the Emergency Room
Grattan’s impact on the PA profession has been shaped by both clinical practice and education.
A board-certified emergency medicine physician and registered dietitian, Grattan has served as medical director for critical-access emergency departments in Massena and Gouverneur, NY, and, for the past four years, as Emergency Medicine Provider Education Director for the Saint Lawrence Region of Rochester Regional Health.
In that role, he developed a two-year PA training program in emergency medicine designed to prepare graduates to pass the Certificate of Added Qualifications exam and become critical members of emergency room and urgent care teams.
Grattan also provides ongoing education for recent PA graduates, emergency medicine residents, medical students and PA students. His commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare providers extends to Clarkson, where he serves as a guest lecturer in the University’s PA Studies program.
NYSSPA’s Physician Advocate of the Year award recognizes a physician who has demonstrated exceptional support for PAs and the profession, according to the association.
Riley and Grattan will be honored alongside the other 2026 NYSSPA Membership Award recipients at the Clara Vanderbilt Gala on October 17 at the Albany Capital Center, which will be held during the NYSSPA CME Conference.
Access to quality healthcare in rural and underserved communities has been a long-standing and continuously growing issue, but across New York, PAs are already on the front lines. Working tirelessly to bridge coverage gaps in these communities by delivering consistent, high-quality care across a multitude of specialties.
NYSSPA is the leading advocate for the PA profession, working to modernize the profession and strengthen access to high-quality healthcare across New York state, according to the organization. More than 24,000 PAs licensed in New York are providing preventive health services, diagnosing illness, developing and managing treatment plans, prescribing medications, and often serving as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.
