Tammy D. Ream, MPAS, PA-C

PAs in Texas are grieving the loss of TAPA President Elect, Tammy Ream.  Tammy died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolus following orthopedic surgery a short three weeks after her thirty-ninth birthday.   We have lost a leader as well as a gifted educator, colleague, and friend.

Tammy served TAPA in a variety of roles.  Building upon the work of Ann Teal, she built the Student Affairs Committee to a level that clearly demonstrated the commitment of our organization to the future of our profession.  She was passionate about the student Challenge Bowl and brought a spirit of healthy competition and enthusiasm to the event.  Student participation at conferences grew under her leadership and with a variety of student focused activities, including a student track of lectures.  She also served as a member of the Board of Directors, chair of the Judicial Affairs committee, and TAPA representative to the AAPA House of Delegates.  As President Elect, she was to assume the role of President in July.

She was born January 6, 1969 in Sayre, Oklahoma to Patricia McCain and Billy Goines. In 1987, Tammy graduated from Alvin High School. She attended Howard College and graduated from the PA program at UT Southwestern Medical School of Allied Health in 1992. In 2001, she earned a Masters degree in P.A. Studies from the University of Nebraska.

Tammy was the Associate Director at the Texas Tech University School of Allied Health Services Physician Assistant Program located in Midland, Texas. Tammy taught and graduated approximately 240 PAs during her career at Texas Tech.   Not only was she a talented educator, but, more importantly, she served as a role model and mentor to each of the students she touched.  Her dedication to teaching was never more evident when, after fracturing her patella, she made it a priority to copy her x-rays for teaching purposes and, while on sick leave, went to the program for students to examine her prior to surgery.

She is survived by her husband, Stacey Ream; children, Forrest age 11 and Reagan age 8 of Midland; mother, Tricia McCain; adoptive father, Chet Dowdell. Parents-in-law, Roddy and Jann Caffey of Big Spring and Jim and Marilyn Ream of Ft. Worth; sister-in-law, Kori Caffey of Baton Rouge, LA and Jaime Bennett; She is preceded in death by her father Billy Goines and stepfather Herb McCain.