Summary
After 18 years practicing in the northern Nevada community, Dr. Lauf joined the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine as the founding program director of the developing Physician Assistant (PA) program. His interest in developing a PA program in northern Nevada goes back to the early 1990s. Growing up in Reno, his career in medicine began as an EKG technician at the Reno VA hospital. Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Air Force becoming a medic where he was introduced to the PA profession - an immediate and influential change to his future was set in motion! After the military, returned to Reno and attended Truckee Meadows Community College and the University of Nevada, Reno to prepare for PA school.
Professional Goal
Enhancing health care access and improving the health and well-being of all Nevadans through education.
Personal Interests
In his free time, Brian enjoys being a husband to an amazing wife and father of two wonderful children. Outside of his current all-consuming passion for PA education, he enjoys the outdoors (hiking, skiing, traveling) and basketball.
Professional Experience
After graduation from PA school and returning to Nevada, Brian was fortunate to have an opportunity to practice family medicine alongside an experienced physician in a rural community that welcomed him. This rural community and its long-established "town doctor" advanced his skills as a clinician and solidified his PA education. Being part of the inaugural class at Oregon Health Sciences University helped him continue as a pioneer to increase the awareness of the PA profession in Nevada.
Brian returned to the Reno/Sparks area to join an ear, nose and throat specialty practice where he expanded his clinical skills. With encouragement from friends and mentors, Brian pursued an entrepreneurial opportunity by joining a health care technology startup company; this business experience provided a unique perspective as he continued to practice medicine.
His expertise in health information systems and project management was utilized in his last role as a health information technology clinician consultant with a local hospital.
Dr. Lauf has held several local and national PA leadership roles throughout his career.
Education
- Doctor of Medical Science - University of Lynchburg
- Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Family Medicine - University of Nebraska
- Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant Studies, with honors - Oregon Health Sciences University
Training
During his military service, Dr. Lauf received extensive training at the United States Air Force Medical Service Specialist School, including earning his emergency medical technician certification while stationed at the United States Air Force Academy. His military medical experiences include labor and delivery, emergency medicine, family medicine and the newborn nursery. After his military service, he returned home to Northern Nevada, where he attended and graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College and then transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studied biology. Prior to graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, Brian was accepted into the inaugural class of the developing PA program at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon, where he went on to graduate with honors in 1997. After graduation, Brian returned home to Northern Nevada, where he simultaneously entered practice and continued his education by completing a Master of Physician Assistant Studies - Family Medicine from the University of Nebraska.
In 2020, Dr. Lauf completed his Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) from the University of Lynchburg. His studies focused on PA Education.
Brian's interest in technology, health information and improving health care interactions between providers and patients was the catalyst for him to complete training and attain certification as a Health Information Technology Professional - Clinician/Practitioner Consultant at Midland College, Texas and Project Management Essentials Program at the University of Nevada, Reno.