College of Health Sciences
Award Recipient

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Carleen Stransky Freesmeier, H Sci '03, PA '05
Elm Grove, Wis.

As a leader in emergency medicine, Carleen was awarded the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants PA of the Year in 2015.

Since her time at Marquette, Carleen has worked as a physician assistant in emergency medicine with Infinity HealthCare. She currently serves as director of advanced practice provider services leading over 130 PAs and nurse practitioners. Carleen enjoys practicing clinical medicine as well as working in leadership. She is the only woman and first physician assistant elected (and re-elected) to the board of directors of Infinity HealthCare in Milwaukee. This past year she developed an Advanced Practice Provider Council. Carleen also is a clinical assistant professor at Marquette and has precepted PA students from six different PA programs.

“It is important we continue to invest in our future providers and partners by participating in their educational journey,” Carleen says. “It has been fun to see students who shadowed me during their high school years, rotated with me as PA students and now are practicing PAs.” She also speaks at local schools to teach about careers in emergency medicine and as a PA.

Carleen earned her Certificate of Added Qualifications in Emergency Medicine from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants which less than 5 percent of practicing emergency medicine PAs have obtained. “I push to advance PAs to the fullest extent of their licensing and training in a health care team. It is our human privilege and obligation to serve others,” she says.

Carleen attended Marquette for its outstanding academics and because the first time she stepped on campus, it felt like home. She still gets the same feeling every time she visits. In fact, Carleen built a home and family with her husband and fellow Marquette graduate, Tom, Arts ’05.

Carleen resides in Elm Grove, Wis. with her husband, Tom, Arts'05, and three sons.

Fun facts:
Dream dinner guest: “I would love to have one more meal with my father-in-law who passed away this past summer. He found the simplest moments to impart great wisdom. He cherished his family and faith above all else.”
Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on her: “Dr. Dan Haworth, professor of chemistry, who taught my general chemistry class. He was an outstanding teacher who always kept humor in the classroom. I loved that class and still have a chemistry model he gave me.”