BEND, OR. – Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA) recently hired Skyler Worthington, PA-C, to join its team of highly trained pediatricians and physician assistants who are dedicated to the care and wellbeing of Central Oregon’s youngest residents.
Worthington will expand on COPA’s mission of providing the best care with the best providers. His experience in ophthalmology and orthopedics are a boon to COPA’s skilled team of pediatricians.
A member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Worthington believes it is important for children of all ages to eat well and be active, but in the same way, parents must stay vigilant to their child’s physical and mental health.
“Children are complex and vulnerable, and will always need very specific care,” said Worthington. “Emotional development, self-esteem and educational progress go hand-in-hand with their physical and nutritional needs. This includes eye care. The health of the eyes affects how children learn, retain information and develop mentally.”
Worthington’s extensive clinical experience includes pediatrics along with internal medicine, orthopedics, obstetric gynecology, emergency medicine, trauma surgery and behavioral medicine. He is certified and trained in the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) program as well as the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) program.
Born and raised in Idaho, Worthington earned his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of St. Francis in Albuquerque, N.M., in April 2011. He served as an Orthopedic Physician Assistant at New Mexico Orthopedics before moving his family to Oregon. He worked closely with distinguished retina specialists at Oregon Retina, LLP in Eugene, Oregon. In his free time, Worthington enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle of cycling and hiking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.
“I wanted to work with a clinic and medical staff who recognize the importance of whole-body health in children, from babies, to toddlers, to pre-teens and teens”, said Worthington. “At COPA, kids are the practice, and I am proud to be a part of this talented and highly trained pediatric team.”
Central Oregon Pediatric Associates (COPA) is the region’s premier provider of health care for children since 1975. COPA offers 19 medical providers with two locations in Bend and one in Redmond. COPA is open weekday evenings until 8 P.M. plus weekends and holidays. A free pediatric nurse advice line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. COPA is Oregon’s largest pediatric practice outside the Portland metro area. More information is available at www.copakids.com
