Answering the call to care
UF PA student Amanda Reeder receives inaugural Dr. Steven M. Kraft and Mrs. Randy E. Kraft Endowed Scholarship
Amanda Reeder
July 29, 2026 — Growing up in the rural community of Clay Hill, just outside of Middleburg, Florida, Amanda Reeder learned the importance of service, compassion and hard work. Raised by a father who served as a firefighter and paramedic for 27 years and a mother who worked from home while caring for their family, Reeder was surrounded by examples of dedication to others.
“I have always been interested in medicine, watching my father working every third day on the ambulance in a fire department,” Reeder said. “As I grew up, I shadowed paramedics, physicians and physician assistants and worked in the emergency department and in emergency medical services.”
After spending nearly nine years working in emergency medical services and taking a six-year gap following her undergraduate studies, Reeder at times questioned whether she was following the right path. Looking back, she sees those experiences as an important part of shaping the provider she is becoming.
Left: Reeder spent nine years in emergency medical services. Right: Reeder with a colleague after receiving a patient care award while working in emergency medical services.
Following her first year at the University of Florida School of Physician Assistant Studies, Reeder is in the midst of summer clinical rotations. Her years working in emergency medicine, combined with experiences supporting family members through illness, helped solidify her decision to pursue a career as a physician assistant.
Receiving the Dr. Steven M. Kraft and Mrs. Randy E. Kraft Endowed Scholarship was both unexpected and encouraging.
“I was absolutely shocked,” she said. “It made my heart so full.”
The scholarship has helped ease financial stress and allowed Reeder to step away from working ambulance shifts to fully focusing on her studies. It also served as an important reminder that others believe in her future as a healthcare professional.
“It felt nice to be recognized and noticed for the hard work I had put in before and during the program,” she said. “It was also very heartfelt that previous graduates of the UF School of Physician Assistant Studies were giving back to the next generation of PA students.”
Reeder credits much of her determination to the encouragement she received from her father, one of her biggest supporters and inspirations.
Reeder as a baby with her father.
“He encouraged me to do whatever I wanted, pushed me when I felt the journey into PA school was too far away and acknowledged I have a strong bedside manner,” she said.
As she looks ahead, Reeder hopes to continue exploring specialties such as critical care and pediatrics while building on her experience in emergency medicine. She is especially interested in strengthening collaboration between emergency medical services providers and hospital-based care teams.
“My goal in becoming a PA started from my roots in medicine,” she said. “I hope I can bridge the gap between inpatient medicine and emergency medical services, as I believe this is a new frontier of medicine.”
Receiving scholarship support has also inspired Reeder to think about how she can give back to future students and her community. She hopes to work at UF Health Shands Hospital after graduation and eventually mentor future PA students.
“I want to extend my sincerest gratitude and appreciation for this contribution toward my learning journey,” she said. “The financial assistance has put my mind at ease.”
About the scholarship
The Dr. Steven M. Kraft and Mrs. Randy E. Kraft Endowed Scholarship provides financial support for students at the UF College of Medicine School of Physician Assistant Studies. Preference is given to those who serve, or have served, as first responders.
After graduating from the UF College of Medicine in 1981, Steven Kraft, PA ’76, M.D. ’81, completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at UF. He went on to practice for 18 years at North Florida Regional Medical Center, where he helped integrate physician assistants into his clinical team. He later served as an associate professor in the UF Department of Radiology, helping to develop its advanced cardiac imaging program.
During his eight years at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Kraft worked closely with PA students in both classroom and clinical settings.
“The PA students tend to be a highly motivated group of people,” he said. “Working with them was one of the highlights of my time.”
Randy Kraft is also a proud UF alumna, earning an associate degree in liberal arts and sciences in 1972 and a bachelor’s degree in education in 1974.
The scholarship reflects the Krafts’ deep appreciation of UF and their shared belief that patients should be seen first as people, not diagnoses. It honors graduates who demonstrate both professional excellence and commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.
