The Physician Assistant Department at Wichita State University is honored to announce the Aaron McKinney Memorial.

Aaron McKinney received his Master of Physician Assistant in 2013. Aaron unexpectedly lost his life in 2014 at the age of 33, when his bicycle was tragically struck by a car as he was training for a triathlon.

Aaron grew up in Junction City, Kansas and graduated from Junction City High School with the Class of 1999. He attended and was on the Dean’s List at Hutchinson Community College, Newman University, and Wichita State University where he received his Master’s Degree and Physician Assistant Certification. On August 9, 2003 he married Tanya Diane Eckhoff in Hutchinson, Kansas. They were blessed with three children, Colin Dean, Ella Opal, and Jackson Lee McKinney. Aaron was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Boy Scouts of America, the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Throughout his career, Aaron worked as an emergency medical technician and fireman in Junction City and Wichita, a clinic and emergency room physician assistant in Atwood and St. Francis, and an emergency room physician assistant in Sedan and Hoxie. From hunting, soccer, running marathons to training for the Ironman Triathlon and running Pikes Peak, Aaron enjoyed outdoor activities and maintaining good physical condition. Aaron was of sound mind and body and had a heart and spirit to match. Aaron was a very active member in his church from serving a 2 year mission in the Las Vegas West Mission, working with the youth, and serving as a clerk. He earned his Eagle Scout Badge at the young age of 16, was a frequent Red Cross blood donor, and was known to be very caring and compassionate by patients and co-workers alike. Above all, the love of his life was his wife, children, family, and friends. Celebrating accomplishments with spaghetti dinners, traveling and exploring new places, and delighting in his nightly bowl of Blue Bell ice cream were just some of the ways life and love were shared together.

Your gift matters and every dollar counts as we reach our goal of raising $30,000. We encourage you to mail checks to the WSU Foundation as well. Using this avenue means that more of your money goes to support this fund and not to credit card fees.

Please mail checks to:

WSU Foundation

1845 Fairmount

Box 2

Wichita, KS 67260

Indicate in the memo “Aaron McKinney Memorial in PA”.

If you are interested in pledging a gift and making payments over time please contact Amy Tully, Director of Development for the College of Health Professions at amy.tully@wichita.edu or 316-978-3805. Gifts may be pledged over as many as five years.