Gov. Perry Appoints Baptiste and Endicott to Texas Physician Assistant Board

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Reginald Baptiste of Austin and James Endicott Jr. of Harker Heights to the Texas Physician Assistant Board. The board establishes and maintains standards of excellence to regulate physician assistants and ensure quality healthcare for Texans.

Baptiste is a cardiovascular surgeon, co-owner of Capital Cardiothoracic Surgeons, and associate dean for health professions at the University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Science. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Texas Surgical Society, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He is a fellow of the American Board of Surgery and American College of Chest Physicians, and past president of the Austin Surgical Society. Baptiste received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, and completed his general and cardiothoracic surgery residencies at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is appointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2015.

Endicott is an attorney in private practice. He is the Fort Hood liaison and ombudsman for the National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Texas Committee, and a member of the Texas Silver Haired Legislature, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. He is also a past board member of the Military Officers Association of America and Texas Statewide Health Coordinating Council, and past chair of the American Bar Association Veteran Affairs Committee and the Harker Heights Chamber of Commerce. Endicott served in the U.S. Army. He received a bachelor's degree from the Citadel and a law degree from George Washington University. He is appointed for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013.