ELEVATE HEALTH Lucile Gauger, PA

Lucile Gauger, PA, brings more than thirty years of experience as a physician associate. She’s worked with patients in internal and family medicine, women’s health, and addiction medicine in a variety of settings.

She is a skilled, compassionate and caring provider who listens deeply to what the client and the client’s body are saying. Her depth and breadth of knowledge about the human body and spirit guide her to gently ask probing questions to reveal underlying issues. Lucile answers questions and explains conditions with clarity and kindness.

Originally from Chicago, she moved to Portland a few decades ago in order to be surrounded by mountains and the ocean. She loves to hike, bike and swim to clear her mind and revitalize her body.

Lucile also enjoys designing and sewing beautiful tote bags and purses for friends and family. She is a regular at the Oregon Symphony and various chamber music concerts. Her idea of heaven is being in a concert hall watching performers from R&B to jazz to classical; from B.B. King to Beethoven.  

Above all, laughter keeps her sane!

What exactly is a physician associate? 

A physician associate (PA, formerly physician assistant) is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. They can serve as primary care providers, take medical histories, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, develop treatment plans, counsel on preventive care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Nearly all private insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare will cover PA services.

A Rigorous Education and Training

Physician Associate programs are approximately 26 months in duration (three academic years) and require the same prerequisite courses as medical schools. Most programs also require students to have about three years of healthcare training and experience. Students take courses in basic sciences, behavioral sciences and clinical medicine across subjects such as anatomy, pharmacology, microbiology, physiology and more. They complete a total of more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Psychiatry.