Theresa Knowles Medical Assistant Training Program

Theresa Knowles dedicated her career to improving healthcare from every angle, beginning at the bedside and ultimately leading system-wide transformation. Her journey into healthcare was grounded in a deep curiosity about science and a commitment to serving others, reflected in her educational path. She pursued studies in biology and political science before earning a degree in zoology, later returning to healthcare to complete her nursing education and ultimately her Master’s Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her path was not linear but intentional, driven by purpose, and rooted in a belief that learning is a lifelong process.

She began her career as an emergency room nurse and EMT, later serving in home health and hospice, where she developed a deep understanding of patients’ needs across the continuum of care. These early experiences shaped her belief that healthcare must be compassionate, accessible, and responsive to the realities of people’s lives.

As her career progressed, Theresa stepped into leadership roles in operations and quality improvement, where she worked to strengthen healthcare systems and expand access to care in rural communities. During her time with a small community practice, later developed into a Federally Qualified Health Center, now known as Health Access Network, she served as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and Director of Quality Improvement, as well as in operational leadership roles, bringing together clinical expertise and systems thinking to improve care delivery.

Theresa continued this work at Penobscot Community Health Care, where she served first as Director of Quality Improvement and later as Chief Quality Officer. She was a driving force behind advancing clinical quality, strengthening systems of care, and ensuring that every patient, regardless of circumstance, received equitable and high-quality care. Her leadership helped shape a culture of continuous improvement and accountability, and her influence continues to be felt across the organization today.

What set Theresa apart was not only what she built, but who she built up.

She was a mentor, a teacher, and a trusted leader who believed deeply in the potential of others. She invested in people, encouraging new clinicians, supporting colleagues, and helping individuals grow in confidence and skill. Whether she was mentoring a new team member, supporting a colleague, or stepping in to meet community need, Theresa led with compassion and a relentless drive to make things better.

Her commitment to community health was evident in everything she did, from expanding access to care in rural Maine to personally delivering services to underserved populations, often going above and beyond to meet patients where they were. She believed that healthcare should not be limited by geography, resources, or circumstance and she worked tirelessly to turn that belief into reality.

PCHC’s Medical Assisting Training Program reflects her vision.

The Theresa Knowles Medical Assistant Training Program is designed to create meaningful pathways into healthcare by developing skilled, compassionate caregivers who are prepared to meet patients where they are and contribute to high-quality, team-based care. Like Theresa, participants are not only trained in clinical skills, but supported in becoming thoughtful problem-solvers, strong team members, and advocates for the patients and communities they serve.

In honoring Theresa’s legacy, we are committed to growing a workforce that reflects her values, grounded in curiosity, strengthened through learning, and driven by a shared purpose to make healthcare better for every patient, every day.