A Milestone Worth Celebrating for Families Across Connecticut
This year Sandy Narciso-Owen, PA-C was named the 2026 ConnAPA PA of the Year, one of the highest honors a physician assistant can receive in Connecticut.
At Pediatric Associates of CT, we like to think of every family’s healthcare experience as a journey, one where a trusted guide makes all the difference between uncertainty and confidence. For fifteen years, Sandy has been exactly that guide for the children and parents who walk through our doors, and now her peers across the state have recognized what our families have known all along.
Fifteen Years of Guiding Families Through Pediatric Care
Every hero’s journey needs a guide who has walked the path many times before, and Sandy has spent more than fifteen years doing precisely that. As a pediatric physician assistant, she has cared for generations of children, steadying anxious parents through fevers, growth concerns, and everything in between.
Families who see our CT pediatricians and physician associates for routine checkups, urgent visits, or complex questions have often found their footing thanks to Sandy’s calm expertise.
But her impact reaches far beyond the exam room. Sandy has also devoted herself to educating the next generation of pediatric providers, mentoring physician associate students, and contributing as a Pediatric Associate Editor within the Aquifer Consortium, a respected medical education platform used to train clinicians nationwide.
Sandy’s dedication to shaping the future of medicine recently earned her formal recognition from Aquifer, a non-profit organization delivering interactive online curriculum to health professions students. This recognition underscores the incredible impact she has not just on our local families, but on the hundreds of thousands of students nationwide who rely on these cases to build clinical competency.
You might also want to read: Sandy Narciso-Owen, PA Awarded Aquifer Recognition
She currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants’ Pediatrics Certificate of Added Qualifications Exam Program, helping shape the very standards by which pediatric PAs are certified.
A Foundation Built on Rigorous Training
Sandy’s path to becoming one of Connecticut’s most respected pediatric providers began with a dual Bachelor of Science degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, followed by a Master of Science from New York University. She went on to earn her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Mercy College in 2007, laying the academic groundwork for the career that would follow.
Since then, she has remained an active member of both the Connecticut Academy of Physician Associates and the American Academy of Physician Associates, staying closely connected to the professional community that would ultimately honor her this year.
For the families we see at our Waterbury and Southbury locations, this kind of connection is not a small thing. It is often the difference between a parent who feels heard and one who leaves an appointment with unanswered questions.
Congratulations, Sandy
The ConnAPA PA of the Year award is a recognition that celebrates a physician associate who has gone above and beyond in service to patients, colleagues, and the broader community.
Every family’s healthcare journey deserves a guide who combines expertise with genuine compassion, and for fifteen years, Sandy Narciso-Owen has been exactly that for the children and parents of Connecticut. The 2026 ConnAPA PA of the Year award is a well-earned recognition of a career spent educating, advocating, and caring for others without ever seeking the spotlight.
We are beyond proud to call Sandy one of our own. Congratulations, Sandy — your passion, leadership, and commitment continue to inspire our entire team every day.
If you’re looking for a trusted pediatric team for your child in Waterbury, Southbury, or the surrounding communities, we invite you to learn more about our providers and schedule an appointment with Pediatric Associates of CT today.