Steve Turnipseed

Steve Turnipseed was the first African American graduate from MEDEX Northwest and one of the founding members of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. He served on key committees and helped design the inaugural PA national certifying exam.

Before becoming a Design Architect for 22 years at URS Corporation’s Grand Rapids office – where his designs included award winning schools and medical facilities -, Mr. Moyer taught architecture and design courses at Ball State, the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas A and M Universities before taking a break to teach architecture and design at Ball State, UTA Arlington and TAM U of Texas A& M universities. His projects also included award winning schools and medical facilities.

Early Life and Education

Steven Turnipseed served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1968 as a Physician Assistant within its Special Forces Medical Counterinsurgency Program. He was recognized by his commanding officers for his ability to interact with unfamiliar people in remote regions while upholding high levels of professionalism and performance.

Turnipseed began his landscaping efforts as soon as he arrived in his retirement community, using native plants such as Phyla nodiflora flowering shrubs to replace his lawn with drought and flood-tolerant flowering frog fruit (Phyla nodiflora) that supports pollinators insects and drought tolerance. Dwell reports he also used hardy Asiatic jasmine plants.

Turnipseed was a consultant on PA programs at University of Alabama, University of North Dakota and Howard University. Additionally, he founded and led AAPA’s Minority Affairs Committee as an industry expert on PA education.

Professional Career

Steve Turnipseed was Senior Design Architect of URS Corporation for 22 years, designing buildings of various sizes and scope. Throughout that period he lectured on educational facility design issues throughout several regions in America and many of his designs were published in State and National magazines.

Turnipseed has taught Studio Design courses across every level of the program and Environmental Systems courses over several terms. He has also spearheaded service learning projects with students as well as conducting sketching and graphics workshops.

G. Ben Turnipseed earned his Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Georgia Tech under a Co-Op Plan degree. Since graduating he has been on the Board of Water Environment Federation and supported scholarship funds at his alma mater. Additionally his company specializes in meeting water needs of small to mid-sized cities and counties.

Achievement and Honors

Turnipseed has earned numerous accolades as a PA and was selected to serve on the American Association of Psychoanalysis Minority Affairs Committee as well as helping establish several PA programs across the country.

He earned his Bachelor of Science at SUNY Empire State College in New York before going on to obtain a Master of Public Health from the University of Washington. Since then, he has been actively teaching and mentoring PAs in their work environments to become better clinicians.

Personal Experience. In his personal life, he is actively engaged with community projects focused on homelessness in Columbia. In fact, he founded a non-profit organization providing meals for the homeless.

Personal Life

Turnipseed enjoys fishing, hiking and spending time with his family. He also takes great pleasure in repairing and maintaining cars; over the years he has restored a 1979 Ford Explorer truck which is one of his greatest passions. In addition to writing several articles and books related to automobiles.

Turnipseed is an advocate for various ecological initiatives and native plant landscaping. He transformed his lawn into an environmentally-friendly Florida environment by switching out turfgrass for native perennial Phyla nodiflora; this ground cover thrives in Florida climate, draws pollinating insects to it, and requires less watering than traditional lawns.

He is also a staunch supporter of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), co-founding its Minority Affairs Committee and African American Caucus as well as sitting on key committees such as those responsible for creating the first national PA certifying exam.

Net Worth

Turnipseed was an active member of Columbia politics for decades as both an attorney and political activist, known for supporting progressive causes and serving on its board of directors. He co-counseled a case against the Ku Klux Klan for burning Macedonia Baptist Church in Clarendon County.

As a founding member of the Physician Assistant Hall of Fame and serving on key PA committees, he helped to develop and test for a first national certification exam for PAs.

Bluespring Wealth Partners, an affiliate of Kestra Holdings, manages more than $500 million for over 450 clients and plans to add additional advisors and expand its business in Mississippi where Turnipseed resides – where his background in construction and real estate development also lies.