Seattle · Gastroenterology
Diana
McFarlane
MPAS, PA-C
Advancing gastrointestinal care through clinical leadership, patient-centered expertise, and practical medical education.
- GI Motility
- Clinical Leadership
- Medical Education
20+ years of patient care, education, and leadership
- 20+Years in practice
- 5-stateTertiary referral region
- 2024Carol Verga APP Award
Approach
Complex medicine.
Clear, human care.
Diana translates difficult gastrointestinal conditions into care plans patients can understand and clinical teams can act on.
Her expertise spans gastroparesis, pelvic floor disorders, esophageal dysmotility, chronic abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, IBD, and therapeutic GI care across inpatient and outpatient settings.
As a clinician, educator, speaker, and consultant, she builds multidisciplinary programs, develops medical education, mentors advanced practice providers, and helps move evidence into everyday practice.
Clinician · Educator · Advocate
Selected work
Professional Experience
Neurogastroenterology & GI Motility Workshop on Anorectal Disorders — Participant
September 2025
Attended and participated in an intensive hands-on workshop program on the diagnosis and management of complex neuromotility disorders of the pelvic floor as it relates to defecation dysfunction hosted by Dr. Satish Rao, including direct observation of Anorectal Manometry, Translumbosacral Anorectal Magnetic Stimulation, Translumbosacral Neuromodulation Therapy, and Anorectal Biofeedback therapy with and without BioAnatoner device on patient volunteers. Developed GI Motility lab design and implementation expertise.
Speaker, Medical Educator
Ardelyx
June 2025 - Present
Medical education provided to GI specialized Advanced Practice Providers and MDs at private dinner programs and medical conference product theatres. Travel throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western United States to accommodate reach and access for various medical practices.
Consultant, Speaker, Medical Educator
Enterra Medical
August 2022 - Present
Medical education development, slide deck creation, course speaker, and panelist regarding diagnosing, screening, treating those with medically refractory gastroparesis, and gastric neurostimulator programming education. Scaled up educational programs using webinars.
GI PA-C, APP Lead, Gastroparesis Clinical Director, Speaker
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
September 2007 - Present
Clinical Practice: Inpatient and outpatient GI provider and expert in motility and functional bowel disorders. Provide tertiary level 2nd opinions for five state Pacific Northwest Region.
APP Lead: Manage 10 GI APP's. Interview and hire APP's, design and implement onboarding, training, role utilization, template design. Mentor APP's and negotiate compensation redesign.
Clinical Director, Gastroparesis Program: Develop referral pathways, screening and diagnostic algorithms, multidisciplinary treatment regimens, and marketing plans. Provide medical education, conduct clinical trials, publish updates in gastroparesis management. Oversee multistate outreach efforts of our nationally renowned gastroparesis center.
Speaker: Continuing medical education speaker for VMFH hosted CME programs including Grand Rounds, GI and Hepatology Annual Courses, Multidisciplinary Pelvic Floor Annual Courses, Noon Resident Lectures, Fellows Lectures, Schwartz Rounds. Washington State Physician Assistant Academy Conference - IBD surgical management.
Board and Committee Participation: Complex GI Case Conference (Founder), IBS and Motility Workgroup, Gastroparesis Workgroup, Severe Acute Pancreatitis Committee, Colorectal Workgroup Committee, Multidisciplinary Pelvic Floor Committee & Case Conference, Medical Quality Assurance Committee, Mary McClintin Safety Award Selection Committee, Schwartz Rounds Planning Committee, Reducing Readmissions Kaizan Event, Pathology Conference, Radiology Conference, Chronic Non-Cancer Opioid Therapy Section Champion.
GI PA-C
Digestive Health Specialists
October 2005 - September 2007
GI PA-C caring for inpatients and outpatients with a focus on General GI, Hepatology, IBD, and Therapeutic GI.
Foundation
Education & Certifications
Masters, Physician Assistant Studies
Arizona School of Health Sciences
August 2003 - August 2005
Clinical Rotations: Emergency Medicine, OB/GYN, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, HIV Management, Pediatrics, General Surgery
International Rotations: Cape Town, South Africa and Belize
Arizona PA Student of the Year - 2004
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
Arizona State University, Barrett's Honors College
September 1998 - May 2001
Summa Cum Laude, Dean's List
Minor: Child Development and Family Studies
Honors Thesis, Barrett's Honors College, GPA 4.0
Regent's Scholar
Board Certification
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
2005 - Present
Basic Life Support
2003 - Present
Ideas in practice
Publications & Broadcasts
How to Improve your Gastrointestinal Health and Wellness
King 5 New Day Segment
October 2023
View VideoPearls of Wisdom: Neuromodulation in the Setting of Refractory Gastroparesis
American Neurogastroenterology Motility Society
August 2023
Watch on YouTubeGastroparesis: Updates and Innovations
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Bulletin, Volume 77, Number 1
Summer 2023
The Recognition, Implication, and Management of Prehypertension in Young Adults and Young Adults at Risk for Hypertension
Arizona School of Health Sciences, Masters Thesis
2003
The Emotional, Psychological, and Financial Support of College-Aged Children of Divorced Parent
Barrett's Honors College Thesis & Clinical Research Project
2001
On the stage
Speaking Engagements
Continuing Medical Education Speaker
Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
- Grand Rounds
- GI and Hepatology Annual Courses
- Multidisciplinary Pelvic Floor Annual Courses
- Noon Resident Lectures
- Fellows Lectures
- Schwartz Rounds
Washington State Physician Assistant Academy Conference
IBD Surgical Management
Patient Education Events
- IBS Public Lectures
- Pelvic Floor Public Lectures
Enterra Medical
Medical Education Programs
Course speaker and panelist for gastroparesis diagnosis, screening, treatment, and gastric neurostimulator programming
Ardelyx
Medical Education Programs
Speaker and educator for GI specialized Advanced Practice Providers and MDs at private dinner programs and medical conference product theatres across the Pacific Northwest and Western United States
Connected to the field
Professional Memberships
American Academy of Physician Assistants
American College of Gastroenterology
Washington Academy of Physician Assistants
American Neurogastroenterology Motility Society
Beyond the clinic
Community Involvement
Roosevelt High School Girls Lacrosse Board President
2024 - 2026
Penguin Ski Club
Secretary and Supply Chair
2019 - Present
Green Lake Elementary Auction Chair
2012 - 2018
UW MEDEX PA Preceptor
2010 - 2018
Mercer Island Rotary Club
Colon Cancer Awareness Half Marathon
2012
GIPA Director at Large
2010 - 2011
GIPA Board President
2009 - 2010
Louis J. Kettle Society Governing Board
Secretary
2004
Psi Chi Professional Psychology Society
Connect
Let’s move care forward.
For clinical care, speaking, education, and professional collaboration, connect through the channels below.
Location
Seattle, WA