The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine program is a 27-month curriculum conferring the Master of PA Medicine (MPAM) degree.
The MPAM program at University of Lynchburg enrolled its first class in June 2015. The facilities located adjacent to campus were designed specifically to meet the needs of the PA Medicine students including state-of-the-art space for classrooms, a physical diagnosis lab and simulation training. The program will also utilize an anatomy lab that features flat screen monitors and twenty-one cadaver stations. Our faculty bring both experience in higher education and clinical practice to enhance the education that students will receive. Members of the local medical community will also serve as guest lecturers.
PAs are advanced medical practitioners who are able to obtain medical histories, perform examinations, diagnose illness and prescribe medications. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of PAs is expected to increase 38 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than average growth for most occupations.
About the Program
The overarching goal for University of Lynchburg is to build a strong program that attracts top-quality faculty and students who will serve local, regional and national needs for well-educated PAs. The curriculum is designed to prepare students to serve as generalists. Students will also be mentored in leadership to provide opportunities for professional growth within their careers, and foster advancement of the profession.
Starting in May 2019, the program enrolls cohorts of up to 40 students each year.
For additional information please contact us at pa@lynchburg.edu or 434.544.8876.
PA Medicine Highlights
Thank you to Dr. Pat Aronson, PhD for completing Safe Space Ally Training in Dr. Nicholas’ Social and Cultural Aspects of Healthcare class this Spring Semester!
The University of Lynchburg School PA Medicine always enjoys seeing patients at the Free Clinic Of Central Virginia on Fridays!
The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine Students Without Borders (SWOB) spent 10 days of their holiday break serving on a medical mission trip with SOL Education Abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico. Together with 48 PA students and 11 preceptors, including 3 DMSc fellows, the group was able to serve ~500 patients during the medical mission trip. Along with serving patients, the UL group was able to spend time learning about the culture and collaborating with local healthcare providers!
The PA Medicine program attended the Virginia Academy of PAs Fall CME Conference in Richmond on November 16th and our students participated in the Challenge Bowl! We are proud of all their hard work and dedication to the PA Profession!
Dr. Jeremy M. Welsh DHSc, JD, PA-C, EM-CAQ, DFAAPA, CHEP at the American Academy of PAs CHLM Executive Leadership Conference pictured with DMSc alumni, including AAPA President-Elect Beth Smolko, DMSc, PA-C and AAPA Immediate Past-President Jonathan Sobel, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA, and current PA fellows!
On Saturday, November 2nd, the University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine participated in the Martinsville Community Care Collaborative. In collaboration with students from Averett School of Nursing and Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the School of PA Medicine students, staff, and faculty were able to serve ~230 patients in Martinsville and the surrounding counties!
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine Outreach Committee had another successful Outreach event this past Saturday, October 26th. Four of our students showed up bright and early Saturday morning to assist Sports Outreach Institute (SOI) with moving furniture from a storage unit on Timberlake Rd to their new office off Bedford Avenue! Sports Outreach Institute (SOI) has programs in Lynchburg, Uganda, Kenya, India, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. Their mission is to mold young leaders, empower women, provide food and wells with clean water, develop public health initiatives, and more. They do so much for others, it is a pleasure to lend them a helping hand!
Dr. Jeremy Welsh was the keynote speaker at the APP Leadership Summit at The Great Midwestern Medical Conference on Tuesday, October 23rd.
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine Program had the honor of having Vice Mayor Mary Jane Dolan who is also a University of Lynchburg Board of Trustee Member read the PA Day Proclamation at our PA Day picnic on Thursday, October 10th during PA Week!
Letters to the Editor for Saturday, October 5, 2019
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine program had a group of 11 students wake up bright and early to volunteer at the Virginia 10-Miler on Saturday, September 28th on behalf of Miriam’s House! Their primary jobs were to cheer on and direct runners and to assist if any emergencies arose. Our group came alongside another University of Lynchburg group who prepared signs to encourage the runners and to help raise awareness for Miriam’s House. Thanks to everyone who made it out to volunteer, and awesome job to those who ran the races that day!
The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine had its third outreach event of the fall semester on Wednesday, September 11th! We had 18 students volunteer at Miriam’s House, a non-profit organization that seeks to end homelessness in Lynchburg by connecting families with stable, affordable housing and providing the skills and supports to promote self-sufficiency. One group addressed and sorted invitations to their upcoming silent auction and banquet, while another group offered to assemble furniture for their on-site housing. It was a pleasure working with the staff at Miriam’s House, and we are grateful to be able to serve an organization that helps people get back on their feet and integrate productively into the community!
Our University of Lynchburg PA Medicine Outreach Committee was busy in the community on Friday, September 6th at Get Downtown Lynchburg 2019! Our students helped vendors set up prior to the start of the event, assisted vendors and attendees during the event, and cleaned up the streets of any litter!
On August 28, our University of Lynchburg PA students participated in their first outreach event of the new semester! Twenty-three of our PA students served at Lynchburg Grows, an urban garden right here in town that provides fresh vegetables to the local food pantries and others in the community. Our students spent most of the time weeding rose and vegetable beds as well as shoveling compost and tilling the soil. It was a great way to get out of the classroom, clinic, or hospital and serve our Lynchburg community.
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine program is excited to announce that our second-year PA student, Sunayana Pydah, has been selected for the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Future Educator Fellowship. This is a highly competitive fellowship where fifteen PA students are selected each year to participate. The fellowship is designed to explore foundations in teaching, expose students to the current educational environment, and expand professional development and leadership opportunities. Congratulations, Sunny! We are so proud of you!
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine program would like to congratulate our Class of 2019. On August 17, the Class of 2019 received their long white coat, signifying successful completion of the University of Lynchburg PA Medicine program!
We started a new tradition this year at the long white coat graduation ceremony! The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine began their membership with Pi Alpha – The National Honor Society for PAs. The Pi Alpha Honor Society was organized in 2004 by the Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP) for the promotion and recognition of significant academic achievement, leadership, research, community/professional service, and the encouragement of a high standard of character and conduct. Our inaugural inductees are Dr. Eric Schmidt, PhD who is instrumental in our 27-month curriculum and teaches Human Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Medical Informatics, and the Research Courses; Ms. Amy Popko who was the LCPA Students Without Borders President during her time with the PA Medicine program, and Ms. Nina Ong who was the Polloway Student Society President during her time with the PA Medicine program. We would like to congratulate our inductees and thank them for their continued contribution to the PA program and profession!
Dr. Jeremy M. Welsh, VAPA President-Elect; Dr. Beth Smolko, AAPA President – Elect; Professor Melissa Shaffron; and Professor Jenna Rolfs at the Virginia Academy of PAs 2019 Summer Conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
University of Lynchburg PA Medicine is proud to announce that Sunny Pydah, second-year PA student, received the Virginia Academy of PAs Student of the Year award at the VAPA Summer Conference on Monday, July 22.
Our fully integrated ultrasound curriculum includes didactic instruction every week on a module consistent with what the PA students are learning in their didactic classes. Additionally, our students receive hands-on instruction and practice with beside point-of-care ultrasound in a lab every Tuesday morning. Pictured are our first-year students practicing the ocular/head/neck beside point-of-care ultrasound exam.
Our PA Medicine faculty and students attended the AAPA National conference on May 18-23. Our PA students participated in the ultrasound iScan event, attended CME lectures, helped out at the School of PA Medicine booth, and participated in the AAPA National Challenge Bowl where our challenge bowl team represented the program by making it to the stage. Only 36 out of 104 participating teams make it on stage. We are so proud of our PA students! Pictured is School of PA Medicine faculty and students at the National Challenge Bowl.
Students Without Borders Gala:
The University of Lynchburg LCPA Students Without Borders (SWOB) hosted their Gala & Silent Auction supporting their annual international trip and the Free Clinic Of Central Virginia! The event took place on July 20, 2019 at Boonsboro Country Club.
Miles for Medicine 5K: The University of Lynchburg PA students and Lynchburg community promoted running towards better health at the 4th Annual Miles for Medicine 5K. The course took place on the beautiful cross-country course at HumanKind on June 1, 2019. Blood pressure screens, healthy snacks, and various health information were provided. Proceeds benefit the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, providing medical and dental care to the underinsured and uninsured population of Lynchburg. Additionally, proceeds benefit the PA Student Society in the Lynchburg PA Program to help students attend the annual National Academy of PAs conference.
Loft Tour: Our PA students volunteered at the Fifteenth Annual Downtown LOFT tours on Saturday, April 27 benefiting the Free Clinic of Central Virginia. Pictured are some of our PA students volunteering with our Medical Director, Dr. Johnson.
Congratulations, Dr. Bowman! The University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine would like to congratulate Dr. Joe Bowman for receiving the “Outstanding Organizational Advisor Award” at the Leadership Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Dr. Bowman is a great asset to both the PA program and his work with the EMS students at the University of Lynchburg!
Congratulations to University of Lynchburg PA Medicine graduate Carlie Black, MPAM, PA-C and her recent publication in USA Today titled: “Optimize your outcome from knee replacement surgery.”
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine students and faculty served alongside our Lynchburg community partners on Saturday, April 13 at the Community Care Collaborative Lynchburg. The event was held at the Salvation Army and provided patients with free health and community resources.
The University of Lynchburg PA Medicine program is very appreciative for our partnership with the Free Clinic of Central Virginia, where every Friday PA faculty and students work alongside each other treating patients.
