Dr. Jeremy Welsh has been named dean of the University of Lynchburg School of PA Medicine and senior associate dean of the College of Health Sciences. Dean of the School of PA Medicine is a new position at Lynchburg.
Dr. Welsh previously held the positions of associate dean of the College of Health Sciences and program director of the Master of PA Medicine. He also is chair of the School of PA Medicine.
Jenna Rolfs, assistant professor in the MPAM program since June 2018, is the new program director. She earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Butler University.
She is currently a candidate in Lynchburg’s Doctor of Medical Science program, where she is in the education pathway. The DMSc has both clinical and education tracks.
“The transition of Jenna running the day-to-day as the program director will allow me to work as the chair of the school to focus on long-term strategy for the PA and DMSc programs,” Dr. Welsh said.
Dr. Welsh said he and Rolfs are interested in “long-term state advocacy” for the PA profession. He is currently president-elect of the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants and Rolfs was recently elected secretary of the organizations.
“It shows that we’re a really good team, not only for PA Medicine but also the PA profession,” Dr. Welsh said.
Lynchburg’s Master of PA Medicine program, founded in 2015, enrolled its first cohort of 40 students this summer — up from 30 in previous cohorts. According to Dr. Welsh, Lynchburg’s MPAM program has had a 100% pass rate on the national medical board exams for the past two years.
