The Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) Chattanooga Physician Assistant (PA) Program has earned Accreditation-Provisional status, marking a significant milestone as it prepares to welcome its inaugural class in January 2027.
The designation was granted by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the national accrediting organization for physician assistant programs.
"This accomplishment is the result of years of planning, collaboration and hard work by many dedicated individuals across the university," said Paula Miksa, DMS, EdS, PA-C, dean of the LMU-School of Medical Sciences. "We're excited to bring LMU's proven approach to physician assistant education to Chattanooga and welcome our first cohort in January."
Located in downtown Chattanooga (555 Walnut Street), the new program is expected to enroll up to 100 students in its first cohort and will further strengthen LMU's growing presence in healthcare education across Tennessee and beyond.
The Chattanooga program joins LMU's established physician assistant programs in Harrogate and Knoxville, Tennessee as well as Tampa, Florida, and builds upon the university's existing healthcare education presence in Chattanooga.
The LMU Chattanooga PA Program offers a 24-month, 115-credit-hour curriculum leading to a Master of Medical Science (MMS) in Physician Assistant Studies. Designed for the next generation of healthcare professionals, the program emphasizes active learning, clinical decision-making and hands-on experience through innovative application labs, skills training and service-learning opportunities.
Students will participate in Clinical Decision Application Labs, Biomedical Science and Diagnostic Application Labs, Skills and Procedures Labs, and History and Physical Examination Labs that reinforce classroom instruction through real-world application. The curriculum also incorporates principles of holistic medicine and wellness, emphasizing whole-person care, prevention, mental and emotional health, and community engagement.
For Johnna Yealy, PhD, PA-C, program director, the accreditation achievement represents the realization of a vision to bring innovative physician assistant education to Chattanooga.
"Achieving provisional accreditation as Chattanooga's first PA program is a milestone that reflects the dedication and collaborative spirit of our outstanding faculty, staff and institutional partners," Yealy said. "Congratulations to everyone who helped make this vision a reality. We are excited to bring PA medical education to this region, preparing compassionate clinicians who understand the needs of medically underserved Appalachian communities, embrace community service and demonstrate a lasting commitment to patient and professional advocacy."
The program's learner-centered curriculum is rooted in evidence-based educational practices and is designed to move beyond traditional lecture-heavy models. Through active learning modules, collaborative problem-solving and community service experiences each semester, students will develop the knowledge, skills and professional values necessary to succeed in today's dynamic healthcare environment.
To apply visit: https://www.lmunet.edu/school-of-medical-sciences/pa-chattanooga/
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Lincoln Memorial University Chattanooga Physician Assistant Medicine Program sponsored by Lincoln Memorial University. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program's accreditation history can be viewed at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-lincoln-memorial-university-chattanooga/.
