Alumni Spotlight

Robert Booth recently published an article, “Stepping into the void; EMPAs in frontier EDs” in JAAPA, Oct. 2022 - Vol. 35 – Issue 10, p.13-14

Visit JAAPA to read the article. 

doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000873812.99901.ab

In August 2022, Lisa Hernandez successfully completed all requirements for a Certificate in Critical Care for Mid-Level Providers.

In 2022, Dr. Harrington was promoted to Assistant Dean and Program Director for the upcoming LMU-SMS Tampa, Florida PA program, recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA), and became a PA Foundation Nutrition Outreach Fellow.

Dr. Jennifer Harrington was featured in a collaborative video with Abbott Nutrition during the 2021 AAPA conference.

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MacArthur was accepted into the University of Kentucky's PA NICU residency program for fall 2022. 

In 2022, Dr. Miksa was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA).

Dr. Miksa co-produced and shared the “Healthcare Literacy and Interprofessional Telehealth Consideration” IPE project at the Heartland Interprofessional Education (HIPE) Conference on July 21, 2022, and at the Tennessee Interprofessional Education Conference (TIPEC) on July 29, 2022.

In May 2022, Dr. Rupani recently published an article in the Journal of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System on COVID-19 and Metabolic Syndrome. 

To read the article, visit Hindawi

n August 2020, Dr. Rupani passes the Asthma Education Certification exam. Dr. Rupani is only the second physician assistant in the state of TN with an AE-C. Dr. Rupani believes in life-long learning and the advancement of knowledge and understanding to improve health care.

Gregory McDonough published his scholarly project in Arthroscopy Association of North America's A-Tech journal. McDonough began his research as part of his DMS scholarly project while enrolled in the program. With the support and mentorship of the DMS faculty, McDonough published his project shortly after graduation.

Visit AANA to read McDonough's article.

Nancy Trimble, the South Dakota Academy of PAs (SDAPA) President, is leading the charge for OTP in South
Dakota.

Sarah Bush accepted the role of the sole healthcare provider for FamilyCare's mobile health unit. FamilyCare is a federally funded health center with 15 locations in southern West Virginia. Each FamilyCare Health Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for the entire family. Now with three mobile units, FamilyCare can bring health care to the patient instead of the patient coming to the centers.

Gary Bowen was promoted from the rank of Captain to Major effective February 3, 2022. The promotion ceremony was completed by the Turkish Site Commander Major Metin, Kaya of the Turkish Airforce on the remote Kurecik Mountains in Turkey.

Shane Apperley accepted the position of Associate Program Director for the LMU-SMS Physician Assistant Harrogate program. Previously, Apperley held the position of Director of Didactic Education for the PA Harrogate program. "I look forward to continuing to further the PA profession in rural East TN." - Shane Apperley

Professor Casey Johnson passed the  CAQ Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hospital Medicine. A quote from the NCCPA, “The CAQ reflects the fact that PAs are grounded first in primary care or generalist practice, a base of training and knowledge that is augmented but not replaced through specialization. The CAQ is something that PAs earn above and beyond the PAC, which remains the foundational credential for the PA profession.”

On October 1, 2021, LMU President Clayton Hess named Dr. Michael Stephens dean of the LMU School of Medical Sciences. Stephens will oversee the Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Medical Science, and Medical Laboratory Science programs.

On July 23, 2021, Dr. Michael Stephens was presented with the 2021 Spotlight Award. This award honors individuals who have volunteered services, time, and resources to help the LMU PA program and/or its students in some way. The presentation of this award spotlights selfless service and offers gratitude and honor to those individuals.

On October 21, 2020, LMU-School of Medical Sciences honored faculty member and DMS alumnus Dr. Stephens for his Dedication to Education. He is a member of the Tennessee Association of Physicians Assistants, the Physician Assistant Education Association, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

On October 1, 2021, Dr. George "Brad" Thompson accepted the Director of Clinical Education position for the LMU-SMS PA Harrogate program.

On October 21, 2020, LMU-School of Medical Sciences honored faculty member and DMS alumnus Dr. Thompson for his Dedication to Education. Dr. Thompson has been a PA since 2014. He is a member of AAPA, TAPA, and ADPA and won Pi Alpha and the DMS Advocate award. Additionally, he serves as a member of numerous SMS, DMS committees, and community involvement organizations.

PA Calvin Hall presents a lecture on Cirrhosis- Understanding The Causes and Early Detection at the Virginia Academy Of PAs (VAPA) 2021 biannual CME conference. Hall is currently a Hospital Medicine and Critical Care PA Fellow at Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, VA. He plans to join the Critical Care group at Erlanger Baroness Hospital in Chattanooga, TN upon completion of his Fellowship.

Dr. Aisha Hussein accepted the position of Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies with Lincoln Memorial University, School of Medical Sciences, Physician Assistant program in Harrogate, TN. Dr, Hussein also accepted the position of a faculty position with the Doctor of Medical Science program.

In 2021, Dr. Michael Petrillo received the award for the best new small business of the year awarded by the North Myrtle Beach Chamber.

Post DMS, Dr. Andre Sonne has been busy caring for migrants of all ages while working near the border, biking across the nation, and serving as an active-duty soldier during COVID-19.

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In 2021, Dr. Joshua Shepherd received the Kentucky Colonel, the highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Kentucky Colonels are Kentucky's ambassadors of goodwill and fellowship around the world.

In October 2020, PA Alumnus, Sadril Mohammed, and Dr. Angelo Sorce opened Tazewell Orthopaedic & Arthritis Clinic. The clinic is a full-service orthopedic practice serving the community of Tazewell, Harrogate, Claiborne County, and Tristate area, TN.

Dr. Bryant traveled to Queens, New York, to help set up a field hospital in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The location would soon become known as the Billie Jean King Tennis Center Field Hospital. Each night Bryant held a case study lecture series for general learning and Covid-19 updates on available and recommended treatments and quarantine guidelines, with the help of all local, national and international sources available.

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PA Alumnus, Maurice Skillern, gives back to his community by volunteering to give vaccine shots to fellow Tennesseans. Dr. Skillern says "it is important as physician assistants and health care providers that we show our commitment to the welfare of our fellow Americans by doing what we can to actively participate in vaccine distribution."

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Austin Dages, PA-C returns from a medical outreach trip to Keyna with an amazing story. PA Dages spent seven weeks volunteering as a neurosurgery physician assistant at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya. Tenwek Hospital is a 361-bed Christian Mission Hospital located in the rural highlands of Kenya, an underserved area with an average wage of one dollar per day. Dages was the first neurosurgery visitor in six months due to the COVID-19 shutdown.

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On April 12, 2021, SMS Alumna Tonya Skidmore and her partner opened a family practice and urgent care clinic. The clinic is located in Cumberland Gap, TN. Understanding the importance of accessible healthcare services, Dr. Skidmore and her partner are providing healthcare seven days a week and offer in-office ultrasound services.

On October 21, 2020, LMU-School of Medical Sciences honored faculty member and DMS alumna, Dr. Skidmore, for her Dedication to Education. Dr. Skidmore has been a PA since 2011. She is a member of TAPA and AAPA and won an award from the Tennessee Department of Health for her dedication to treating the medically underserved.

On Monday, October 5, 2020, Dr. Rex Lee Hobbs, Jr., Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the School of Medical Sciences, was inducted into the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) Hall of Fame. This is the organization’s highest honor, reserved for the most deserved. Dr. Hobbs has previously served TAPA as its CME Committee Chairman, Treasurer, Vice President, and President. He was also the 2017 recipient of the TAPA PA of the Year award.

The Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) awards the James Montag Jr. Scholarship annually to PA students with military experience at the FallFest. The 2020 recipient is Dustin Lilly.

Dr. Marshall published a case report "A patient with shortness of breath after total hip replacement" in the Journal of the American Academy of PAs (JAAPA), volume 33, number 9, September 2020 edition.

Lauren Shaw named Healthcare Hero! PA Shaw volunteered for extra shifts at Citrus Memorial Hospital's ER to help with COVID-19 patients.

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Dr. Kara McGee accepted the position of Associate Professor at the Duke University School of Nursing. Dr. McGee gives credit for her success to the mentorship and knowledge of pedagogy she received from LMU's DMS faculty.

To learn more about Dr. McGee visit Duke News.

Dr. Dustin Bates accepted the position of Associate Director of Clinical Education with LMU, School of Medical Sciences, Physician Assistant program in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Jennifer Hawkins opens the doors to her Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, On-Site Medical Care in Colorado Springs, Colorado.